Message from Rev. Meredith to St. James' on the topic of George Floyd
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Message from Rev. Meredith to St. James' on the topic of George Floyd
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Listening and responding
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St. James' Episcopal Church
St. James' mission is to bring people together to be transformed by and
to proclaim Christ's love through worship, spiritual formation, and
service.
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[b4581ab6-ecc3-4b98-8c40-c6a9b365d971.jpg] Rector's Reflection During
Coronavirus
Period of Social Distancing
From The Rev. Meredith T. Heffner
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
In Today's Message...
* Rector's Reflection
* Drive-Through Graduation Party this Saturday!
* Survey: Re-opening Church
* Share Your Musical Talents!
* Rev. Meredith's Weekly Survey
* Requesting Prayers
Rector's Reflection
Dear friends,
Somewhere growing up I learned that you weren't racist if you ignored
the color of everyone's skin; that if you just treated everyone the
same, that was enough. And maybe if you lived in an affluent area where
you didn't see daily injustices, that WAS enough. With that mindset I
could convince myself that the world was fair and that skin color
didn't matter.
Over time, of course, I learned that this point of view is flawed--skin
color does matter, as confirmed recently by the death of George Floyd
and the subsequent national protests.
I was as appalled as everyone else by the events of these last few
days. But it especially hit home for me when I read the words a friend
posted on Facebook.
Before I tell you what she wrote, you need to know this is not just
"some" Facebook friend. Her name is Amber, and we have known each other
since 2008 when I became the director of her church youth group. She
and her mother are close friends of our family, invited to graduation
parties and family weddings. Amber means a lot to me. Amber also
happens to be a black woman.
And so I was "listening" as Amber compassionately expressed her
weariness and anger over racism in America today. You could tell she
was serious and intent as she shared stories from her own life--being
followed around in stores, verbally attacked, and dismissed by police.
In her post she wrote to her friends, "You should feel uncomfortable
with the fact that people are being mistreated due to their skin
color."
And I did, as I have before, but this time I felt moved to respond in a
new and different way. Because after sharing her fatigue with the
situation in our country, Amber--this young, loving, Christian black
woman--begged us, her friends, to show what it truly means to love one
another.
"I personally beg you to do something," she wrote, "because I'm tired
of crying over this. Forgive me if I am asking too much, but I just
want to be proud of the world that we live in."
I want that, too. There are so many words that I can't offer and so
many things that I don't know. But I do know that the suffering is
real, the pain is deep, and the tears are many. And I am tired, too.
I also know that Jesus tells us where to start--something we already
know--we start with loving our neighbor as ourselves. We may believe we
are already doing this, but the events of this week make it clear that
the way we are loving is not yet enough. We need to further explore
what's going on, so that we might respond--and love more effectively.
To that end, I am organizing a parish discussion about racism in
America. I haven't decided what material to use or what format this
will take. Considering we're in the middle of a pandemic, we will
probably start with a book study.
Note--this is not an attempt to make anyone feel bad. I will do my best
to make sure our discussion does not become "political." It is time,
however, for us to grow and focus together on what it means in this day
and age to love our neighbor as ourselves, so that we can be proud of
the world we live in.
May God grant us wisdom and courage, and show us the way.
Rev. Meredith
PS: If you're a parent looking for ways to discuss race with your
children, Parishioner Carrie Fox, Founder and CEO of Mission Partners,
invites you to join their summer reading club for raising racially
conscious kids.
[b6cd0ee2-b593-413f-8c04-ad19fc3686c6.jpg]
Download the flyer with complete information here.
Please Take our Survey: When Would You Feel Safe to Return to In-Person
Worship?
Please respond by taking our Planning for Re-opening Survey by Friday,
June 5.
Thank you. Your response is critical in helping us shape our plan.
St. James' Has Talent! Share a Musical Moment
By Newton Lewis, St. James' Music Director
[d02ae933-dc5c-4251-b53c-865a6001f54b.jpg] When I started the "Musical
Moment" I certainly had in mind that there are others out there who
might like to share a video of themselves singing or playing an
instrument. I invite you to do so.
To share your musical talents in our daily emails, please contact
newton@stjamespotomac.org.
Rev. Meredith's Weekly Survey
Survey Question Week 12: How are Your Pets?
Let's lighten it up! Tell us how your pets are driving you crazy,
rejoicing in extra time with you, or making your life better or worse.
(And how is their hair?) Please send your responses and photos to Rev.
Meredith at rector@stjamespotomac.org by noon Friday and they will be
compiled for next Monday's email.
Requesting Prayers
Send prayer requests that you would like lifted by the St. James'
community to office@stjamespotomac.org. Prayers will be shared in
Sunday's worship; late additions will be shared the following
Sunday. Confidential prayer requests should be directed to Rev.
Meredith, rector@stjamespotomac.org.
