Dear Union Community,

Yesterday, Renée and James B led us in a time of reflection around Matthew 7:28-8:4, and sent us into small groups to discuss what stood out to us in these passages. The part of the scripture that initially stood out to me (Nichelle) was the first two verses:

"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazing at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." Matthew 7:28-29

As I have reflected on this over the last day, I am struck that Jesus did not have the earthly credentials that would have given him the same status or "authority" as the teachers of the law. Those that typically would assert their authority, the teachers of the law, in this passage seem to be seen as a bit phony by the people when compared to the love, and compassion, and actions that Jesus conveyed in alignment with the words that he spoke. My interpretation here is that Jesus spoke with authority because he was authentic: his words, heart, and actions were completely aligned. And by contrast, the teachers of the law spoke of ideas and laws, yet their heart and actions did not match up and so the crowd was able to see that disparity, which undermined the message of God.

How do we, as the church and specifically Union, respond in this time of social reckoning and change and pandemic? How do we emulate Jesus, rather than the teachers of the law that seem to miss the mark? The second half of the passage seems to show us how. Jesus met the man on the margins, the man with leprosy who was ostracized from the community. Jesus listened to him, acted in his best interest, and attended to his spiritual and physical and social conditions. Just as Christ did, may we do the same!

For a predominantly white community, there is a lot to reckon with, as many of us are learning for the first time or are deepening our awareness of the depth of racism in our country. Be strong in your discomfort, lean in to the questions. This is the work of the Gospel that Christ called us to in Luke 4:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim the good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Listen and believe the stories and lives of our black and brown brothers and sisters. Learn about white privilege and how to be anti-racist. And find ways, each day, to be an ally for those in our country that are marginalized and ostracized. May our words, heart, and actions be aligned as Jesus shows us how.

Below are some ways that you can start, or continue, this work in your life. Please reach out to this community if you have questions, need resources, or just want to talk. We are in the beginning phases of trying to find ways that we can facilitate more conversation around these topics, more information will be coming soon.

Pressing towards justice.

LEARN

What does "Defund the Police" mean? Watch this video produced by the LA TimesPick a book, article, podcast, or video from this list of resources to better understand the history of what is happening in our country
Watch Michelle Lang's "A Chat with White Folks" (Michelle came to Union a couple years ago, she directed "The Guitar Section: A sound check on justice"). This is an opportunity to listen to the deep pain of the black community. It is long, so watch in parts!
Join Kitchen Table Conversations on Tuesday evenings @7:30PM to discuss Indigenous Rights and Environmental Justice, and how this intersects with racism for the Black community.

ADVOCATE

This City of Seattle Action Guide is a very thorough and dynamic document that provides detailed information about advocating for various issues including police reform & response to protestors being met with excessive force in Seattle. This document includes scripts and contact information, organizations to support, petitions, donations, etc.
Spend some time with it, get familiar with the issues, and contact your local officials so your voice is heard.
Call and write local, state, and national elected officials in support of the 10 demands outlined by Seattle's youth at the Seattle Children's March

ACT

If you are interested in a time of prayer devoted to these issues, please contact Renée for more details.
Join the virtual Poor People's Campaign Protest on June 20
Volunteer with FEEST - purchase and deliver groceries for families in the Seattle/White Center/Burien/Rainier Beach neighborhoods
Volunteer at Calvary the Hill during the protests - be a loving presence in the midst of the unrest. Contact Melissa Schoch to learn more about this opportunity and sign up for a shift on the Doodle Poll.
Donate to Northwest Harvest. Their shelves are quite empty as the pandemic persists and our nation's economic system continues to leave many families without jobs, homes, and reliable access to food.

Truth & Justice Studio MISSION STATEMENT :: Truth & Justice creates space to educate and mobilize people by lifting up marginalized voices as catalyst for social change. We are a community within Union Church in Seattle, WA.