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You’ve probably noticed the hyperbolic rhetoric this weekend in the wake of the radical Islamist inspired terrorism attack in San Bernardino, where Donald Trump called for closing our border to all Muslims (including Muslim-American Citizens) and the president of Liberty University called on all 113,000 of its students to arm themselves against “those Muslims” and to be prepared to “teach them a lesson” in case of a feared attack. This, of course, blames the vast majority of peaceful Muslims for the acts of a small few, and empowers and legitimizes all sorts of hate speech and acts towards peaceful, innocent people.

In response to all of this, a Facebook friend suggested:

I cannot fix Trump. But I can write a note of support to local mosques. So can you.

This was a great idea, so I drafted a letter and posted it on Facebook, seeking suggestions for improvement. In the end, I made a few minor changes and mailed this to three area Islamic Societies and a mosque that had experienced a specific threatening act on Saturday. I had planned to just leave it there, but some are asking to see the final text to share. So, here it is. Please feel free to adapt and use in your context as you see fit.

Peace to you as well this Advent season.

Chad

PDF: IslamicNeighborltr2015
———————-

Dear brothers and sisters:

As-salamu alaykum.

These days appear to be trying times for followers of Islam in our country. As the Pastor and spiritual leader of The Kirk, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and your neighbor in the Kansas City community, I extend to you a greeting of peace and love.

This is a particularly holy season for those who claim the name Christian. We await the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom we call the Prince of Peace. We believe that Christians are called at all times to imitate Jesus’ welcome and compassion, to love all people as God has loved us in Jesus Christ, to be peacemakers.

In this spirit, I am writing to extend my support and encouragement to your community and to all the families who find nurture there. My heart breaks at the hate speech and vile behavior toward Muslims recently expressed by some politicians and Christian leaders in our country. It is my prayer that this reprehensible behavior has not adversely impacted your community, and that you can continue to practice your faith and live your everyday lives in freedom, peace, and mutual harmony.

If we can extend to you something beyond this word of encouragement and support, please do not hesitate to ask. In particular, I would hope to explore whether there is some opportunity for our communities to come together over a shared meal or social activity, so we might come to know one another better.

Peace to you this Advent season.

In Christ,

Rev. Chad Andrew Herring
Pastor
The Kirk of Kansas City

December 6, 2015 – “Led by the Light” from John Knox Kirk on Vimeo.

A sermon preached at The Kirk of Kansas City, Missouri, on December 06, 2015.

Zephaniah 3:14-20
and Luke 3:1-18

I have to talk about it this week,
because its all people are talking about this week, it seems.

But it is an emotional issue for many, so lets talk about it peaceably.

Like all of my sermons, I’m believe that you are asking the preacher to listen for God’s word
and offer it the best we can,
and leave it up to God.
Sermons are meant to inspire the work of Spirit in you, in your heart and your mind,
to aid in your thinking and in the formation of our faith
whether you agree or disagree with my meditation.
So no matter where you are, I hope that there is something in here
that your faith can hold on to.

///
But first, let us hear the word to us from the Gospel According to Luke:
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
and Herod was ruler of Galilee,
and his brother Philip ruler
of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,
during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

He went into all the region around the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him,
‘You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruits worthy of repentance.

Do not begin to say to yourselves,
“We have Abraham as our ancestor”;
for I tell you, God is able from these stones
to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees;
every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.’

And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’
In reply he said to them,
‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none;
and whoever has food must do likewise.’

Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him,
‘Teacher, what should we do?’
He said to them,
‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’

Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’
He said to them,
‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation,
and be satisfied with your wages.’

As the people were filled with expectation,
and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John,
whether he might be the Messiah,
John answered all of them by saying,
‘I baptize you with water;
but one who is more powerful than I is coming;
I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing-fork is in his hand,
to clear his threshing-floor
and to gather the wheat into his granary;
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

And may God bless to us our reading,
and our understanding
and our applying of these words, to how we live our lives. Amen.

///
So what do you think?
Will God fix it?

[Read more…]

An Advent Letter to Kansas City Muslims

Sermon: Led by the Light