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Circuit Writer - Pastor David's Article

A violent and turbulent season has griped our nation. Protests have called for injustice to be addressed both in systemic and cultural realities. We find the same racial conflicts seen in the early church between Jewish and Gentile audiences continue to manifest themselves in modern communities. The acts of aggression, separation, and unequal balances of power ravage the relationships we share in Christ.

 The Council of Bishops are asking United Methodists to read about anti-racism and speak with children, youth and adults about the subject. They also request that United Methodists join in prayer for at least 30 days at 8:46am and 8:46pm for 8:46 minutes, the length of time a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on the neck of George Floyd, killing the 46-year-old African American.

Tragic long histories of murders that are the product of racist systems that devalue lives of color and dehumanize all of us. Just this January and February, we used a study on: The Gospel and Race. This series of sermons is still available at our website with audio files. We have included four weeks of study guides to expand your conversations and study.

There were also some thoughts for meditation provided during this series: Gospel & Race Resources

  • “While it’s rarely necessary to die for the sake of another, genuine love usually involves some level of sacrifice. As Christians, we are to show unconditional, selfless love to others—just as Jesus did for us.”—Charles F. Stanley
  •  “Learn to know Christ and him crucified. Learn to sing to him, and say, ‘Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon yourself what is mine and given me what is yours. You have become what you were not so that I might become what I was not.’” —Martin Luther
  • “If you judge people you have no time to love them.” —Mother Teresa
  • “Frequently there appears on the stage of history individuals who have the insight to look beyond the inadequacies of the old order and see the necessity for the new.” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Lastly, I would offer into this conversation a piece on YouTube that speaks to the anger and pain of our nation. Phil Vischer — creator of “VeggieTales” and voice of Bob the Tomato in the popular Christian animated series — posted a now viral video called “Race in America” that attempts to answer the question: “Why are people so angry?”   

Join me in a season of prayer and action. Hear the direction of the Prophet Isaiah when he says:

 Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.  Isaiah 1:17 (NRSV)

There is no more important moment for the church to bridge the unspoken pain of racism, to support those within law enforcement given the nearly impossible task of being a voice of calm and equality, and judicial systems that have too often been a double standard of justice instead of equal justice for all.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor David

 

Posted by David Brown with

Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation

 

Summary: Week Twenty-three

Contemplation and Racism

 

 

June 7 - June 12, 2020

 We are witnessing the results of centuries of unresolved racial violence in our collective body today. (Sunday)

We largely do not recognize the structural access we enjoy, the trust we think we deserve, the assumption that we always belong and do not have to earn our belonging.  (Monday)

When all hope for release in the world seems unrealistic and groundless, the heart turns to a way of escape beyond the present order. —Howard Thurman (Tuesday)

My journey toward freedom from slaveholder religion has been one of unlearning a hyper-individualized piety. —Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (Wednesday)

Indeed, we are hearing the echoing moan of black and brown communities today, crying out “How long, O Lord, must our people suffer?” (Thursday)

The crisis created by contemplative justice-seeking guaranteed the eventual end of overt practices of domination, for domination could not withstand the steady gaze of the inner eye of thousands of awakened people. —Barbara A. Holmes (Friday)

 

 

 

Practice: Crying All the Way

African American theologian and mystic Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman (1899–1981) played a pivotal role in the social and racial justice efforts of the twentieth century. In this passage, he describes a contemplative and healing experience of a friend in the midst of crisis. While reading, I hope we will be moved to consider what we must face, even if we go through it “crying all the way.”

A friend of mine was given an assignment in a class in dramatics. Each time she tried to read her selection aloud before the class, tears came and her strong emotional reaction made it impossible to go through with it. One day the teacher asked her to remain after class for a conference. The essence of the teacher’s words to her was this: “You must read the selection before the class tomorrow. I understand what is happening to you and that is why I insist that you to do this tomorrow. It is important that you realize that you must read this selection through, crying every step of the way, perhaps, if you expect to read it through without crying.”. . .

