Dear Church,
Below is link to May 31’s audio.  I recorded it prior to this week away that is why it is painfully incomplete.  This troubles me so I hope you will read this letter before listening.
Pentecost’s worship is incomplete without identifying what the conjoined sins of white supremacy and white privilege have wrought in our nation.  The murder of George Floyd is one of many murders of black people, lynchings really, too numerous to list here and yet names need to be heard, especially in predominantly white privileged communities of faith. Ahmaud Arbery, Atatiana Jefferson, Renisha McBride, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, and Eric Garner are some who were killed. Where is Holy Spirit in this? Is Holy Spirit in the riots, the burning, the pain, the anger, the despair? How does God call us as community of faith to respond?  Some congregations want, above all else, to “maintain tranquility” as MLK famously put it in his speech that includes this remark, “A riot is the language of the unheard.”   Someone else rightly observed, “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
Christian Pentecost tells the story of Holy Spirit moving people beyond their comfort zones, giving them power and purpose to follow Jesus in acts of righteousness that include justice as well as mercy.  Feeding hungry people is mercy.   Donating funds to help others is mercy.  All good. Creating a just world where all people are safe, fairly treated, able to find work,  appropriately compensated, can afford to eat, house themselves, attain healthcare, and acquire  education is justice.  Some congregations love to do mercy and fear working justice because social justice is controversial. It is political.  It is intense.  It involves change.  Yes.  It is all that.
Holy Spirit is likened to fire, wind, and water in scripture.  Fire, wind, and water can sweep away everything.  May Holy Spirit sweep away what is false, irrelevant, and superficial in our lives in order to plant deeply the longing to follow Jesus all the way home, fearing nothing in service to God who calls us to love our neighbors, to work justice, and to love mercy.  Our prayer remains, “Come, Holy Spirit, come.”
In Christ,
Interim Pastor Jane Ann

Interim Pastor Jane Ann Groom

Irvington Presbyterian Church
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