| On Sunday, Resurrection’s long-time friend, Rev. Terri Steed Pierce, Senior Pastor of Joy MCC in Orlando, Florida, brought us a powerful message of hope and inspiration. Citing examples from Exodus, the New Testament, and the Civil Rights movement, Rev. Terri encouraged us to consider the need for people to resist the status quo and challenge unacceptable conditions. The midwives Puah and Shiphrah (Exodus 1:15-21) defied the Egyptian pharaoh’s order to kill newborn Hebrew boys, thus preventing genocide. Jesus healed on the Sabbath (Luke 13), defying Pharisaical interpretations of the law and serving as an example of choosing love over rules. In 1960, Black protestors sat at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, South Carolina, risking their lives to advance the fight to stop segregation. Rev. Terri’s message reminded us of our MCC heritage as a church that embraces social justice as part of its core mission and values. While we face huge challenges in our current social and political situation, the need for social justice work is ongoing. To do this work effectively requires education, discernment, commitment and support. Resurrection and other MCC churches have provided support for social justice work for more than five decades. We are now in the heart of the Lenten season, approaching Palm Sunday and Holy Week – a time in the liturgical year that is traditionally devoted to prayer and reflection. This kind of inner work might seem to be a million miles away from the courageous acts of defiance described in the stories above, but it is often during times of quiet spiritual connection that we find the discernment we need to know what is most important and the strength to do what is needed in the world. Jesus regularly took time away from his engagement with the world for quiet spiritual communion with his Abba. In the words of Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin, authors and activists:“The reality is this: If we don’t make time to close our eyes, breathe deeply, push beyond the binds we’re in, and visualize a day when they don’t exist, we can never be truly free.”My prayer for all of us is that we find the ability to engage in both deep inner reflection and courageous action on behalf of justice and freedom. In case you missed it, you can find a replay of last week’s moving service and sermon “The Hard and Holy Work of Resistance” by Rev. Terri Steed Pierce HERE Blessings, |
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| Cathleen Sheil-Hopper RMCC Board of Directors Cathleen@resurrectionmcc.org |