Word from Wiese

The ARC of Gracism

The ARC of Gracism

28 April 2021

Pastor MardyWhat a joy it was on Sunday for Minister Mardy Ringer to serve as our guest preacher for Week #2 in our Easter season sermon series, Gracism: An Easter Lifestyle for a Good Friday World. Not only did Mardy share a vivacious and memorable sermon, but at the 11 AM service, we loved adding our voices to the special hymns led the St. Mark’s Praise Team. Many of you told me after service that you’d enjoy taking a COS van trip to Atlanta to worship with our new friends at St. Mark’s at their place. We’ll do it! St. Mark’s won’t resume in-person worship until July, but at that point, we’ll plan a road-trip!

As you might recall, Mardy Ringer is a lay person whom the Holy Spirit tapped for a special assignment. In addition to running his communications business full-time, Mardy has accepted our synod’s invitation for a special seminary process, so he can be ordained to pastor specifically at St. Mark’s Lutheran. It’s my delight this year to serve as Mardy’s supervisor for his year of internship. (Just as Intern Pastor Jonathan Trapp served with us part-time while retaining his full-time job at the Center of Disease Control, Mardy Ringer is exploring this new pathway to bi-vocational ministry. Who knows, maybe one of YOU reading this would like to know more about “the call process”!)

GracismMardy shared a very helpful way to remember our call to be Gracists. By “building an ARC” each day. When the negative forces of this world threaten to disconnect us—whether because of color, culture, creed, or circumstance—God whispers to us to build bridges by showing grace, or “Gracism.” Noah’s ARK was a good place to hide when the storm came. But today, God doesn’t want us to hide or sit on the couch watching the world, but engage life positively, with an ARC.

“A” stands for Awareness.

Are we aware of the challenges faced by our family and friends? Sometimes, our kids face tough levels of anxiety or depression, especially in these tough pandemic times. Sometimes, our neighbors are wrestling with worry over health issues or job concerns. Do we stay in touch with those put close to us by God? Are we aware of the challenges they face? Across America, I wonder if many white people have become more aware of the perspective of our black friends or other neighbors of color. Recently, I think I have grown in my understanding of how they see the world. It’s not been easy, but important, and I’m grateful for the process God has led.

“R” stands for Relationship.

Once we’re aware of a challenge in someone else’s life, it’s time to strengthen the relationship. For COS, enjoying time with our friends at St. Mark’s, a primarily black congregation is a neat expression of this. We are mutually edified when we spend time with each other, singing together, worshiping together, and showing a willingness to make it to each other’s places of worship. As individuals, think about how you can invest in relationship building with people who could benefit from your encouragement.

“C” stands for Commitment.

It’s easy to make a New Year’s Resolution. But it’s tougher to commit to it still in February. May God always give us resolve and energy to follow through on what we know in our hearts to be right, to commit courageously to the Lord’s work as God offers it to us daily. Do you remember how Preacher Mardy started to hum a bass line to a song with great artistry in his sermon? What tune was it? “Come Together,” by the Beatles. We all knew it and started to sing along!

So, friends, let’s be modern-day Noahs. Let’s build daily ARCs to take us on the baptismal waters of Gracism. Let’s be AWARE of forces that try to separate us. Let us build bridges, even simple ones, of RELATIONSHIP with all kinds of our neighbors. Let us pray that God would inspire us to get off our couches and COMMIT to playing our role in God’s wonderful plan that brings so much joy, Gracism.

See you this Sunday when Pastor Miriam tees up our sermon series conclusion,
Pastor Fritz