Dave Buerstetta on striving to do justice and love others while walking humbly with God
It was my turn to preach again Sunday. (We are on a break from the "Privilege and Promise: This is America" sermon series. But it returns soon. Of course, it is objectively obvious that racism does not take a break, so let’s not stop striving every day to be actively antiracist.) The lectionary gave us …
This summer at Woodridge United Methodist Church, our Lead Pastor Rev. Danita Anderson and I are offering a sermon series on racism we call, “Privilege and Promise: This is America.” We are committed to examining the extant racism around us (and in us!) and moving toward being actively antiracist — both as individuals and as …
Continue reading “Privilege and Promise: This is America — Being Colorblind”
My sermon on Sunday was based on the Lectionary texts for the week: Exodus 19 and Matthew 9. We've begun reading Exodus in the weekly bible study I facilitate, so that added to the fun. Pastor Danita and I are starting a new monthly series on being antiracist...so there may be some subtext to my …
Last week I shared what I wrote to our congregation in response to the racist murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others (to which we must now add Rayshard Brooks). I recently followed that up with a post of next steps, especially for we who are white. Here's what I wrote. I hope …
Recently I've used this space to share how I've asked my city leaders to do just that: lead. And I've shared ways they responded. (I'm not saying they made those public statements because I asked them to. But I'd like to think I at least help nudge them toward doing so.) So what about me? …
In my previous post I shared a letter I sent to my city officials. Obviously, a lot -- a LOT -- has happened since then. The mayor, several city council members, and the police chief all replied to me. I won't share those personal correspondences, but I do want to share the public statements they …
Here is a letter I wrote to my city's mayor, the city council, and the Chief of Police. Well, actually to the police commander of the Office of Professional Standards because I couldn't find an email address for the chief. He's on Twitter, but apparently not email. I pledge to continue to strive to be …
I expected this to be a week to have a little extra fun with my sermon. The texts for last week highlighted divisions that occurred in the Christian movement, even in its earliest days. I seem to derive (perverse?) pleasure in dispelling the notion of a golden age for the church. My hope is that …
Yes, indeed. For now at least. Due to the previously-arranged preaching schedule, the previous Sunday was my first opportunity to offer a sermon during our stay-safe-at-home time here in Illinois. So, yes, I spend the first few minutes talking about just how weird that feels. Probably too much time on that. But I strive to …
"It's Friday...but Sunday's comin'!" That's a popular refrain among Christians on these final days of Holy Week. But we might reasonably respond in our most skeptical tone, "Yeah, right!" Over on my favorite blog, Slacktivist, Fred Clark posted Holy Saturday. First seen in 2010, he's reposted it every year. Fred has written a ton of …
All That I Can't Leave Unsaid 