“If you can’t count on the church to stand up for humanity, who then?”
“The Jesus event is NOT an enchanted village: it’s real-life engagement in making the world a more welcoming place. The workload will never lessen.”
Those of you who were here for Sunday’s sermon know that I spoke about the Nativity scene at St. Susanna’s in Dedham, where the “holy family” was missing and the magi were peering at a sign that says, “ICE was here” and another that said “The Holy Family is safe in the Sanctuary of this Church. If you see ICE, please call LUCE at 617-370-5023”. Since then, the story has gotten even more press especially after word got out that the diocese told the parish to take down the scene and the congregation and priest held their ground. Stories have appeared in The New York Times and the Boston Globe, conversation has ensued on Boston Public Radio (the Jim and Margery show) among others.
Like many, I support the parish. I am grateful that I don’t serve a faith with a hierarchical authority structure that can hypocritically try to force us to mute our faithful convictions which align with the gospel. I worry that LUCE will need a new number due to fake callers trying to jam their lines. I am frustrated by conversation about the “controversy” that doesn’t focus on the real controversy- the fact that people are being harshly kidnapped off the streets of the United States and parents are sending their brown and tan children to elementary school with notes saying “I am a U.S. citizen” pinned to their backpacks.
I am also grateful for this congregation- for all it is doing to feed people, for the beauty are musicians are bringing, for the good food people are cooking, for its radical welcome. I am challenged to consider how we can be more visible in the public square and in the halls of the legislature. Many of us are facing some all-consuming or demanding challenges in our lives right now. But if you find yourself spending hours listening to the news or on social media and fuming, that means you have time on your hands that we can put to good use as we build stronger coalitions. Just ask us about ways to tap in.
I’ve received a few requests for photos of my Nativity scene; it is quite spread out (the whale has her own section) so it’s a bit hard to capture, but I’ve done my best. Some may look at it and see a “enchanted village”, but I see a theological statement. It seems a lot of us have stories about Nativity sets which are often inherited from family members; I invite you to talk about them and St. Susanna’s story in conversation this season. One of you told me about your grandmother’s Nativity set from 1928 that refreshingly has three Black wise men and a Black angel. May all the Black angels- and holy beings of every color and species- get our attention and keep us walking on the path towards love!
Yours in the shortening days and long, dark nights,
Rev. Lee
P.S. If this is one of those seasons where there isn’t much financial room to give your kids Christmas, the minister’s discretionary fund can help. If you are feeling hopeless or really down, keep me on your list of people to call; my cell phone is in REALM or just email me and we can talk. It’s a hard season for many; I recommend taking your vitamin D and remembering that whatever you do for Christmas will be enough (even if it is “just church”.)