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A Moment of Prayer and Lament
This Friday, June 5, at noon, a group of Seattle clergy from many faith
traditions will gather on the terrace and steps of St. James Cathedral
to pray and observe eight minutes, 46 seconds of silence while the
Cathedral’s funeral bell tolls. Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown, Lead Pastor,
Plymouth Church, will speak and invite all to the time of silence.
Because of the ongoing pandemic, and the limitations on the size of
outdoor gatherings, you are encouraged to join in the service via
livestream here or at the
Cathedral Facebook page.
Father Ryan's text
A Moment of Prayer and Lament
June 5, 2020
My
friends,
Archbishop Paul Etienne joins me in welcoming you to
this Moment of Prayer and Lament. We do this as we look over the
city we love - a city of great promise and prosperity, but not for all;
a city of unparalleled opportunity, but not for all; a city known for
its tolerance, but not for all; a city that decries racism but does far
too little to root it out. But it’s not really fair for me to point the
finger down the hill at our city or at our nation. I must also
point the finger at myself and acknowledge all the ways I have tolerated
racism, all the ways I have turned a blind eye to the systemic evils of
racism, all the ways I have reaped – and continue to reap - the dire
fruits of white privilege.
In the midst of a painful
Moment of Truth fueled by yet one more sin against a black brother,
George Floyd – the sin, the crime, of murder - we religious leaders come
together for some moments of prayer and quiet reflection because, at
this point, silence may be more important than the multiplication of
words. I would like to share some recent words of Bishop Mark Seitz, the
Roman Catholic bishop of El Paso, an outspoken champion of the migrants
and refugees that are at his doorstep: “I think leaders in the church
today, and leaders everywhere, really, should perhaps say a little less
right now. Instead, we should stand with and give the microphone and
listen to those who have been unheard for too long. To those who
have suffered our shameful history of discrimination and racial
profiling and police brutality. To those who are putting their bodies on
the line in protest and in defense of others.”
With this in
mind, it’s my privilege to invite the Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown, lead pastor
of Plymouth Church, to speak to us.
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