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Dear San Marco Church Family: Every week in worship we recite the Lord’s prayer prior to our communion liturgy. One of the lines from the prayer captures our calling as Christians in this world. That line is, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” I believe that we are furthering God’s will on earth whenever we engage people with acts of social justice. Our congregation has a strong understanding of practical justice issues, ranging from the need for affordable healthcare and housing to promoting more equality in educational opportunities for all people. One of the members of our leadership team, Bryan Amerling, has the role of promoting social justice initiatives. For example, Bryan was instrumental in organizing San Marco Church’s contribution to the caravan of needed resources sent to Cuba last week. Bryan has also organized healthy opportunities for dialogue on issues of race and poverty during the past year. Many churches are reluctant to address social justice issues because of the fear of alienating some members. The risk churches run by not addressing these important issues is that they become “so heavenly minded that they do no earthly good.” I believe that our faith demands more of us than simply attending worship and waiting for God to receive us into heaven. We have countless opportunities to “do justice” every day, in the ways we notice people and seek to meet the needs of people all around us. I am grateful that many of you are involved in this good work. In fact, I plan to emphasize this aspect of our life together when our Bishop visits on Sunday, April 26. This coming Sunday, April 19, Bryan Amerling will share a message based upon Micah 6: 6-8. His message is entitled “Justice: A Different Lens.” Bryan has many years of ministry experience and a real interest in how the gospel message emphasizes social justice issues. I look forward to being in worship and hearing this message. The Easter season is the perfect time to explore how the risen Christ empowers us to pursue justice in its many forms. Each week, I have the privilege of reading your prayer requests and comments, and I do pray regularly for your needs. If you ever want to speak with me, in person or by phone, just email me at stevehart100@gmail.com. It is an honor to share in your faith journey. I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday! Steve Hart
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