Until further notice, ALL services will be online, on the Shell Ridge Community Church Facebook page or the website Home page under the 2020 SERMONS tab.
George Floyd 1974-2020
I am depressed to again be seeing and hearing with you the sad, painful, news of the killing of another innocent Black male, George Floyd, by a white police officer on the streets of another U.S city – this time Minneapolis. All of this took place in the presence of multiple other Minneapolis police officers who failed to intervene in a way that could have prevented George Floyd’s death. It occurred in the middle of the day in the clear presence of shocked, angry and helpless onlookers. Some of the by-standers shouted at the police officers while Mr. Floyd was slowly choked to death under the full weight of the officer’s knee as he pressed on the victim’s neck for nearly ten minutes. These events are disturbing, and humiliating for us to own. It occurs with disturbing frequency in our society. The offending officer now stands criminally charged for third degree murder. I am a white minister. I am disappointed in myself. I am disappointed in others and in our institutions. I am too often disappointed with our collective failure to appropriately address the deep racial disparities brought about by generations of racist attitudes espoused by white people. But further, I also tend to think it is other people who are racists, not me. I want to believe I am a “woke” white person, aware of my racial privilege and the disadvantages people of color face. I believe sincere concern and sincere actions are both critical. I also know from experience that my actions will endure longer and mean more than my sincerest sympathies. Through our continued struggle, I can in the very least, refuse to assume that I lack the capacity to transform my mind, myself, and the lives around me. I refuse to assume I have done all I can.
