Good morning church,
When it rains it pours! Who would have thought at the beginning of this year that we would experience a global pandemic of epic proportions and on top of that riots and racial tensions which are the worst in 60 years? What’s next? Count me in as a person who did not see this coming, although at a closer look, neither is surprising. I am not in the camp of people who think that we have learned nothing from our past, that no progress has been made, that we simply repeat the same mistakes over and over again and are condemned to do so in eternity… It’s just that progress happens at such a slow and erratic pace and sometimes we go backwards instead of forward for periods of time. It is also true that in the age of omnipresent video footage we are made aware of many more crimes and injustices that would have been hidden to the public conscience in previous times. In the case of George Floyd and others, that’s a good thing. It shows us a part of reality we so hope were behind us, but it is clearly not. Despite nationwide efforts to reform police practices and combat racial profiling, despite screams and pleas and being unarmed, another black man died at the hands of people who are supposed to uphold the law. Can we hope that all the ugliness that has ensued since this crime occurred will help us become better people, a better nation? Call me naïve, but I have that hope! Many of our leaders on both sides of the aisle are fond of saying that we are the “greatest country on earth.” You must forgive this old European for frequently cringing at those statements, but I would say: Now is the time to prove it! Not in the form of the greatest military power or the greatest economy on earth, but in the ability and resolve to reform ourselves. The ability to learn from mistakes and change for the better shows True Greatness. We are not even close yet.
I would like to share with you a reflection about psalm 139, written by black philosopher and civil rights leader Howard Thurman. This text was included in our postponed “Night with the Mystics” event. When I discovered it, I felt it was speaking to our times, and now I feel that this is even more the case. It was written about 60 years ago.
If I make my bed in hell (Sheol) – behold (Psalm 139: 8) Howard Thurman
When night remains night
And darkness deepens;
When the evilness of evil is unrelieved
And utter desolation makes mockery
Of all that was true and good;
When the open door of refuge
Closes in my face
And to turn back is of no avail;
When the firm grip of sanity trembles
And all balances tilt, leaving
The mind tortured and grazed;
When all around, worlds crash
And winds blow torrid
Over the parched and wasted
Places of my spirit;
When sin multiplies itself
Until at last all goodness
Seems swallowed up and devoured;
When the chuckle of death
Is the only sound to be heard in the land,
Thou art there!
Howard Washington Thurman (1899-1981) was an African-American author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader. As a prominent religious figure, he played a leading role in many social justice movements and organizations of the twentieth century.
When it rains it pours. Sadly, our good friend and church member David Greger passed away yesterday. He was in his early 80’s and I had recently introduced him to you with a picture. I spoke to his wife Susan. She knew that his time was coming. His spirit was no longer comfortable in a body afflicted by Parkinson’s Disease. The feelings of loved ones are very mixed in those situations. There is grieving and mourning the person you miss; there is also relief for the suffering to be over. Dave had a rough couple of years with many falls, hospital, and rehab visits. At least Susan had an opportunity to see him one more time last week when he entered Hospice Care. She said there will be no service at this time, but at some point in the future. David’s wish was that his ashes would be distributed near his beloved country retreat in Dushore, PA. You can send Susan a condolence card using the church address.
According to Sharon B. we collected about 150 bags and boxes of food during the weekend food drive. All the churches together probably collected just under a thousand bags and boxes of food that will benefit our local food banks. More accurate information when I get it… It will help a great deal! We will resume our Wednesday food collections next week.
Mrs. B’s Children’s Hour will take place every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., starting next week on June 10. We encourage our families with young children to take advantage of this interactive program and to tell your neighbors with children about it.
Also, please don’t forget the Red Cross Blood Drive on June 8. Specific precautions are being taken and have been described in recent emails. Drive Details: Date: June 8th, Times: 2 – 7 PM;
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE GO TO WWW.REDCROSS.ORG, ENTER SPONSOR CODE St. Peters North Wales or CLICK ON
As always, be blessed and be safe! Pastor Andreas Wagner