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Wednesday, June 10, 2020
My dear Sisters and Brothers --
Please forgive me.
In my last midweek check-in, I may have misspoken. After framing an issue confronting our country and the Church, the issue that drove people into the street in over 400 American cities and towns last weekend alone, I wrote that I'm glad we have people in our parish moved to direct action like that; that I'm glad others of us are pursuing justice via the hard and slow work of reform; and that I'm glad to still others find St. Bartholomew's a safe place to listen for God's particular call to them, perhaps for the first time.
The next sentence read: "Though, as a parish family, we are not of a single mind about issues like race, we have demonstrated time and again that we do desire to stay together at the same table." Emphasis mine. Reading that caused some of our family pain and angered others, which I deeply regret.
Because I do not, in fact, believe we have a divided mind "about issues like race." We may not all be of one mind regarding what exactly to do in this cultural moment, but I know of no one in our parish who believes racism is anything but a sin. I certainly believe it is. I know of no one who really believes the Church is a place where white supremacy is acceptable, where it is ok to believe a narrative that African-Americans are inferior or brutish or prone to criminal behavior, where the idolatry of blood and country or any sort of white nationalism can be pursued or even tolerated. The Bible teaches unequivocally that each human being bears God's image. (Gen. 9.5-6.) The gospel necessarily implies that for the Church, every racial and cultural barrier has been razed to the ground, for "all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3.28b.) Jesus created in himself "one new humanity" in place of racial groups divided by hostility. (Eph. 2.15-16.) And we look for the day when a great multitude "from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages," will worship before the throne of the Lamb. (Rev. 7.9.) As the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church reads: "Any theory or form whatsoever of racism and racial discrimination is morally unacceptable." (¶ 433.)
In 1960, Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, then President of the University of Notre Dame, said this in an address:
But I say that when it comes to civil rights, if you so much as meet another human being in the course of your life, and all of us meet many, then you cannot be uncommitted to this problem. This is not the kind of problem about which a person can be detached. Because of the fact that you walk down a street, or live in a neighborhood, or work in an office, or get on a bus, or talk to anyone, you are involved in this problem and you must take a stand.
I don't claim to know how God calls you to stand, but I know God is speaking to me. I know justice is a vocation, and like our own individual vocations, it will stir us to different actions in the world. But the words of blessing I often pronounce during festal seasons at St. B's --
Hold fast to that which is good,
return to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted,
support the weak, help the poor,
honor all people . . .
those words are directed to every one of us. Full stop. No exceptions. "Something of the glory of God shines on the face of every person."* About that, I do not believe any of us disagree.
In the coming weeks, I hope you will join me Wednesday at the 12:15 p.m. Eucharist to pray a litany of repentance and reconciliation before going to the altar for grace. There will be opportunities to listen together to the voices of the oppressed, voices our neighbors have raised for generations. Pray online with the Beloved Community and brothers and sisters from parishes across the diocese at noon every Monday in June. Listen. Then talk -- to me and each other -- about what God's teaching you.
A quick report about reopening for public, in-person worship -- The staff, vestry, and I are watching the Davidson County metrics and continue to take counsel from the diocese and the mayor in making our decisions about reopening. On Sunday a small group braved the early morning sun and worshiped together on the lawn in the Memorial Garden. This coming Sunday, we're trying that service in the gym, so sign up here if you'd like to be part of that group of ten that will gather at 8:00 a.m. for Holy Eucharist. The weekday services at 12:15 p.m. continue in the Nave, so sign up for those as well. We've yet to exceed our ten-person limit, so we're experimenting with waiving the request that you sign up for only one service every two weeks -- if you'd like to come every week, please do! And if you can't come to the Eucharist, we'll bring the Eucharist to you.
God bless you and thank you for reading.
Faithfully,
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Fr. Sammy Wood
* Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World — Gaudium et Spes. Promulgated by Pope Paul VI. [Vatican City]: 1965.
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Worship continues this Sunday in-person at 8 a.m. and live-streamed at 9:30 a.m. The 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist will be held in the gym this week.
Please wear a mask throughout the service, and as you enter and exit. Maintain 6 ft. distance from others. And please enter and exit through the doors at the northwest corner of the gym (farthest from the sanctuary).
Review our Re-opening protocols here. Sign-up to attend spoken-Holy Eucharist this Sunday at 8 a.m. here.
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| Week Day Prayer & Eucharist
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Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. - Jesus
As we continue to live in this strange land, come and find rest in prayer, stillness, and liturgy. Come and find strength through the Eucharist and the company of others.
Morning Prayer and Compline continue to be offered, Monday through Friday, at 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Facebook Live here.
Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 12:15 p.m., Monday through Friday in the nave. It is strength and food for the journey. Sign-up to participate in one of the weekday Eucharists here. Wednesdays include a litany for repentance and racial reconciliation. Pray this litany at home here.
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| Last Call for Magdalene Donations
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It's not too late to help us celebrate the nine Magdalene graduates!
Sign-up to donate items for their gift baskets here.
Financial contributions can be made by check to the church office or online here. Please designate "Magdalene."
Donations can be left in the parish hall lobby through Friday, June 12, between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. or by appointment. Email Beth Heimburger with questions.
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