Sacred Conversations

sacred (s~'kr0d) adj.             1.       Dedicated to or set apart for the worship of a deity.             2.       Worthy of religious veneration: the sacred                     teachings of the Buddha.             3.       Made or declared holy: sacred bread and                     wine.             4.       Dedicated or devoted exclusively to a single                    use, purpose, or person: sacred to the                      memory of her.

On May 18, St. Michael's joined with UCC churches throughout the nation in opening a sacred conversation about race.  It was humble beginning, but at least we did begin!  Truth is, lots of churches didn't, for one reason or another.  Some pastors felt it would be too controversial, or make folks feel uncomfortable.  Some worried that their members just didn't want to hear it and couldn't see what good it would do to push the issue.  Others feared it could actually do some harm if the strategy for opening the conversation wasn't really well thought out. My feeling was that we were just being asked to open a conversation.  We converse about lots of things.  Why not open a conversation about race?

Of course, the call was to enter into a sacred conversation.  So that ratcheted up the stakes, I suppose.  Still.  It was just a conversation.  I ended my sermon noting that conversations are not meant to be monologues.  From the pulpit, I wondered with our congregation how we might deepen the conversation and add conversation partners so that this wasn't just a one-shot monologue deal.  Here are some of the ideas that emerged.

<    Look for a church of a different racial make-up that would want to partner with us in this conversation.  Thee were a couple of churches suggested - two are African-American and one is Hispanic.

<    Form a study group to delve more deeply into the issues of race and racism in America.  (To this end, Gladys Dieckmann has offered her home in Geneva as a place for a study group to meet on a weekday morning or afternoon.  If you are interested, speak with Gladys or Pastor Denise.)

<    St. Michael's members could attend West Chicago (and other) community meetings, paying attention to issues of race so that we can learn how they are being played out in our own communities.

After worship, I heard from one person who wished I'd talked about Asian and Native American issues, and that I'd lifted up the Japanese internment.  Another person wished I'd talked about Hispanic issues, especially as they impact our own community.  Someone else asserted that many white people are tired of so much attention being given to people of color.  Yet another reaffirmed that St. Michael's should send another group to worship at Trinity UCC.  And another person said she thought the race question was ludicrous because there is only one race: the human race.  Wow.  That's a lot of people eager to enter into the conversation!

I'll look for ways to keep us engaged around this topic.  I hope you will, too.  In the meantime, check out Rev. John  Thomas' sermon from May 18.  John is the General Minister of the UCC, our fearless and faithful leader!  You can find his excellent sermon on the UCC website at

http://www.ucc.org/news/significant-speeches/thomas-justice-must-be.html

If you don't have access to the internet and want to read his sermon, call the church office and request a copy be sent to you.

Pastor Denise

P.S.      As part of Laura Hall's concert, her husband, Rick (an incredibly talented playwright and actor), will perform one act from a play he wrote about two churches, one black, one white, that have a sacred conversation of their own.  Laura provides the music for both churches.  The play is insightful and funny.  It'll make you laugh and think!  What a great way to keep the conversation going!