Copyright (c) 2020 St. James' Episcopal Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[decb4ad3-1ca7-4cc3-ab08-42310acad7f6.png]
St. James' Episcopal Church
St. James' mission is to bring people together to be transformed by and
to proclaim Christ's love through worship, spiritual formation, and
service.
Links not working or things don't look right?
View this email in your browser
[b4581ab6-ecc3-4b98-8c40-c6a9b365d971.jpg] Rector's Reflection During
Coronavirus
Period of Social Distancing
From The Rev. Meredith T. Heffner
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
In Today's Message...
* Rector's Reflection
* Drive-Through Graduation Party this Saturday!
* Survey: Re-opening Church
* Share Your Musical Talents!
* Rev. Meredith's Weekly Survey
* Requesting Prayers
Rector's Reflection
Dear friends,
Somewhere growing up I learned that you weren't racist if you ignored
the color of everyone's skin; that if you just treated everyone the
same, that was enough. And maybe if you lived in an affluent area where
you didn't see daily injustices, that WAS enough. With that mindset I
could convince myself that the world was fair and that skin color
didn't matter.
Over time, of course, I learned that this point of view is flawed--skin
color does matter, as confirmed recently by the death of George Floyd
and the subsequent national protests.
I was as appalled as everyone else by the events of these last few
days. But it especially hit home for me when I read the words a friend
posted on Facebook.
Before I tell you what she wrote, you need to know this is not just
"some" Facebook friend. Her name is Amber, and we have known each other
since 2008 when I became the director of her church youth group. She
and her mother are close friends of our family, invited to graduation
parties and family weddings. Amber means a lot to me. Amber also
happens to be a black woman.
And so I was "listening" as Amber compassionately expressed her
weariness and anger over racism in America today. You could tell she
was serious and intent as she shared stories from her own life--being
followed around in stores, verbally attacked, and dismissed by police.
In her post she wrote to her friends, "You should feel uncomfortable
with the fact that people are being mistreated due to their skin
color."
And I did, as I have before, but this time I felt moved to respond in a
new and different way. Because after sharing her fatigue with the
situation in our country, Amber--this young, loving, Christian black
woman--begged us, her friends, to show what it truly means to love one
another.
"I personally beg you to do something," she wrote, "because I'm tired
of crying over this. Forgive me if I am asking too much, but I just
want to be proud of the world that we live in."
I want that, too. There are so many words that I can't offer and so
many things that I don't know. But I do know that the suffering is
real, the pain is deep, and the tears are many. And I am tired, too.
I also know that Jesus tells us where to start--something we already
know--we start with loving our neighbor as ourselves. We may believe we
are already doing this, but the events of this week make it clear that
the way we are loving is not yet enough. We need to further explore
what's going on, so that we might respond--and love more effectively.
To that end, I am organizing a parish discussion about racism in
America. I haven't decided what material to use or what format this
will take. Considering we're in the middle of a pandemic, we will
probably start with a book study.
Note--this is not an attempt to make anyone feel bad. I will do my best
to make sure our discussion does not become "political." It is time,
however, for us to grow and focus together on what it means in this day
and age to love our neighbor as ourselves, so that we can be proud of
the world we live in.
May God grant us wisdom and courage, and show us the way.
Rev. Meredith
PS: If you're a parent looking for ways to discuss race with your
children, Parishioner Carrie Fox, Founder and CEO of Mission Partners,
invites you to join their summer reading club for raising racially
conscious kids.
[b6cd0ee2-b593-413f-8c04-ad19fc3686c6.jpg]
Download the flyer with complete information here.
Please Take our Survey: When Would You Feel Safe to Return to In-Person
Worship?
Please respond by taking our Planning for Re-opening Survey by Friday,
June 5.
Thank you. Your response is critical in helping us shape our plan.
St. James' Has Talent! Share a Musical Moment
By Newton Lewis, St. James' Music Director
[d02ae933-dc5c-4251-b53c-865a6001f54b.jpg] When I started the "Musical
Moment" I certainly had in mind that there are others out there who
might like to share a video of themselves singing or playing an
instrument. I invite you to do so.
To share your musical talents in our daily emails, please contact
newton@stjamespotomac.org.
Rev. Meredith's Weekly Survey
Survey Question Week 12: How are Your Pets?
Let's lighten it up! Tell us how your pets are driving you crazy,
rejoicing in extra time with you, or making your life better or worse.
(And how is their hair?) Please send your responses and photos to Rev.
Meredith at rector@stjamespotomac.org by noon Friday and they will be
compiled for next Monday's email.
Requesting Prayers
Send prayer requests that you would like lifted by the St. James'
community to office@stjamespotomac.org. Prayers will be shared in
Sunday's worship; late additions will be shared the following
Sunday. Confidential prayer requests should be directed to Rev.
Meredith, rector@stjamespotomac.org.
Copyright (c) 2020 St. James' Episcopal Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
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