01/08/2026
From Pastor Jason...
The Tragic Shooting in Minneapolis
As you are likely aware, on Wednesday, January 7th in Minneapolis, Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent. The circumstances around her death are being investigated. For those who have seen the videos circulating on social media and the news, the shooting was tragic and horrific.
As with most moments in our country right now, depending on your news source and what leaders you listen to and the algorithm that feeds you stories, you are likely hearing different accounts of how this death is being framed. A victim of state-sanctioned violence. An ICE officer shooting in self-defense. The simple truth is that a woman died while attempting to help protect her neighbors from the escalating tactics and growing enforcement of a masked federal law enforcement agency.
This loss of life was not necessary.
Emotions: grief, sadness, and anger are bound to well-up.
Our grief should lead to empathy.
Our sadness should lead to presence.
Our anger should lead to action.
Empathy is not weakness, but the appropriate first step as a human being.
Presence is the only way towards understanding and reconciliation.
Action, that is non-violent yet clear and determined, is the only way towards systemic change.
Systemic change happens when enough people, in enough ways, in enough communities take action. This won't happen overnight and it won't happen all at once. It will be slow. It will be incremental. It will be two steps forward and one step back. It will be frustrating. It will be enlivening. It will be seeped in grief. It will be moments of pure joy.
On Sunday, I heard about the challenges of a family connected to our community. They are providing care for their immigrant community, yet resources are limited and fears are high.
As we learn about ways to care for and support people, we will put out the call. Please be ready. Be ready to give a gift card to a family in need of groceries or a care-provider in need of gas. Be ready to bring a meal to someone who is scared to leave their house. Be ready to accompany someone to an appointment so they don't have to go alone. Be ready to protest. Be ready to vote. Be ready to call your legislators. Be ready to pray. Be ready to be Christ.
Enough people, in enough ways, in enough communities.
And let us not forget that the death of Renee Nicole Good was because she saw the hurting and pain and injustice being done to people different from her. Her empathy, her presence, her action. And let not her name be the only name we recall. Mubashir, a 20-year old US citizen, unlawfully detained in Minneapolis. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, unlawfully sent to El Salvador. George Retes, an American combat veteran, detained for days. And many, many, many, many others.
Bishop Lanette Plambeck wrote a beautiful piece. You can find her words: HERE
May our hope and faith in the kin-dom and kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven sustain us and move us. May our belief in the God who moves to the margins and towards the oppressed sustain us and move us. May our faith in the Christ of the cross and the empty tomb sustain us and move us. May our trust that the Spirit is alive and active sustain us and move us.
Now and forevermore.
