Dear Covenant Friends,

On Sunday night I heard the news that the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire while his family slept peacefully. Police knocked on the door to awaken them and fought to put out the blaze set by a violent act of arson. The entire home was safely evacuated and there were no injuries.

No one who has experienced a house fire ever forgets it. The sound of the flames, the crackling of wood and shingles, the elemental fear of it all. The day our carriage house burned to the ground is etched in my memory, even though no humans were in danger.

At this time, the arsonist’s motive has not been identified. Governor Shapiro issued a statement. “If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community, who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night, hear me on this: We celebrated our faith last night, proudly, and in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover.”

What’s happened to us when we no longer respect other people’s property, religious holidays, worship spaces and differing viewpoints?

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the beginning of the holiest week of the Christian year. At 10:15 am local time, Russian missiles struck the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy just as worshippers were gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday. At least 34 people were killed, including two children. 

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we awoke to the horrible news that al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza- a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and a long-time global partner of the United Church of Christ- had suffered two direct Israeli air strikes. A little girl died of her injuries in the chaotic evacuations. 

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we rang the prayer bell for victims of gun violence in Cuyahoga County, like we do the second Sunday of every month. We sang and held our palms and remembered how crowds can turn from praise to violence in the course of one week. The choir sang a Taize benediction that gradually faded into a whisper- stay with me, remain with me, watch and pray. The words refer to Jesus’ tender request to his disciples in the garden, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38)

May we stay with each other and stay with Jesus, ever vigilant for opportunities to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.

And Chag Pesach Sameach to our Jewish friends.

Peace,

Pastor Jessie

pastor@covenantweb.org