November 7, 2020
Bishop Latrelle Easterling
“These are the words I offered during the opening of the Prayer Vigil for National Unity and Justice on Wednesday evening. I share them here as we now know the outcome of the election. They are more true today.”
Achieving National Unity and Justice
By Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
What does it mean that we have gathered under the rubric of national unity and justice? How do we achieve national unity when we are a nation of such broad diversity: diversity of cultures, ethnicities, languages, socio-economic statuses, beliefs, religions and affiliations? How do we unite under such a broad umbrella and understand what justice looks like therein? Our nation is still in its infancy. This great experiment called the United States of America is still becoming. There has not been another collective on earth that has tried such a bold undertaking. What will it take for us to be unified and to seek justice?
It will take humility.
It will take sacrifice.
It will take selflessness.
It will take love.
Calling for unity as we seek justice requires an understanding of the needs of others and not placing our own needs above the collective good. It means being satisfied with our daily bread as we ensure others have daily bread as well. It means not just recognizing those on the margins, but working to eradicate the margins. Seeking unity and justice means working to dismantle all systems of oppression, privilege and division, even if we are benefitting from those systems ourselves. And, for people of faith, it means humbling ourselves and meaning from the depths of our souls – thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Whoever is declared the winner we have so much work to do. We have so many wounds to heal. We have so much human carnage to care for. We have so much collective harm to repent of. We have so much devastation to clear away. We have so much repentance and reconciliation and forgiveness to live into. We have so much decency and civility and humanity to restore. We have so much work to do, people of God!
And, we are the ones called to do it. We cannot be lost to hatred. We cannot be lost to racism and nationalism and colonialism and homophobia and xenophobia and ableism and any other form of privilege and supremacy. We are the ones called to be repairers of the breach. We are the people born of the death and resurrection of a sinless Messiah who have committed ourselves to be the gospel in motion. We have made this commitment voluntarily.
And, so we live into this moment shedding a bit more of self and living a bit more into the beloved community. Ensuring that we have enough love within us to love even the unloveable. Ensuring that if we take to the streets we will be a non-violent presence. It means being willing and able to look hatred in the face and still see the face of God. Not because we are naive. Not because we are weak. Not because we fear retribution. But because we know what is required of us: to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. That is a strength stronger than steel. That is who we are. Amen.
May 28, 2020
I know I write from a position of white privilege. I felt the intense pain as one of our beloved members spoke his experience and gave me permission to post his writing here. I will leave you with that rawness as I conclude…but let me share some of my reading today. It’s as I read the words of others that I’m trying to wrap my head around the brokenness of our nation.
I invite you to mull on these words, to enter into conversation when we have our call Saturday morning. How do we find ourselves in this place once again? How long will injustice claim the day? We have to be better than this! Thank you Walter Williams for your powerful words…they haunt me, as they should each of us. Grace and Peace, Rev. Deb
Kneeling, in most of the world’s religions, is an act of worship and veneration for a deity or its mythic representatives. On Monday (May 25) in Minneapolis, a white police officer kneeled on the neck of a black man named George Floyd, who was already handcuffed, for as many as nine minutes. The officer kneeled on his neck as Floyd pleaded, “I can’t breathe!” The officer knelt there until EMTs arrived and took Floyd, now unresponsive, away. . . .
I write to you with a heart filled with despair and anger over the continued injustices experienced by people of color.
A day later, police responded to a call regarding forgery. George Floyd was flung to the ground and a knee pressed against his neck. Even while he was crying out that he couldn’t breathe and bystanders were pleading for the man’s life, the knee remained until the man, shortly after crying for his mother, had his life snuffed out.
Jesus’ dying words on the cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
This morning, with tears in my eyes, I pray not only to God but to us.
My God, my God, what are we doing?
My God, my God, what have we done?
My God, my God, why have we forsaken each
other?
My God, my God, how have we failed to
recognize the Divine in the eyes of another?
My God, my God, how have we allowed our
hearts to become so violent and angry and
selfish and cruel and cold?
My God, my God, how have we decided we
can mistreat people based on their gender
or their country of origin or their sexual
identity or the color of their skin?
My God, my God, how have we not only failed
to love our neighbors but been complicit in
their destruction and demise?
My God, my God, what have we done?
And what in the name of all that is Holy can we do now to make it right?
On my back! On my head!
Too many people like me becoming dead
Emotion pouring out placed on my heart
The things intruding our nation, where do I start
Because I will! Because I won’t
Damned if I do! Damned if I don’t
Paranoid as I sit behind the wheel
Questioning is it my life they’re going to steal
Sweating profusely this can’t be real
Yet it is and now I’m numb trying to deal
I can’t breathe he said, barely can we
Scared the next one we take, our last it could be
I fit the description but that’s not me
Made up information that none can see
It’s like a sick joke but no one’s laughing
I want to believe this will come to passing
But the target is not shrinking down to size
It steadily grows bigger for reasons I don’t know why
I use to believe I can finish anything I started
But not if I feel watched and like I am carrying a target
Lovely Lane Building Closed Out of Caution – Please Read Below
[Update April 18, 2020 - The Bishop for Baltimore-Washington has asked that all United Methodist churches in the Conference remain closed through May 15, 2020]
March 13, 2020
My Friends,
“We’ve come this far by faith, Leaning on the Lord;
Trusting in His Holy Word, He’s never failed us yet.”
