Fast and Pray (and Keep Loving)
Colleagues-
We live in dangerous times, and it’s often hard to know how to show up. I’m thankful for all the ways you demonstrate your membership in the Empire of Love. Each of you is finding ways to love the people closest to you, and be the Church God needs for this time and this place.
The other day, one of our CPC pastors said to me, “I don’t know if I’m doing this right, but I’m just trying to be a faithful minister.” I can tell you, you are doing it right, because you keep showing up!
On this week’s Sanctuary Coordination Call with the Rev. Noel Anderson, I heard a request that people of faith across the nation fast and pray on Friday, January 23rd, and I’m amplifying that request through you.
Below is a video I made asking people to fast and pray on the 23rd. Feel free to share it with your churches, with your friends, with anyone you think might want to join us. I’ve also shared it on my social media (most of the posts on my personal Facebook page are public and shareable, as are the posts on the CPC Facebook page).
Thank you for praying without ceasing that justice would roll down like water, and that the tsunami of state violence would end – praying with your hearts, but also with your hands and feet. Keep praying, and trust that those who side against Love always fail. Other empires have crumbled as this one will, but the Empire of Love continues!
As always, thank you for being the Church for this time and this place. Thanks for continually renewing your membership in the Empire of Love.
With you in the struggle,
Tyler
Video Transcript
For those of you who don't know me, I'm the Rev. Tyler Connoley. I use they/them pronouns, and I'm the Conference Minister for the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ. That's all of the UCC churches in southern Washington, Oregon, and southern Idaho. I live in Portland, Oregon, so my home town is one of those targeted by the state violence and cruelty driven by the White House. We exist in solidarity with Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, DC, and with everyone in the United States and across the globe who have been targeted by the current tsunami of state violence unleashed by this administration.
In the spirit of solidarity, I'd like to invite you to join me on Friday, January 23rd, by fasting and praying.
On the 23rd, many people of faith and goodwill will be traveling to Minnesota, or attending actions in their own communities. If you're one of those, thank you! Stay strong, stay safe, if you can.
We also need prayer warriors surrounding those people with power, and I'd like you to be one of them.
Fasting is an ancient religious tradition that focuses our attention. By fasting and praying on Friday, you're joining your spiritual energy with the Empire of Love that is bigger than this or any empire. You can fast from food, or if that isn't feasible, fast from something else. Just join your spirit with those who pray that justice will flow like water, and that this tsunami of state violence will end.
The prophet Isaiah says God chooses a fast that releases prisoners, sets free those being mistreated, that feeds, clothes, and houses people with care. Let your intention be toward those things.
I also want to say thank you to all of you who are members of the Empire of Love. I know you are feeding and hiding your neighbors from other countries, loving trans and gender-queer children by finding them safe spaces and access to healthcare, sheltering those living outside who have been targeted as inhuman and unworthy of love, amplifying calls for justice through protests and phone calls, and having hard conversations that seek to free those bound by ideologies of hate.
Keep doing all those things! We need to get as many people through this Valley of shadow as possible, and we need you helping the people who are closest to you. The Empire of Love is at hand in your own back yard!
We also know we have power that is bigger than any one of us, and your prayer and fasting can help focus that power.
Thanks for being with me in the struggle. I love you.
