Pastoral Message Regarding Ongoing Events in Minnesota

Sisters, Brothers, Siblings who are The Episcopal Church in Northern Indiana,

Grace and peace be with you in Jesus, the Light for all people!

I am writing this afternoon regarding the ongoing events happening in Minnesota.

I served as the rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Rochester, Minnesota for 12 years and was elected to serve as your bishop from there. Dana has paternal family in the Twin Cities and we have many friends and former colleagues throughout the state. Our lives, and those of our children, are forever woven into Minnesota, which is why recent events have been emotional, painful and upsetting. 

Let me tell you about the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. The state is indeed the land of many lakes, with lovely vistas in the southern part of the state and the enchanting Boundary Waters to the north.  The Episcopal Church in Minnesota is wonderfully diverse with inner city faith communities, suburban faith communities and, of course, many rural faith communities. That diversity includes communities among the Indigenous Peoples, Ojibwe to the north and Dakota / Lakota to the south. And, in more recent years, The Episcopal Church has found a home among the Latino/a, Hmong and Somali people, mostly living in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

All of this has been on my heart and in my constant prayers.

Quoting Bishop Craig Loya from his message yesterday, “Things are impossibly hard in Minnesota right now.  We are a state that feels under siege, and the people of this place are doing everything possible to resist.  The campaign of reckless brutality being waged by the federal government has been well-documented, including today's killing of a citizen who was restrained and immobilized."

Earlier today, I had a visitation with the Saints who are St. Stephen's Hobart.  Reflecting on Matthew's gospel, I asked those present if they remember when they made a choice to follow Jesus, to change their hearts and lives.  Later, we renewed our Baptismal Vows...seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself...striving for justice and peace … respecting the dignity of every human being... replying I will, with God's help! And we do need God’s help. 

I am asking you to pray for ALL people of Minnesota. Pray for our nation, as well, and I invite you to contact your congressional representatives and our two Indiana senators to ask them to find a resolution to this crisis. 

I offer you this prayer from a New Zealand Prayer Book, “For People Facing Great Uncertainty." Let us pray.  

God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to our Siblings in Minnesota as they wait 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.  Amen.

Epiphany light in the midst of this present darkness,

Doug 
(he, him, his)

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