Eden Prairie United Methodist Church
Connect with Us!
  • Home
  • Being Church
    • Crops For PROP
    • Serving Our Neighbors
    • Fellowship >
      • Women's Retreat
      • Church Directory
  • Children | Youth
    • Nursery
    • Sunday School (Preschool through 7th grade)
    • Especially for Families
    • Rooted (3rd - 4th grade)
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Middle School Youth (Grades 7-8)
    • Confirmation (8th-9th grade)
    • Higher Ground (10th-12th grade)
  • Music
    • Adult Music Opportunities
  • About EPUMC
    • Worship
    • Staff
    • Notes from Pastor Becky Jo
    • Lay Leadership
    • A Reconciling Congregation
    • Tumbleweed Newsletters
    • Videos
    • Annual Report
    • Sermons
    • Calendar
  • Prayer
  • Online Giving
  • Contact Us

Weekly Memo for March 31

3/31/2016

Comments

 
I didn’t get much done yesterday afternoon.  Following the staff meeting, I listened to the press conference of Mike Freeman, the Hennepin County District Attorney. At this press conference Mr. Freeman made his case for why he has decided not to charge two Minneapolis Police Officers in the shooting death of Jamar Clark, a young African American man. After listening to Mr. Freeman, I listened to the reaction of leaders of the African American Community. 
 
It appears the forensic evidence points to the District Attorney’s conclusion. I  heard that this was expected from many members of the African American community who were disappointed but not surprised. There is passion and heartbreak and the sense that justice is elusive on all sides of this most unfortunate incident. 
 
I had planned to read and write a little on my sermon but could not focus at all. I kept looking at news websites. I called both my kids, one who lives in NE Minneapolis and the other in Brooklyn Park. 
 
The most helpful thing I did was get into a Facebook conversation with a friend of mine who is white, my age and a pastor.  When I mentioned that I think I’m getting a little less radical in my old age, he responded with, That's okay. But we, and by we I mean we middle-class white guys, always need to look at situations like this from the perspective of African American people whose experience of the police is very different from ours. I found that word very helpful. 
 
By the time 6 o’clock rolled around and confirmation was an hour away, I finally let my focus on this issue recede a bit.  Life does go on and youth do show up for confirmation.  But let me just say that there was something important about the struggle.  I may not have gotten much done, but God did something with me.
 
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
 
 
 

Comments

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2012

    RSS Feed

Connect with us!
office@prairiechurch.org
(952) 937-8781

15050 Scenic Heights Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Picture
Picture