There are experiences through which we must go, crying all the way, perhaps, if we are ever to go through them without crying, and to go through them without crying must be done. St. Francis of Assisi, in his youth, found it impossible to control his deep physical and emotional revulsion against leprosy. So acute was his reaction that he could not ever run the risk of looking at a leper. Shortly after he had made his first commitment to his Lord, he was riding down the road, when suddenly there appeared a leper. Instinctively, he turned his horse around and went galloping off in the opposite direction, his whole body bathed in nervous sweat. Then he realized what he was doing. Leprosy was one of the things he could not stand—as long as that was true, leprosy would be his jailer, his master. He turned around as abruptly as before, found the leper, and according to the story, remained with him, living intimately with him until every trace of his previous reaction had been mastered. Thus freed, he could be of tremendous service to the victims of the disease. . . .

There are many experiences which we face that are completely overwhelming. As we see them, they are too terrible even to contemplate. And yet we must face them and deal with them directly. . . . To deal with [the problem] without the emotional upheaval is necessary if you are ever going to be able to manage it at all. There can be no more significant personal resolution . . . than this: I will face the problem I have been putting off because of too much fear, of too many tears, of too much resentment, even it if means crying all the way through, in order that I may [learn to] deal with it without fear, tears, or resentment. [1] 

 

  

[1] Howard Thurman, For the Inward Journey: The Writings of Howard Thurman, selected by Anne Spencer Thurman (Friends United Press: 1984), 259, 260.

Image credit: Red Azaleas Singing and Dancing Rock and Roll Music (detail), Alma Thomas, 1976, Smithsonian American Art Museum, bequest of the artist, 1980.36.2A-C, Washington, DC.

 

 

For Further Study:

Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove, Reconstructing the Gospel: Finding Freedom From Slaveholder Religion, (IVP: 2018)

Barbara A. Holmes, “Contemplating Anger,” “Anger,” Oneing, vol. 6, no. 1 (CAC Publishing: 2018)

Barbara A. Holmes, Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church, 2nd ed. (Fortress Press: 2017)

Barbara Holmes, Race and the Cosmos: An Invitation to View the World Differently, (CAC Publishing: 2020)

Richard Rohr, “Richard Rohr on White Privilege,” interview with Reverend Romal J. Tune (January 19, 2016). Available at https://sojo.net/articles/richard-rohr-white-privilege.

Richard Rohr, What Do We Do About Evil? The World, the Flesh, and the Devil, (CAC Publishing: 2020)

Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathways to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, (Central Recovery Press: 2017)         

 
in Community Events

Memorial Day 2020

Armstrong Chapel – 142nd Memorial Day Observance – May 2020

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, is a day for remembering and honoring those who have given their lives in battle. The day is also known as Decoration Day for the custom of placing flags at the graves of the patriotic dead. The Cemetery at Armstrong Chapel has long maintained this tradition and will do so again this year. However, the Stay Safe Order for Ohio restricts the number of those who gather together. Therefore, the following are elements to help you observe this day and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Cemetery will be open during daylight hours but we ask that you maintain social distancing of 6ft minimum should you visit the grounds. We also ask the use of masks when possible during public activities.

 Prayer for Memorial Day
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress…” (Psalm 91). On this Memorial Day, may we pause with reverence before you, Eternal God, to remember the lives of those fallen in this nation’s conflicts. Here in this sacred ground are lives representing virtually each broken moment of human history our nation has endured. Through our prayers and actions, help us to stand together with those who are suffering, so that light may banish all darkness, love will prevail over hate and good will triumph over evil. Grant comfort with all those who grieve this day. Bestow your loving protection. Let peace prevail among all the nations, O God. Move us to know, take hold and treasure your saving grace, the security your Spirit provides, and the refuge that is granted to those who trust in you. In all our days helps us to pause and remember, then offer us the courage to commit our lives to your eternal keeping both now and forever.  Amen

Roll Call Listing

Tanner Helton, a Scout from Indian Hill Troop 502, standing at the grave of his 5th
great grandfather, Major John Armstrong, who fought in the War of 1812.

Posted by David Brown with
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