As
I was waiting to hear the Grand Jury decision, I found myself reading
scripture and praying, I found a Psalm that is deeply precious to me,
it is Psalm 46.
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
It
is clear to me that we are in a time of trouble and that we also hold
the potential to become a city who makes God glad. So I hope that these
words can bring comfort, hope, healing, and whatever else is needed you
each of you personally as well as for our community. We are not alone
and God is helping.
One
of the things that I deeply cherish about the people of Lafayette Park
is that we can be on two opposite sides of a situation and still roll up
our sleeves and serve God together. It is one of the reasons that each
Sunday I say, “Christ is our peace who has broken down the walls that
divide us so we are no longer strangers we are family.” Every family
has members who see issues one way or the other and they talk them
through (sometimes with loud voices and frustrations) however, they know
that they can talk the issues through because the bond of love is
stronger than the disparity of view point. I am so proud of the bond of
love we have for one another and God at Lafayette Park UMC.
As
we walk together through this time after the Grand Jury decision, we
all have many feelings, denial, fear, anger, hope, loneliness, sadness,
and so many more that I can’t even begin to name. There are a few
things that I hope we can remember.
- There are honorable people on all sides of this issue.
- There are police and national guards who are working hard to provide safety in a tenuous atmosphere.
- There are people who need to cry out for a change and they have a right to protest.
- There is a difference between those who protest and those who commit crimes.
- Those who commit crimes often try to hide in the midst of those who are trying to peacefully protest.
- Truth and Light will reveal the intentions of each one’s heart by their actions.
There
are a couple of churches that in the areas where these is the most
unrest. These churches have agreed to extend their hours in ministry to
the community. They provide a safe spot for people who live in the
area to be safe, to have prayer and counseling, to provide drinks and
food for those who do not feel safe to be in their own homes. They are
not places that are harboring people who want to do criminal acts.
Maria has forwarded an email of various items they need to help support
the people who are living at ground zero in our community.
I
am available to pray, talk, visit with you during this time. It
doesn’t matter what you think my view point or your view point is on
this situation, we can join together in prayer for truth, light,
healing, and a vision that helps our community truly become one that is
built upon God’s foundation of peace, truth, grace, and love.
I
hold you in my prayers and give thanks to God for the amazing people of
Lafayette Park. I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I look
forward to seeing you Sunday as we begin Advent and we wait for the
coming of Christ, Emmanuel, God with us.
Deep peace of Christ be with you.
Pastor Kathleen
