A Litany of Welcome and Justice

The church I pastor, Our Common Table, seeks to be a Christian community of welcome and justice in North Everett.
We're spending some Sundays sitting with that hope.
Last Sunday we explored welcome. This Sunday we explore justice.
Each week, we begin our worship with a litany of welcome. Here is our litany of welcome and justice for this week.

We'd love for you to join us if you can!
2624 Rockefeller Ave, Everett WA
5pm Potluck. 6pm Worship.

One:

• The averaged distance women in Africa walk to get clean water is approximately 4 miles. They carry 20 liters on their heads, doing spine and neck damage over time. As they walk, they are vulnerable to attack from people so broken they twist what is meant to embody love into violent crimes against women’s bodies.
• In Flint Michigan, nearly half the population lives below the poverty line. Over half the population is african American. For the past two years, their water supply has become increasingly toxic. Children have fallen ill and had seizures from the heavy metals in their water.
• And then there is spiritual thirst. For centuries, the church has controlled and limited who has access to the love, welcome, and nourishment of God. Those on the margins have often been excluded. Our denomination started when a young man took note of people in poverty who didn’t believe what were determined to be the right beliefs excluded from the Lord’s table. He said he would not receive if they could not receive and began the story that birthed our movement to welcome all.

Let us welcome the those who thirst:

All, Sung:
O let all who thirst, let them come to the table
And let all who have nothing, Let them come to the Lord
Without money, without strife, Why should you spend your life?
Come to the Lord

One:

• In Washington state, you need to work 73 hours a week at minimum wage in order to afford to live in a one bedroom apartment.
• Researchers estimate that 21 to 36 million people are enslaved worldwide, generating $150 billion each year in profits for broken people whose life work is to make money by selling people.
• And then there is spiritual exhaustion. Many people work and toil to please God not knowing God’s pleasure is freely given. Many people work to be who they are not in order to be allowed at God’s table. Here we welcome all.

Let us welcome those who toil:

All, sung:
And let all who toil, let them come to the table
And let all who are weary, let them come to the Lord
All who labor without rest How can your soul find rest?
Come to the Lord

One:

• One in four of our neighbors in Everett live below the poverty line.
• According to the most recent count, nearly 500 of our neighbors in Snohomish County are houseless.
• Nearly half of the world’s population live on less than $2.50/day.
• 805 million people do not have enough to eat today.
• The World Food Programme says, “The poor are hungry and their hunger traps them in poverty.”
• And then there is spiritual poverty. Some of those who have the most are seeking so hard after more that they are spiritually bankrupt. Some of us work so hard to make ends meet that we run out of time to simply sit and be in the presence of God. Even tonight, some of our family at Our Common Table cannot be here because of work or because of exhaustion from work.

Let us welcome those who are poor:

All, sung:
And let all the poor, let them come to the table
And let the ones who are laden, let them come to the Lord
Bring the children without might, easy the load and light
Come to the Lord

One:

• While people of color make up 30% of the US population, they make up 60% of our imprisoned population. One in three black man can expect to go to prison in their life times.
• There were 10 million first nations - or Native American - folks living on this land before settlers arrived in the 1500’s. Less than 300,000 remained in 1900.
• Many First Nations communities, including the Snohomish on whose land we live, are not recognized by the US government.
• First Nations communities suffer long term effects of genocide, exploitation, and a system that perpetuates white privilege and racism. These communities account for: The nation’s highest rate of school drop outs. Our highest rate of child mortality. The highest rate of suicide. The highest rate of teenage suicide. The highest rate of teenage pregnancy. And our nation’s lowest life expectancy: 55 years.
• Typically a white household has 16 times the wealth of an African American household.
• And, as we mourn his passing, let’s share this quote from Muhammad Ali: "Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.”

Let us welcome all who need justice:

All, sung:
And let all who need justice, let them come to the table
And let all who are oppressed, let them come to the Lord
We seek justice in this land. We are marching hand in hand.
Come to the Lord

One:
This weekend at a Christian Justice Conference, one speaker marginalized LGBT+ folks with Scripture. Lisa Sharon Harper, in contrast said: “How dare you use Scripture to oppress the image of God in others.”
Termination of an employee based on sexual orientation remains legal in 31 American states.
Termination of an employee based on gender identity remains legal in 39 American states.
Up to 68 percent of individuals identifying as LGBT report experiencing employment discrimination.
LGBT youth experience homelessness at a disproportionate rate. Studies indicate that between 20 and 40 percent of all homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Upon coming out to their parents, up to 50 percent of gay teens report a negative reaction, and 26 percent report being kicked out of their homes.
And the church has been the greatest offender at marginalizing neighbors for their gender or sexuality.
At Our Common Table, we are committed to welcoming and affirming people of all genders ans sexualities as beautiful souls made in the image of our loving and welcoming God.

Let us welcome all on the margins:

All, sung:
And let all on the margins, let them come to the table
And let all who are excluded, let them come to the Lord
All are welcomed in this place. Find love in each face.
Come to the Lord

One:
And, whoever you are - if you are in these categories or others needing justice and welcome, if you are not. In whatever condition you find yourself in tonight. In whatever way you feel you relate to the Jesus story tonight: You are welcome here.

Let us welcome all who are gathered here:

​All, sung:
And you are welcome, you are welcome at this table.
Whatever your bring, you can bring it to the Lord
Without judgement or exception, we offer this reception
Come to the Lord