From The Vicar: Holy Envy

From The Vicar: Holy Envy

From The Vicar: Holy Envy

# News

From The Vicar: Holy Envy

Dear Ones of St. Columba's,

It has begun - a new calendar year and the Season After Epiphany. Once again we turn a corner and look to see what is ahead. Often here at St. C's this is a time when we begin new projects together - new ways of learning, new topics of discussion, new ministries in the world, and invitation to explore new ministries within our congregation. 

This year is no different. It is time for us to learn and grow, together and as individuals, and to engage our hearts, minds, and spiritual practice as community in actions and reflections that equip, renew, and shape us for our lives in this world. So, naturally, one of the questions that arises for me, as your Vicar, and for other leadership here at St. C's is what do we need to learn and engage together, in order to be renewed, equipped, and formed as Christians in this world? 

One of the clearer truths about our world right now is that divisions are rampant. Divisions between economic classes, between red and blue, between black, brown, and white, and between people of differing religions. Many of us have been stunned by acts of antisemitism taking place in many major cities in our nation. Equally disturbing are hate crimes against our Muslim neighbors, and against Black Christians and other Christian minority groups. More and more it seems like these divisions are cracking open opportunities for destruction and for hate.

First, I want to state very clearly that it is un-Christian to be antisemitic. Jesus was a Jewish man, a member of this religion. Nonetheless, Christianity has a long and shameful history of antisemitism. It is so important that we, here and now, both acknowledge this past and educate ourselves to become people of faith whose presence and practice is loving toward people of other religions. To this end, we are going to start the year by reading Holy Envy, by Barbara Brown Taylor, together. This will be our Adult Forum discussion topic beginning January 19th at 9am, and if you cannot make adult forum you are still invited to read the book and think deeply upon it. This book is an introduction to encountering other religions with care, curiosity, and appreciation. We can do this because we are firmly grounded in our own Christian faith, which teaches us to love without restriction and to trust in God's love for all peoples. 

I hope you will join me in praying for our Jewish and Muslim siblings, many of whom live and worship in fear, and in seeking to learn more about their faith traditions. I hope we can work together to equip ourselves to deepen our ability to love our neighbor and to fight religious discrimination and hate, no matter whom it is directed toward. 

I look forward to the discussion, and the learning.

with care and gratitude,

Alissa

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