Message Title: An Invitation to Empathize
Date: May 9, 2021

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"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:1-2

Lament: purposeful brokenness (Eugene Cho)

Sin of racism
--being present
--treating the root cause

Empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
--Climbing down in the hole with the person

2 Samuel 12 - Nathan and King David
--Blind to our own sin

Recommended reading and viewing:
--13th - documentary on Netflix
--The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

God does not despise a broken and contrite spirit.
He is near to the brokenhearted,
He lifts up the humble but tears down the proud.
God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and his mercies are new every morning.

PRAYER
Lord, as we become aware of the intensity of racial divide, our hearts are broken. Help us not to rush from this place of hurting to triumphalism or repair but rather lament as you call us to do. May our lament be a form of worship, a joining of our hearts with yours, as we grieve the lack of your kingdom justice here on earth. Strengthen us for this path, as without you, the overwhelming depth of the problems that must be addressed and acknowledged would be devastating. We know that you mourn with us and comfort us as we mourn with one another. In Christ's holy name. Amen.

PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!

BEYOND SUNDAY
At PCC, we want any person from any racial or ethnic background to feel like they are among family. In order to do so, we must become more aware of God’s heart for racial reconciliation, key historical events and the hurt caused to many. Each week, our “Be The Bridge” (BTB) series will help us journey toward greater understanding, empathy and, in time, action. This week, we focus on humility, history and God’s desire for unity in diversity.

Individual / Group Discussion Questions
1. Based on the core premise in the BTB book being that we can only become bridge builders of racial healing if we have a spirit of humility, understand the history and acknowledge the harm done to others, in the last week, how have you become more aware of the history and harm done to others? How does it make you feel (e.g. outraged, sad, ashamed, apathetic, appreciative, etc.)?

2. Read out loud Psalm 51:1-15. What is David acknowledging and lamenting and why is this so important in his relationship with God and others? If you are wrestling with the concept of lament (sadness), watch or read this short blog to view lament in a new way. (see below)

3. Why is acknowledging and lamenting our own sin so difficult? Brainstorm reasons why. And why is it even harder to acknowledge and lament the past racial sins of others that have harmed so many? And why is acknowledging and lamenting the past racial sins of others crucial for racial reconciliation? (BTB pp. 39 “To lament...”, 41”What is the…”, 46 “Acknowledgment should…”)

4. What are your thoughts and feelings about the following statement by Susie Gamez, our Sunday guest speaker?

“So if we’re serious about being the bridge, what we can’t afford to do is close our ears to the voices of other people. If we’re serious about pursuing God’s heart for racial reconciliation, what we can’t afford to do is value our own comfort at the cost of someone else’s pain. If we want to be the bridge, what we can’t afford to do is pretend that the sin of racism does not exist within us or within our city, country or church. What we need is to be purposefully broken (lamenting) in order to heal. Anyone who has been through some good therapy can tell you this. Ignoring (not acknowledging) the pain from our past doesn’t help us get to the healing we need. What we would benefit greatly from is growing in our empathy.”

5. Based on what you know today about racial history, what events or circumstances are you empathizing with and needing to acknowledge and lament?

6. As a group or individually, experience the power of lament by working through the Liturgy of Lament (BTB p.52 at the end of Chapter 3) or the prayer below.

A Prayer of Acknowledgment & Lament (BTB p.51 at the end of Chapter 3)
Lord, as we become aware of the intensity of the racial divide, our hearts are broken. Help us not to rush from this place of hurting to triumphalism or repair but rather lament as you call us to do. May our lament be a form of worship, a joining of our hearts with yours, as we grieve the lack of your kingdom justice here on earth. Strengthen us for this path, as without you, the overwhelming depth of the problems that must be addressed and acknowledged would be devastating. We know that you mourn with us and comfort us as we mourn with one another. In Christ’s holy name, amen.

Resources (see links below)
1. Get a FREE Be the Bridge Book! [Pick up at church or request to be sent to your home]
2. Get in a Be the Bridge Group [Starts this week! / read chap.3 prior]
3. Read chapter 4 prior to Week 2 [Be the Bridge - Schedule]

For PCC's budgeted giving:
Fiscal year (June 1 - To Date)

Giving Update
Budgeted Giving: $4,072,377
Giving to Date: $3,064,475
Still Need: $1,007,902