We are a community that cares and chooses not to look away.
These words were shared by Pastor Ben this evening during our elders’ meeting, as we shared and processed the grief of the death of a legal observer who was killed this morning in south Minneapolis by an ICE officer while she was in her vehicle.
We are grieving. We are grieving the loss of a life. We grieve with those in community who are affected by her death – those who loved her, those whose life she touched, those she was looking out for.
We are grieving. We are grieving a system centered in inhumanity and utter hatefulness that is attacking our immigrant siblings, regardless of their immigration status or citizenship, that is centering fear and violence– fear that is tearing apart families, neighborhoods, schools, and health facilities. A system that detains pastoral colleagues who show up to be the hands and feet of Christ. A system that demands an eye for an eye.
And yet…
and yet…
We are rooted in Christ. Our strength in these moments comes from God and goes forth into our communities, however we define them. God is our refuge and our strength, who from of old has helped us in our distress (Psalm 46:1, The Inclusive Bible).
And so, we pray:
We pray for those who are grieving this beautiful person’s death.
We pray for those who are on the front lines in this moment including chaplains in our own congregation and the SpringHouse congregations; for Pastor Ben’s husband Hierald and the church community of San Pablo/St. Paul’s, and other pastoral colleagues who are serving congregations deeply affected by these events and the ongoing ICE actions in our city; for organizations like MIRAC, ICOM, Unidos and others who stand firm, sometimes at great risk to themselves, to protect our immigrant communities.
We pray for each other.
Your pastors are here for you in this fragile space and moment. Let us all remember that we are resurrection people, that violence does not have the final word. Let us channel our grief and anger into holy action that embodies the words of Micah 6:8: simply do justice, love kindness, and humbly walk with your God.
Pastor Dan
