Many of my generation hoped that the brutality manifested during our
United States Civil Rights era would not linger to erupt onto lived
experiences of our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Yet . . it did.
Emanuel A.M.E. Church and its generational congregations over the centuries has played a part in American history since the 1800s.The name Emanuel in various spellings translates broadly into "God with us." http://www.behindthename.com/name/emmanuel
As an historic African American denomination, the AME church and Emanuel AME is a member of a socially pro-active Christian (African Methodist Episcopal) group with religious roots in the racially torn America of its main founder Richard Allen during the 1700s http://www.ame-church.com/our-church/our-history/
Paraphrasing a community of faith theme stated by conscious newscasts: members of the congregation (for the church is really its body of members who worship in a building) are asking people to pray. Their ability to forgive will take much heartfelt prayer.
Emanuel AME's congregation's post tragedy behavior reflects its now deceased pastor's biblically based leadership. He was there when it happened. He lost his life along with 8 others. The congregation strives to embody results of prayer's power uttered from sincere hearts and lips of those who are truly seeking the Lord and are intentionally living by God's precepts required of believers who live by faith in God's merciful grace.
As Christians, the congregation of Emanuel AME believe that Christ is indeed with them as they suffer, walk through as the 23rd Psalm states, "The shadow of death" in this deeply painful trial. They are not just talking about, but are publically living their belief and their faith in God and Christ--expressing caritas, asking for prayer for all affected by the tragedy: the shooter, his family, the victims, their families, and the congregation who has lost their pastor. Perhaps by extension, those prayers should also be for unity and harmony in the Charleston community, in South Carolina, in the United States.
Although our prayers as a nation after such tragedies are for resilience in pain's immediacy, Emanuel AME's congregation knows this single act of tribulation will have a multi-generational, longitudinal impact. They also know that they are not alone in such traumatic loss, that as believers they must unite in daily prayer for others around the world suffering from tragic loss and grief through hatred's onslaught in myriad masked socio-political forms.
Pray for people's strength to endure and overcome hatred and oppression as our world seems to become more chaotic. . . If you can not or do not pray, send concerned, positive thoughts into the cosmos as you go about daily interactions. Small "gestures," true. But we must regain, express the best of our terrestrial humanity--one step at a time.
Hopefully, now that media frenzy has diminished, Emanuel AME's congregation can begin its long journey into the night of private grief towards a sunrise of united resurrection based healing.
Leaning on the everlasting arms . . .
Delores Fisher
Emanuel A.M.E. Church and its generational congregations over the centuries has played a part in American history since the 1800s.The name Emanuel in various spellings translates broadly into "God with us." http://www.behindthename.com/name/emmanuel
As an historic African American denomination, the AME church and Emanuel AME is a member of a socially pro-active Christian (African Methodist Episcopal) group with religious roots in the racially torn America of its main founder Richard Allen during the 1700s http://www.ame-church.com/our-church/our-history/
Paraphrasing a community of faith theme stated by conscious newscasts: members of the congregation (for the church is really its body of members who worship in a building) are asking people to pray. Their ability to forgive will take much heartfelt prayer.
Emanuel AME's congregation's post tragedy behavior reflects its now deceased pastor's biblically based leadership. He was there when it happened. He lost his life along with 8 others. The congregation strives to embody results of prayer's power uttered from sincere hearts and lips of those who are truly seeking the Lord and are intentionally living by God's precepts required of believers who live by faith in God's merciful grace.
As Christians, the congregation of Emanuel AME believe that Christ is indeed with them as they suffer, walk through as the 23rd Psalm states, "The shadow of death" in this deeply painful trial. They are not just talking about, but are publically living their belief and their faith in God and Christ--expressing caritas, asking for prayer for all affected by the tragedy: the shooter, his family, the victims, their families, and the congregation who has lost their pastor. Perhaps by extension, those prayers should also be for unity and harmony in the Charleston community, in South Carolina, in the United States.
Although our prayers as a nation after such tragedies are for resilience in pain's immediacy, Emanuel AME's congregation knows this single act of tribulation will have a multi-generational, longitudinal impact. They also know that they are not alone in such traumatic loss, that as believers they must unite in daily prayer for others around the world suffering from tragic loss and grief through hatred's onslaught in myriad masked socio-political forms.
Pray for people's strength to endure and overcome hatred and oppression as our world seems to become more chaotic. . . If you can not or do not pray, send concerned, positive thoughts into the cosmos as you go about daily interactions. Small "gestures," true. But we must regain, express the best of our terrestrial humanity--one step at a time.
Hopefully, now that media frenzy has diminished, Emanuel AME's congregation can begin its long journey into the night of private grief towards a sunrise of united resurrection based healing.
Leaning on the everlasting arms . . .
Delores Fisher
Thank you dear Sister for this eloquent summize of the reality which still exists in this country and around the world. As Christians and believers we continue to fight the good fight!
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