The last twenty-four hours have been an intense time. Just three days ago we heard the Bishop of the Washington Diocese of the Episcopal Church close all Episcopal Churches in DC, Northern Virginia and most of Montgomery County, especially after the incident at Christ Church in Georgetown. We anxiously waited to see if Bishop Easterling would issue a similar directive. Then I started receiving emails, the NBA put its season on hold, other teams have followed suit. There will be no NCAA Men’s or Women’s basketball teams this year playing in March Madness. Broadway shows have been shut down. Even golf has hit the pause button for three weeks.
The Bishop was clear that she did not want to tell local churches what to do as each ministry setting is unique, from Paw Paw, WV, to Solomon’s Island, from Frostburg to Frederick, from Baltimore to Washington, DC we are the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference…just over 600 churches. But yesterday the Governor of MD, Larry Hogan, held his news conference. It became clear as schools across the state are being closed starting Monday that it would be the wise thing to exercise caution as we remain faithful.
We have been asked to close Lovely Lane UMC, along with our sister churches across our Annual Conference. This will take place Saturday starting March 14th at noon. This will give time for our overnight groups to clear the premises. We will be working to inform all outside groups that our building is closed (The Lab School is closed for two weeks). Of course, we will be present for emergencies as they develop.
We are so sorry that we have to move in this direction, but caution is requiring this of us as we take measures to keep all people safe and healthy. We are working to share worship in some meaningful way from home on Sunday. Stay tuned for those details. You could send your offering to the church; the bills will keep coming.
I would welcome your suggestions for how best we can be in touch with each other. This might go on for a while. “Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.” By Rav Yosef
How can you take care of yourself in this time of a worldwide health crises? Follow Wesley:
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can” -John Wesley
Cards, phone calls will go a long way. We’ve been practicing for this! Church isn’t a place we go; it is who we are! LOVE ONE ANOTHER! Reach out to your caregivers, nurses, doctor’s office and let them know you appreciate them being on the front lines. Drop cookies off at a firehouse; be the church.
We know some in our congregation do not have internet access or email and we will work to make sure all are informed. Stay tuned for more details. If there is anything you need contact me directly 301-641-4601, I’m just a phone call away.
As I close, let me share this prayer for a Pandemic by Cameron Wiggins Belim.
May we who are merely inconvenienced
remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury or working from home
remember those who must choose between
preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have flexibility to care for our children
when their schools close
remember those that have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin of money
in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country,
let us choose love during this time
when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace
of God to our neighbor. Amen.
May God bless you and yours; we are a family in this together,
Rev. Deb Scott
Pastor
John Strawbridge
Lay Leader
At Lovely Lane, we find renewal in our faith, our fellowship, and our service to others. Wherever you are in your faith journey, we invite you to share in our worship, our programs, and our space.
Find Us
2200 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: 410-889-1512
Parking Available:
Park in the Baltimore Lab School parking lot, 2220 St. Paul Street
Just north of the church
Enter lot off of 23rd Street (south side)
Or park in the MD Geological Survey parking lot, 2300 St. Paul Street
Enter lot off of 23rd Street (north side)
Accessible Parking / Access:
Park in the Lovely Lane Museum parking lot
Enter from 22nd Street & Lovegrove Street (alley)
Elevator access to Sanctuary level
Reconciling Statement
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was excluded from churches of the Church of England because he welcomed people the church ignored or excluded, and preached that God’s grace is for everyone. (Edwin Womack, Another Choice, UM Insight, 10/31/16). We, the members and friends of Lovely Lane UMC: Baltimore City Station, the Mother Church of American Methodism, boldly follow in Wesley’s footsteps by declaring that our doors, table and altar are open wide to welcome all, including the ignored and excluded of our day.
We wish to be known as a reconciling church. We will always seek to work towards unifying rather than dividing our church family and try to encourage others to do the same. In our unique role as the Mother Church, steeped in history, we proclaim that a mother loves all her children equally.
We believe that each person is of sacred worth. In response to Jesus Christ’s radical (non-traditional) teaching of hospi-tality towards all, we welcome and affirm all people regardless of age, race, gender identity, ethnic background, sexual orientation, physical appearance, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, educational background, political party or marital status into full participation in the life and ministry of Lovely Lane UMC. We commit ourselves to being inclusive of all who seek to join us in a faith community reflective of God’s love for all.
A PLACE FOR YOU
Tours of the church are available after Worship. For tours during the week, please let the church office know in advance via phone or email that you would like to schedule one so that we can confirm a guide is available.
2200 Saint Paul Street
Baltimore, Maryland, 21218
Church Office: 410-889-1512
[email protected]
Join Us
Please note that we have an accessible ramp that leads to the Saint Paul street office entrance.
In Person and Online Worship: 11:00 am.
Click below to view live-stream
Live on YouTube
Or click the Video tab above to view the recorded service afterwards.
Follow Us!
