Pastor Chris' Letter November 2018
Dear Trinity,
As I write my letter today, I am deeply grieved by the terrible events that happened in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life Synagogue. This event affects me for a few different reasons. I am disturbed by the flash of blatant anti-Semitism and the underlying racism that shapes it. I am also disturbed by where this event occurred. Not only did this event happen in a house of worship but also took place in the neighborhood of the man we have been talking about for the last few months. The Tree of Life synagogue sits just a couple of blocks from the real home of Fred Rogers. This shooting took place in Squirrel Hill, Mr. Rogers’s real-life neighborhood. This event has reminded me to continue to follow his anthem of acceptance and grace for others and to look for the “helpers” in this situation.
This horrific event also reminds me that a large part of our work as Christians is in the area of grief. The act of grief and of grieving is one that involves a spiritual discipline that is key to the church and to our walk with Christ. This discipline is the act of remembering. The act of remembering is in a lot of our Christian faith. Think foremost about Communion and the words of this institution surround Jesus saying “Do this in remembrance of me.” That is why much of what we will do this month will be to practice this act of remembering.
First of all, we will have a teaching series throughout November that talks about the ritual of Communion and what it means for us. Secondly, we will celebrate All Saints’ Sunday on November 4th. As a part of this service we will remember those who went before us who have finished their course in faith. This act of remembrance is important as we owe a debt of gratitude to those who have gone before us. It is important to remember that the gospel message is shared age to age and heart to heart by people and through relationships and our remembering of those who have gone before honors these relationships.
We will also take time on November 9th at 6:30pm to remember the work of our Peru mission team. This time of learning more about Quechua Benefit and the learning our team had is an honoring and remembrance of all of you who made this trip possible through your prayers and support. It also honors the great tradition and history of Trinity being a missional church in our community and our world.
Finally, we will take time to remember our community and our own thankfulness as we celebrate Thanksgiving with our neighbors. Our community Thanksgiving dinner will be Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 22 from 11am to 1pm). Be on the lookout for sign-up sheets to help with this amazing ministry opportunity.
As I watch and listen to the stories of grief and hope that are coming from Pittsburgh, one story stands out for its act of remembering. Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, one of the 11 people murdered in the Synagogue shooting, had a tradition that he would always stand during the Kaddish for the dead. This is a traditional Jewish prayer for those who are mourning. This act was a little different as it is usually only those who are actively in mourning who stand for this prayer. When asked why he did this he told people that, since he had no children, he knew no one would stand for him when he passed. So he stood for all of those who had no one to stand for them. When they read the Kaddish at his funeral everyone stood to remember his act of remembering, even those he did not know. So as we take time this month to remember, let us remember all who stood before us, even those we do not know or name.