To the Parish Family of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue,
I write to you today with a very heavy heart. This Day of Pentecost is when we are meant to celebrate the power of the Holy Spirit, which empowered the several peoples of Christ’s Church to spread across the globe as one new family bearing the hopeful message of God’s victory over death.
Yet, on this Day of Pentecost, where the power of God was felt by the first followers of Jesus Christ as tongues of flame, we find ourselves looking with horror upon a very different flame. As some of you have told us, you have even seen this flame outside of your very own windows at home. These past few days and nights, the fire which has burnt cars, buildings, and even people, is part of the painful landscape of the many protests and riots that have broken out across our country, even on Fifth Avenue. Many demonstrations have been sparked by the vivid on-camera killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis. This is only the latest occurrence in the history of our nation which has regularly groaned under the weight of the deep divisions of race and class that mark our common life. The broad scope of this most recent discord is made all the more troubling by taking place during a time of Pandemic.
Although I cannot be with you in person, I ask you to join us in fervent prayer for peace, reconciliation, justice, and love in our nation and in our time. May we, this Pentecost, pray for that peace which seems to elude us. We pray also that the Spirit of God heal us, restore our broken spirits and frayed society, and release us from the devastating cycles of violence and retaliation.
A Prayer for the Human Family from our Prayer Book:
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be assured that we are all here to extend our support and care to you in the coming days.
Faithful yours,
