Yr. B, Wk. 14: Dismantling Racism, Part One

Class: Christine, first year; Mariel, Tom, Gene, second year; Erica, third year; Scott and Susan, mentors.  Absent: Mariel.

Gene drew together a thoughtful selection of prayers and quotations from Scripture relating to this week's reading, including these:

• Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4.32
• Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Exodus 22.21
• There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3.28

Christine brought us a chicken tortilla salad from Chilis. We shared reflections on the week past.

Tom led off our discussion of Dr. Meeks's book Dismantling Racism by admitting that he had not expected to like it, but had appreciated the emphasis on individuals' spiritual practices, having felt the difference that morning prayer has made in his own life.  We shared answers to some of the study questions at the back of the book, beginning with the question, "How did you first become aware of racial difference?"



TR
Tom presented a clock that his employer gave him as a reward some years ago.  We were struck by its being a smaller, cheaper, battery - operated replica of a 19th century object. We focused our reflection on the effort to maintain old tradition in a new time.  Our discussion eventually encompassed everything we had spoken about all night.  Tired, we left the collect to be formed later, from notes on the board (see photo below).

Collect in a Time of Social Change
Eternal Father, Your servant Moses prodded the Hebrews towards the Promised Land when they looked back with nostalgia to the comforts of Egypt; Your Son Jesus exposed the inhumanity of the Pharisees' strict application of traditional taboos: help us to discern the familiar practices we keep for the sake of our own comfort, from traditions that promote the values of truth and justice for all; so that we may embrace necessary change with confidence and hasten the coming of Your kingdom. Amen.


Gene led closing worship with the prayer for the human family, #3.

Next week: We finish the Meeks book.  Brown bag dinner; Christine leads worship; Susan brings the TR.


FYI - You can see the words of that Advent cantata from Scott's TR a few weeks ago.  The piece reflects what he learned during his first four years with EfM.

For his blog The Word Sanctuary, Scott wrote a reflection on the myriad ways that he is privileged by his family background in ways that his friends of color cannot be. See The Privilege is Mine.