As you know our state is slowly relaxing the restrictions and getting ready to open beaches, in-door dining, and changing limits for large gatherings where vaccinated people will not count towards the limit. While this is exciting, it also means that we keep working to get as many people vaccinated as possible.
To help with that many United Methodist Churches are partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to serve as vaccination sites. Broadway United Methodist Church will be a vaccination site during the week of May 30th.
Now, in order to do this successfully I need your help with a couple things: volunteers for the day, and pre- registration. I believe most of our Broadway community is vaccinated by now, but if you are not and want to, please send me an email/text (815-474-6721)/fb message and I will be happy to share details with you. I also invite you to share the news with your neighbors, people in your building, coworkers, anyone who is needing a vaccine still. Final details are in the works, but we need to start registering. Without enough registrations we may have to cancel the plan.
And while we are well on the way to have a better grip on the viral pandemic, we continue to deal with the racial discrimination, and so we continue to hold Anti-Racist Prayer Vigils on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 6:00pm, where we hold space for about 30 minutes and lift up any prayers that might be heavy on our hearts that day/week/moment. Broadway hosts the 2nd Wednesday and Lakeview Presbyterian Church hosts the 4th Wednesday.
Beloveds, we celebrate Pentecost this Sunday -- which not only is traditionally marked as the ‘birth of the church’ but is also a reminder to us of the unity that God desires of us -- regardless of our differences in language, nationality, color, creed, race or anything else that marks us as different. As God’s people we are called to embrace the differences and claim our identity as children of God! I invite us to focus on that in these coming days and not allow fear to get the best of us.
Friends, as I said last week -- the work of justice is messy and the answers are never easy or simple. And, Jesus did not call us to take the easy way but the just way. So, let us continue to strive to do what is just and according to Jesus’ call to love and welcome. Let us continue to stand against all acts of violence, extend care and support for folks who might be targeted, do all we can to make this world a better place for everyone, and remember, I am always your partner in this work of justice! I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday!
