Executive Presbyter, Sheryl Kinder-Pyle wrote on June 2, 2020
Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
so that those from earth may strike terror no more.
Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
so that those from earth may strike terror no more.
(Psalms 10 NRSV selected verses)
I am deeply saddened by the death of yet another victim of police abuse. George Floyd’s cries of “I Can’t Breathe” haunt us all. We are angry, we are confused, we are overwhelmed with despair. Our nation is in the midst of civil unrest. Peaceful protests are being taken over by violence. We cry out with the psalmist, how long O Lord?
My hope is that as people of faith we will find our voice. We will speak out against the principalities and the structures that enable systemic racism to persist. We will examine our own complicity and silence. We will work for reconciliation and deep healing. We will continue to be stunned.
God promises to hear our cries. May God show us how to love our neighborhoods and to shine the light of Christ upon a nation in darkness.