Pastor’s Letter
Greetings Siblings in Christ,
It is a dark time now, darker more for our brown and black skinned siblings, who always run a much higher risk of being stopped by ICE agents, detained and their families not knowing where they are or what has happened to them. Sadly, this isn’t new to them, as much of the nation we know today has been built on the abuse, violence, oppression of non-white people. AS Christians we are called to name this and be better.
As my brother in faith, Rev. Dr. Israel (Izzy) Alvaran wrote, “Now is not the time for statements alone. This moment implores us to love beyond words – to courageously rise up against empire and tear it down with all the strength given by the spirit.Call your senators and representatives and demand accountability. Seek volunteer opportunities in your communities to care for your neighbors.”I add, stay active in this faith community to nurture your strength and hope and to nurture the hope and strength of those in this community.
There are inspiring voices from the past on whom we can lean and learn, no less than Rev. Dr. Deitrich Bonhoeffer, who died a martyr against the Nazi regime near the end of WWII. Bonhoeffer, along with many others spoke up, acted out, wrote and continually proclaimed the Gospel, even in the face of death.
Our worship team decided that our Lenten life and worship will be based upon one of Bonhoeffer’s most well-known books, “The Cost of Discipleship.” We will begin with showing a documentary on Bonhoeffer on Ash Wednesday. We will also have faith clinics on this book, held over a five-week period, one in the evening and one during the weekday. And, we also will have a faith challenge, encouraging us all to go deeper in our faith with daily scripture readings. If you want to go even deeper, fast for 6 hours one day per week, with prayer. I encourage you to read the notice further on in the newsletter on Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday so that you might begin to prepare your heart, mind and soul.
Salaam, Shalom,
Rev. Pamela Kurtz, Pastor
