— Fr. David’s Blog of 7/3/2020 —

Nearly 60 members and friends of SsAM met on-line last Sunday to discuss “Repairing The Breach: A Conversation About Racism” with Fr. David, Canon Casson, and Rabbi Douglas Krantz. I was very moved by the strong attendance and insightful commentary.

As was said often during this Zoom video-conference call, this conversation must be more than a conversation. It needs to lead to action. Canon Casson, Rabbi Krantz and I will be meeting next week to discuss our next steps, steps which I hope will be a combination of conversation and action over the next several months.

Three Resources

As a result of Sunday’s conversation, I want to share with you three resources. I hope our entire church will engage with them. Such engagement will lead to deeper understanding and more effective action in the community and the State of Delaware. These offerings are part of the Becoming Beloved Community of the Episcopal Church:

1. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/Reconciliation
2. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/BelovedCommunity
3. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/Sacred-Ground

I invite you to explore these three websites to learn what these programs are about and then please let me know of your interest in being a part of this work.

Sacred Ground is a ten-week film-based dialogue series on race and faith. You can find more about the program at the link above. The program is meant for small groups to come together to dialogue and to have the hard conversations about race. It was originally developed for white congregations, but it allows for a parish such as SsAM to also participate. Some of the topics covered in the ten weeks include:

• The Roots of Whiteness, and Deeper Roots;
• Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery: Exploring Black History;
• Divisions in Present-Day White America; and,
• Becoming Beloved Community.

If you would be interested in facilitating one of these small groups, I encourage you to visit the Sacred Ground website, read more about the objectives of the program, and then contact me. I will schedule a Zoom call in early August so we can discuss logistics as to how we do this during this time of video conferencing. This program will then lead into the program about Becoming the Beloved Community.

Be assured that there will be much more in the coming months. As we plan, I will let you know of the activities that are being thought about so the work we began on Sunday will move forward.

One step we are taking is to create a list of books and articles about race relations. Click here to learn more.

Have a wonderful, safe and restful Fourth of July holiday.

Peace,
Fr. David

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Prayer for People Critically Ill or Facing Great Uncertainty

God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make them the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.

-Adapted from New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 765