Reflections from your Co-Pastors - Monday February 1, 2021

Reflections from your Co-Pastors

Monday February 1, 2021

Black History Month

This is the first day of Black History Month. Black history continues to repeat itself. PBS began a new series last night, The Long Song*, sharing a story written originally by a woman who had been a slave. Our elitism fights equality every time. It is so uncomfortable for us to stand eyes-wide-open, but as Christians who ‘walk the talk’ we want and need to proclaim the Good News of justice and equality and forge ahead. We try to live the Beatitudes of radical inclusivity and justice.

We are again in a struggle for justice with our black sisters and brothers. This is different from the 1960s/1970s. This time the depth of racism within institutions of our culture, to which each of us subscribe, is out in the open for all of us to see, our institutionalized sins are laid bare, if our eyes are open. We are still in the

struggle for just political representation but closer than before. Thankfully, our young people (Gen Z and some Millennials) barely see it as an issue as interracial and interfaith families have increased in number.

We ourselves have been “proclaiming” our white elitist’s issues every Sunday, trying to keep our eyes open. The Social Justice Committee has led us in honoring Black Lives Matter since April 5, 2020; 41 Black individuals have been named and eulogized. Some in our community have said how much it has affected them, a sign of awakening. We initiated and planted the Black Lives Matter signs in the front and backyard of our church building, Trinity Lutheran, twice (it was defaced once so far). We have taken steps to educate ourselves.

This is a long struggle, not one that will end easily or quickly. Please hang in, we don’t know what challenges lay within the murky cloud of racism. How can you help?

A Litany for Those not Ready for Healing

A challenging and inspiring prayer by Rev. Dr. Yolanda Pierce**

Let us not rush to the language of healing, before understanding the fullness of the injury and the depth of the wound.

Let us not rush to offer a bandaid, when the gaping wound requires surgery and complete reconstruction.

Let us not offer false equivalencies, thereby diminishing the particular pain being felt in a particular circumstance in a particular historical moment.

Let us not speak of reconciliation without speaking of reparations and restoration, or how we can repair the breach and how we can restore the loss.

Let us not rush past the loss of this mother’s child, this father’s child…someone’s beloved son.

Let us not value property over people; let us not protect material objects while human lives hang in the balance.

Let us not value a false peace over a righteous justice.

Let us not be afraid to sit with the ugliness, the messiness, and the pain that is life

in community together.

Let us not offer clichés to the grieving, those whose hearts are being torn asunder.

Instead…

Let us mourn black and brown men and women, those killed extrajudicially every 28 hours.

Let us lament the loss of a teenager, dead at the hands of a police officer who described him as a demon.

Let us weep at a criminal justice system, which is neither blind nor just.

Let us call for the mourning men and the wailing women, those willing to rend their garments of privilege and ease, and sit in the ashes of this nation’s original sin.

Let us be silent when we don’t know what to say.

Let us be humble and listen to the pain, rage, and grief pouring from the lips of our neighbors and friends.

Let us decrease, so that our brothers and sisters who live on the underside of history may increase.

Let us pray with our eyes open and our feet firmly planted on the ground

Let us listen to the shattering glass and let us smell the purifying fires, for it is the language of the unheard.

God, in your mercy…

Show me my own complicity in injustice.

Convict me for my indifference.

Forgive me when I have remained silent.

Equip me with a zeal for righteousness.

Never let me grow accustomed or acclimated to unrighteousness.”

AMEN.

How can you help?

*This three-part miniseries on PBS based on Andrea Levy’s award-winning novel 'The Long Song' about the end of slavery in Jamaica.

** Rev. Dr. Pierce is Professor and Dean of the Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. She is the first woman to be appointed as Dean in the Divinity School’s 150-year history. In 2016, Pierce served as the Founding Director of the Center for African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

GOOD NEWS! Sanctuary Open for Silent Prayer

We are pleased to announce that the Sanctuary at 301 East Stuart will be open every Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:00 pm for silent prayer.

We are still limited to only 10 people within the space at one time. Please wear a mask and remain at least 6 feet apart. Hand sanitizer is available at the church.

This brings us a step closer to gathering in person as time, vaccinations, and safety permit. Thanks be to God!

Sunday Service Schedule

Feb 7 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Morning Service - 11:00 a.m.

**Annual Meeting Immediately Following the Service**

Presider - Father Teri Harroun

Feb 14 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 5:00 p.m. Service

**Community Chat Rooms Beginning at 4:30 p.m.**

Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day

Presider - Co-Pastor Rosean Amaral

Feb 17 - Ash Wednesday Services - Blessed ashes are available for pick-up. Email St Paul's to arrange a time.

7:00 am Mary of Magdala, ECC will host via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4315028167 Meeting ID: 431 502 8167. Ashes distributed after the service (at 7:30 am) via drive-up.

12:00 pm, Noon St. Paul's Episcopal will host.Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85897756652 Meeting ID: 858 9775 6652

7:00 pm Trinity Lutheran Church will host. Details soon.

Sunday Service Recordings

View our Sunday service Jan 31, 2021 Here is a printed version to assist with prayer and a recording of just the homily by Father Don Sutton.

Mourning the Death of Jimmy Lee Jackson

Having recently celebrated Martin Luther King holiday and in preparation for February as “Black History Month”, we recall the tragic murder of 26 year old civil rights activist, Jimmy Lee Jackson, in 1965.

Jackson was a farmer and woodcutter in Marion Alabama who lived in poverty but active in the community as a deacon and active in voter registration work. He joined a small group of unarmed African Americans in peaceful protest for voting rights and Alabama responded with force. Jackson came to the defense of his mother and his 82-year-old grandfather, who were being beaten by officers. Jackson was beaten and shot. The trooper was never questioned by authorities over the shooting until his arrest in 2007 for other racist violence. Jackson was arrested and suffered from his gunshot wounds for 8 days until he died.

Jackson's death motivated the march from Selma to Montgomery that led federal lawmakers to pass the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Martin Luther King delivered the eulogy at Jackson's funeral and publicly admonished Pres. Lyndon Johnson over legally sanctioned police brutality.

As we begin Black History Month tomorrow, let us lift in prayer those martyred fighting for justice; that their vision of equality for all may finally bear fruit.

For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during our hiatus from celebrating together, visit our webpage . Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com

Click here to visit the Mary of Magdala, ECC website