Friends in Faith,
Our hearts are heavy, yet again, with another senseless act of wanton violence in our nation—this time in Atlanta. Eight people were murdered yesterday and the majority of the victims were people of Asian descent.
Most you probably know that attacks against people of Asian descent in the U.S. have skyrocketed over the past year. As of March 17, 2021, approximately 3,795 racially motivated attacks have been committed against Asian Americans. These numbers are absolutely shocking, and we can't imagine the fear and hurt of our Asian American sisters and brothers.
The sickness of racism and violence continues to plague our communities and our nation. Jesus weeps with us, and people of all backgrounds are called to stand up for love and against hate—to live in beloved community with one another in unity and peace. "Stop the Hate" is a nonprofit organization that is committed to exposing this violence and working to end it; you can check out the website here.
This coming Sunday, I've decided to return to the same text as last week, but this time around, we'll examine the text through Matthew's Gospel account. We will be reflecting on expectations and the identity of Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:21-26). You can access all of our online opportunities here; we'll hope you'll join us for worship, our conversations, and that you'll bring some friends! The question we'll be discussing in Sunday’s Zoom worship (which starts shortly after the close of the 10:30 a.m. Facebook Live worship service) is "What expectations do you have for your faith, for your church, for yourself as a disciple of Jesus Christ?"
As Lent continues, you can click here to access the PCUSA's 2021 Lenten devotionals for each day of Lent.
After much discussion, our Session has decided that we'll be celebrating Easter together with an outdoor service in our south parking lot. Please know that we are dedicated to keeping our space safe and clean. There will be a check-in station, socially distanced seating, and parking available for folks who'd prefer to remain in their cars. And, of course, if you do not feel comfortable attending this service, please do not feel any pressure; do what you need to do to feel safe. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 4th. Jim Guida, the chair of our Worship and Arts Commission, has asked if any one has traffic cones we could borrow for the service, could they please contact him at (916) 521-3456. More details to follow.
For those interested in our Zoom conversations concerning Ibrahim X. Kendi's book How to Be an Antiracist, our final two Zoom sessions are tonight March 17 and March 31 (both Wednesdays at 7 p.m.). You can click here to learn more about this opportunity. As yesterday's massacre has yet again demonstrated, we need these conversations desperately in our nation.
Finally, if you have news for our church family that you would like to share, please reach out to me or to Office Manager Maria Mar and let us know. Also, whenever you share a joy or a concern, please be sure to tell us if the information is confidential or not; we never want to inadvertently share anything that wasn't supposed to be shared.
Our prayers are with a few members, friends, and loved ones who are struggling with health concerns, loss, and grief:
The victims of the recent massacre in Atlanta.
The SSIP Food Closet's virtual gala/fundraiser, "Full Plates, Full Hearts" was a great success, and over $44,000 has been raised so far. Thanks to all of you who support SSIP!
Our thanksgiving for everyone who had been able to receive a COVID vaccination; and we pray that those folks still waiting will soon get theirs as well.
Loving God, hear our prayers for healing, care, and hope for all in the midst of anguish and troubles. We give you thanks for our many blessings and joys in our lives, trusting that you hold all of us and all of creation in your hands.
God's peace to you all,
Jesse
