Dear Friends,
Last week I wrote about the courage and beauty of Chicagoans pouring out to surround schools and health clinics in Logan Square to protect people from ICE.
We had the chance to see that spirit again last Friday as the call went out in our own neighborhood that ICE was all over the north side. Once again, people showed up—there must have been over 200 people out and surrounding our two nearest elementary schools, McPherson and Ravenswood.
The pressure on our city continues, coupled with pressure from the relentless news of attacks on the free press, universities, and voting rights; of cuts to funding for worthy institutions and programs; of accusations that protesters are terrorists; of political operatives using racist, anti-semitic, violent language, and more. This pressure can make it hard to remain peaceful, can harden our hearts, can paralyze us.
As people of faith, we come back, again and again, in humility to the God who sustains us. We cannot do everything, and the world may not conform to our hopes and efforts, but our God is still good. God is still powerful. God is still faithful. When I lose hope, when I think it’s all down to me, I remember Martin Luther’s famous quip that he prayed two hours a day unless he was busy, then he would pray for three hours. I don’t pray two or three hours a day, but I know when life gets more stressful and out of control, praying more, not less, keeps my heart from growing hard, helps me love those who anger me, lowers my anxiety. If only I could remember that wisdom, day to day!
Perhaps you, too, could use some peace amidst the current chaos? Well, then, perhaps our daily Morning Prayer on Zoom or Wednesday night centering prayer or monthly Taizé services would be a help? Alongside our Sunday morning services for joy and strength, these provide space for contemplation and calm, so we might re-center ourselves on the ancient truth and promise that we are held in the palm of God’s hand and we will not be left comfortless.
And, of course, we can also pray with our bodies, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said after participating in a Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery: “I felt my legs were praying.” You can pray with your body by being trained as a Rapid Responder, by volunteering to be a public presence at schools or our own food pantry, and more. See below for that information.
But, first, pray in quiet and with others at All Saints, for that will fuel your body to act in love and peace.
See you in church!
Faithfully, Suzanne+