April 21, 2021
Friends in Faith,
Over the past two hours, I have attempted to write some sort of succinct, faith-based response to the verdicts of the Derek Chauvin trial. I soon realized that my reflection was far too long for an e-mail!
It's hard to be succinct when processing the complexity of race and the American justice system. So, this Sunday, I'll share some faith-based reflections concerning justice, mercy, and accountability, especially as they relate to the murder of George Floyd and the guilty verdicts of Derek Chauvin.
For now, I'd simply urge us to take a moment to lift up the family of victim George Floyd in prayer as they continue to mourn the loss of their loved one. We lift up all of those people of color who have died at the hands of the police, and we honor their families whose grief is substantial. We also know that Jesus would encourage us to pray for Derek Chauvin and his family as well, as no one is outside of the mercy of God's grace and love.
Many times, sharing our grief and frustration, as well as our hopes and passions, in prayer is an important step towards healing and empowering us to be more loving followers of Christ. As we continue to navigate many intense days in the life of our nation, grounding ourselves in our faith and in prayer is an important tool to help us manage all of the emotion and unpredictability of each passing day.
Our scripture lesson for this coming Sunday is from John 10:11-18, concerning "The Good Shepherd"—Jesus Christ. Rain is in the forecast for Sunday, so it might be a wet service. You might consider joining our Facebook Live service from the comfort of your own home, but if you do come to Bethany, be sure to bring a folding chair and a raincoat. Please note that you can also worship from inside of your own car; our service is broadcast on low-frequency radio available within the boundaries of the parking lot. Gathering music begins at 10:20 a.m—join us!
The links for participating “remotely” in worship and other weekly virtual events are all found here.
Tomorrow, on Thursday, April 22—Earth Day—we'll be taking a "meditation walk" together in William Land Park at 10 a.m. More details can be found here.
We have decided that we will be suspending our Tuesday Zoom Bible study for the time being. We'll take a break for the summer and see how we might be able to gather to study God's Word as a new program year begins in September. We will continue to catch up with one another during our Wednesday Zoom Check-ins at 11 a.m. We encourage you to pop in and say "hi." Click here for details
Please note that the office is closed for the rest of the week; the office will re-open Monday, April 26th.
Finally, if you have news for our church family that you would like to share, please reach out to myself or 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 members, friends, and loved ones who are struggling with health concerns, loss, and grief.
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.
Blessings,
Jesse
