Dear Friends,
We’ll be gathering this Sunday morning for worship at 9:30am, followed by Sunday School and Fellowship, just like usual. But the times we are currently living in are anything but “usual.” I’m having difficulty finding the right words to express myself in the midst of this situation, and so I’ll share these comments below from our Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Jen Nagel:
“As I’ve watched the events unfold across the Twin Cities and our state, the killing of Renee Good, and the unaccountable and indiscriminate targeting of immigrant neighbors by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, the story of Jesus visiting the grave of his friend Lazarus has been ringing in my ears (John 11). The cry of Mary and Martha, “Lord if you had been here…” and the deep grief and weeping of Jesus for his friend feels particularly resonant… However, we trust that in Jesus, God comes near to us in our joys and sufferings, in the incarnation we proclaim at Epiphany, and the cross we walk toward in Lent. Death does not have the final word. Our story, rooted in Christ, is a resurrection story. We remember that while Jesus wept for his friend Lazarus, he also called him out of the grave, into resurrection life. Beloved ones, the events of these last weeks are not the end of our story. We stand firm in our faith that justice is stronger than injustice, that community is stronger than division, and that love is stronger than cruelty. We have hope that our weeping will be transformed into resurrection, and that, like those at Lazarus’ graveside, we too will “…see the glory of God.” (John 11:40).
You can read the entire letter in this link. Additionally, our church leadership is considering how to respond to this situation, and I know that many individuals within the congregation are also taking concrete steps to reach out to our neighbors in need. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me and to each other for support – it’s important to maintain community in the midst of chaos.
And if you are in need of some daily reminders about the ongoing presence of God among us, here are two options to consider:
You can find other resources in the narthex that you may take and share with others as you like. I’m looking forward to gathering with you on Sunday!
God’s Peace,
Pastor Jeff Engholm