All Saints' Millington
  • Home
  • Who we are
    • Who we are
    • Clergy & Staff
    • What's an Episcopalian?
    • Becoming a Member
    • 100 Years And Counting
    • Spiritual Connections
  • Worship
    • Baptisms
    • Weddings
    • Funerals
  • Music & Choirs
  • Outreach
  • Giving
  • Calendar

Reflection on Ferguson

11/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Dear Friends in Christ,

There is much to be thinking about, planning for, and celebrating, with Thanksgiving this Thursday, and the season of Advent and new Church year starting on Sunday, but I wanted to say something about the decision that was announced in Ferguson, MO last night, and the events that have followed the announcement.

Seeing images of violence and looting, and seeing images of anguished and angry people are never easy. Most of us are drawn in by these images, and we react to them viscerally. It is important to remember that what we see on television or news sites is what get covers or portrayed; it is never the whole story. It is also important to recognize that in a setting where passions and feelings are as inflamed as they are in Ferguson (on all sides), there will always be some who will take advantage and manipulate the situation for their own ends.

Frankly, I am not sure what to think or believe about the grand jury’s decision and the shooting back in August. I think there is some information we may not have. I do know, however, that tensions resulting from our national history of racial injustice and the ways that continues to show up, along with strong feelings about income inequality and many other factors, are a reality of American society. Conversation about institutionalized racism and civil rights can be difficult and uncomfortable, particularly when we don’t think those things touch us personally. Having said that, we know that violence and destruction is never the answer.

Here is an excerpt of a message the Right Rev. Wayne Smith, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, sent to his churches earlier this month: “...As people of God, we do well [to anticipate these likelihoods] by preparing spiritually. Corporate and personal prayer become crucial in times like these, and I know that some congregations expect to open their doors to be places of prayer for their neighborhoods. Their doing so encourages me, and I hope that you will publicize these invitations broadly. Now is a time to storm the throne of God.

Now is also a time for the renunciation of violence—not just physical violence, but the violence of words. The spiritual discipline of guarding what we say, out of anger or hurt, becomes immeasurably important in times like these. This discipline allows us actually to become instruments of peace.”
 
We Christians believe in prayer. We also believe that all people have been made in the image of God, and that each person is someone for whom Christ died – loved and valued beyond measure. We know, as well, that human beings are limited and fallible – that we can and do sin, fall short of God’s best for us. It is in the midst of this mixture of love and sin that we are called to work for the fullness of God’s Kingdom: “on earth as it is in heaven.”

So from here, the most important thing we can do is pray for God’s wisdom and peace, reaching for that peace within us, as well as looking for it in the midst of events and interactions: “O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” ~ Book of Common Prayer, In Times of Conflict

Blessings,
Vicki McGrath+

0 Comments

    Sermons & Reflections

    Sermons and reflections from clergy and lay leadership at
    All Saints' Episcopal Church, Millington, NJ.

    Archives

    October 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    September 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    Categories

    All
    12 Steps
    Aa
    Advent
    Arizona Shooting
    Art
    Ascension
    Authority
    Baptism
    Bread
    Church History
    Common Good
    Community
    Community Of Faith
    Commuting
    Death
    Demons
    Desert
    Diakonia
    Discipleship
    Distractions
    Doubt
    Easter
    Easter Eve
    Episcopalian
    Episcopal Vocation
    Eternal Life
    Evangelism
    Fans
    Ferguson
    Foot Washing
    Humility
    Independence Day
    Invitation
    Jesus Finds Us
    Justice
    Kingdom Of God
    Lazarus
    Lent
    Liberty
    Lordship
    Love
    Mark's Gospel
    Mark's Gospel
    Marriage
    Mary Magdalene
    Maundy Thursday
    Mercy
    Money
    Oppression
    Ordination
    Outreach
    Palm Sunday
    Parenting
    Patriotism
    Peace
    Prayer
    Questions
    Racism
    Reflection
    Religion
    Resurrection
    Samaritan Woman
    Seeds
    Selfsufficiency103ee8a392
    Sermons
    Service
    Spirituality
    Stewardship
    Surprise
    The Binding Of Isaac
    Trust
    Truth Telling
    Truthtelling00f726273f
    Violence
    Vocation
    Worry
    Worship

    RSS Feed

All Saints' Episcopal Church

 15 Basking Ridge Road, Millington NJ 07946    phone: (908) 647-0067    email: allstsmill@hotmail.com