The Sunday service is posted below. Scroll to the bottom for sermon notes.
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A sermon discussion will be posted on Tuesday and we would love for you to join the conversation. Yes, we really want you to ask questions!
SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, June 21, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ –
Today is the 19th of June, just two days after the 5th anniversary of what was intended to be the beginning of a race war, instigated by a young man who was welcomed into a bible study and as the people closed their eyes to pray, began killing mercilessly, randomly, demonically.
How do we describe or comprehend such hate, such evil? Families decimated, dreams lost, trust ruptured, yet, his purpose to start a race war foiled.
A dialogue began to address …what? Systemic racism? Leaky gun laws? Human depravity?
And yet, laws remain in place. Efforts to change relationships and culture have stalled. Dialogue has dissipated.
It has been said that violence against men and women of color has intensified – the reality is it’s just now it’s being filmed.
The issues are complex as we look at 400 years of denied access to education, property, credit, safety, respect, dignity, justice. And now we see the eyes of racism gaze on brown skin, Asian eyes, and native reservations.
Today is Juneteenth – the day that news of the Emancipation hit the shores of Texas and we are still in the morass.
Last Sunday I prayed that Jesus would ‘Kum ba yah’- Jesus, come by here.
This Sunday Matthew describes Jesus sending his ‘people’ out, without weapons, without credit cards, without Siri, to touch and to heal, to forgive and to proclaim. And we are sent, too! We are to move through our disappointment, our distaste and our denial to be Jesus’s agents to show that we are his by our love that is radical, and universal, and unconditional and fearless, as is God’s. We won’t, we dare not refuse to love, but we will stand and act in the righteousness of our radical Savior.
We will be shown the way by God’s Spirit. We will stand on God’s promises. We will be repairers of the breach.
Second Church is positioned to do this. We are called to accept this assignment. God’s Spirit will be our strength, our protection and our guide.
In Christ -
Interested in becoming a member of Second Presbyterian? Email Cress for more information.
The Young Adults Zoom get-together on Friday night was a lot of fun! Thanks for all those who showed up and I hope we see you next time if we missed you.
Is your church group continuing to meet in creative and safe ways right now? Please let Jordyn know so that we can get the word out!
CHURCH-WIDE TAG SALE
The church is going to have a tag sale in mid-August, so now is a good time- you might even say a great time- to purge, clean out, get rid of, or to just empty out some of the things around your house and yard. If you have a storage unit you haven’t visited in a while, now might be the time to clean it out too. You can start getting your stuff together and we'll let you know when collection begins. Clean out those closets, basements, attics, and garages. We will need lots of volunteers when the time comes but more info will be coming soon. Any questions please contact Dawn McCready by email or at 203-921-7819.