TAPESTRY eNewsletter

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

I have been saying these words by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a mantra for my daily living. Especially following the violence and bigotry of the last few weeks. However, I think King’s words are even more important now than they were a few weeks ago, because it is too easy to fall back into old patterns, to let insidious, systemic racism, sexism, ageism, classism, able-ism, and prejudice of every kind just be, as they have been for so long. So, every day, I stick with love. This requires a firm commitment, a strong voice, and truth that is grounded in love. God’s truth that we are all children of God, named and claimed as God’s beloved. Also the truth that I must confront the racism that I know is in me. I must acknowledge and confess the truth that I am part of white privilege. That I am part of injustice. That I am both sinner and saint.

A commitment to truth-telling is not easy. But, as social activist bell hooks says in her book, All About Love: New Visions (2001): “The heart of justice is truth telling, seeing ourselves and the world the way it is rather than the way we want it to be. More than ever before we, as a society, need to renew a commitment to truth telling.” Love is about word and speech but, more importantly, love is about truth and action. Above all else, we are to clothe ourselves with love. Love – truthful and active love – is central to acknowledging our brokenness and moving forward with God in love for God and love for our neighbor.

May God fill us with grace to acknowledge our fault and to give and receive forgiveness. May God fill us with the courage to be truthful about racism and all forms of bigotry. May God fill us with love for one another which reflects God’s steadfast, stubborn, unwavering commitment to us.

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth. (1 John 3.18-19a)

The Rev. Kelly Bayer Derrick serves as pastor at St. Phillip Lutheran, Roanoke. She is a member of the Virginia Synod’s TAPESTRY Team.

TAPESTRY Looking for Creative Writers for Prayers, Litanies and More!

When events occur in our nation and world that shake our humanity and disrupt the rhythm of life, worship is the place we come to bring our lament and to encounter the Triune God who speaks life into death and destruction. It is a time when in our worship, things need to be spoken in a particular and specific way.

TAPESTRY, the Synod’s Team focusing on diversity, justice, and inclusion, is asking for volunteers who have gifts in creating worship resources: special prayers, litanies, and orders of worship that speak into these events. TAPESTRY is looking to form a team of writers and worship resource creators – both rostered and laypersons – who would like to serve as regular contributors in service to the Synod’s ministry and its congregations.

If you would like to volunteer for this opportunity or for more information, please contact Rev. Aaron Fuller at pastor.adfuller@gmail.com or Pastor Drew Tucker at pastor@clcradford.org

Get to Know your TAPESTRY Team!

In the following newsletters, we’ll highlight members of the TAPESTRY Team, so you can get to know those in the Synod who are working to integrate diversity, justice, and inclusion into the life and ministries of the VA Synod.

Name: Andrew (Drew) Tucker

Location: Radford, Virginia

Family: Michelle (spouse), Stanley and Jack (dogs)

Tie to VA Synod: Began my first call here in 2014 at Christ Lutheran in Radford, and continue that call as well as serving as the Lutheran Campus Minister at Virginia Tech and the Lutheran/Episcopal Campus Minister at Radford University.

Interesting Facts: I also teach religion courses as adjunct faculty at New River Community College (VA) and Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC).

Why Serving on TAPESTRY: If everyone is created in God's image, then we see unique parts of God's image in people who are incredibly different from us. Diversity highlights the presence of God within every person, emphasizes the integrity of all people, and introduces us to parts of God we would otherwise might never meet.

Know others who might be interested in TAPESTRY and its work? They can sign up for this newsletter here and visiting the TAPESTRY page on the Synod’s website.

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