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From the Pastor

Dear CUCC friends,

This week injustice has reared its ugly head. As if competing with the rising of Spring’s blooming flowers violence threatens to choke-out resurrection life at every turn. ICE has proven itself an immoral arm of our nations decaying systems of capital greed layered atop white privilege and Christian nationalism once again. My family’s neighborhood restaurant soon to open at the end of our street is now in jeopardy because ICE has raided the homes of immigrant families across the triangle arresting the co-owner of Roots as well as his brothers.

Meanwhile, the nation is pre-occupied with 1 white, wealthy male whose home was raided, with
a warrant, for an FBI investigation pending criminal suspicions. And another white, wealthy male whose book released this week added exactly nothing new to the already corrupt narrative of toxic leadership coming from Capitol Hill; an alchemy of unintelligible, violent and narcissistic pre-occupations—yet consumes every line across printed, scrolling, back-lit sources that tell the story; our story?

Our President has waged an unconstitutional war on Syria further isolating himself from congressional leadership and jeopardizing international relations.

States are facing crippling financial crises as pension bills rise among boomers and while children forego textbooks, nurses, healthy food and law enforcement to protect them —corners are cut to ensure that wealthy,  white men draw their ”fair” share.

14 year-old black teen, Brennan Walker of Detroit, missed the bus for school and knocked on a neighbor’s door seeking directions. Rather than a warm smile and a compassionate ear he was
met with bullets. 

Two black men in Philadelphia sat at a Starbucks table waiting for their friends to show-up before ordering coffee when they were met with handcuffs rather than a handshake. 

Rev. Julian DeShazier, Senior Pastor of University Church in Chicago, IL says,

“I’ve even heard well meaning “liberal” folk say, about immigration in particular, “That’s THEIR issue.” If you can’t see the cross-section of immigration reform and criminal justice reform, or the color-blind nature of wage theft against poor workers, or mothers that can’t get adequate treatment for breast cancer or support against a violent partner…is this really THEIR issue?”

Friends, it is time to “rise” and combat OUR issues beginning with white privilege, Christian
nationalism, greed, and…

Spirit is leading the way,

-Rev. Jenny Shultz-Thomas