Worship: Sundays at 8:15 am | 9:40 am | 11:00 am, Wednesdays at 6:35 pm, Fridays at 7:00 pm
Dear Friends,  I begin today's DSE with a pastoral word in light of the tragic events in a Charleston.

This past Monday, our wonderful Sonlight Choir sang in Charleston, SC, bringing a message of love and hope - it's a message so badly needed all across the world, isn't it?  As we all know now, on Wednesday a young man entered the great, historic Emmanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston and sat down by the gracious, kind and good pastor during a Bible Study; a group in a sacred space doing sacred work.  And then, he created unspeakable devastation - the young man opened fire on the small group, killing nine; four were pastors, three were elderly; all were beautiful human beings.  He said his motivation was because they were black.  "How long, O Lord?"  So, asked the Psalmist, and so ask we.  How long must this hatred, this killing of innocents continue? When will we ever learn?  

This past Tuesday, at Faith Mission, we saw a hint of community, of what surely our Christ and our world longs to see:  a round table discussion of persons of different races: the leadership team of the Faith Mission, representatives of SWAG, the Greenhouse Church, Trinity and local representatives, all united in listening, learning, loving, being in community.

We offer our prayers for the families of those who were killed in Charleston, their Church and that community, "Lord in your mercy."  We commit ourselves to redoubling our efforts to "live together in love, peace and understanding."  We will monitor our words, and call others to account for theirs, for words spoken in hate must cease. We will speak words of love and grace and kindness.  As followers of Jesus, we will live in love for all. 

With sadness for man's inhumanity to man, but with hope because of the Risen Christ and all who truly follow Him in His life of loving service and works of reconciliation. 

Rev. Dan



Kind

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else (I Thess 5:15).

One of the truly revolutionary and novel concepts that Jesus and Christianity brought into the world is found in this verse:  not paying back wrong for wrong; forgiving, not "getting even," which leads to a kindness.  It's what Christ followers are called to do.  May God help you and me today to practice our faith.  

Love and prayers, 

Dan


Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Ave | Gainesville, FL 32653
352.376.6615
TrinityGNV.org

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Friday, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm