Growing in Our Faith: Racial Justice Resources For White Christians

From Revs. Ross and Amanda Baker.

(Some of the book recommendations, articles, videos, podcasts etc included for adult use may contain strong language. It is our assessment as pastors that their value warrants inclusion here, even though the language may be uncomfortable for some)

As with any area of our faith, each of us is in a different place in grappling with our nation’s historic and current racial injustices. The following resources have been gathered with or Primarily White congregations in mind, recognizing that they may not be a fit for people of color in our community.

First, a major compilation of resources based on the time you’d like to commit to this endeavor over the course of a month, devoting 10, 25, or 45 minutes a day to learning and growing in anti-racism:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-Vxs6jEUByXylMS2BjGH1kQ7mEuZnHpPSs1Bpaqmw0 /preview?pru=AAABcppkS48%2AWmo91FkcRICr88LdxGN2Qg&fbclid=IwAR0_vB0Kn9gv34Idl u02p6dd6cZF2qpMJSYfkMkhp8fmav-ukGkrFSWAP6g. There you will find links to books, articles, podcasts, youtube videos and more.

We also have United Methodist oriented resources from Our General Commission on Race and Religion (supported by our mission and ministry shares) www.gcorr.org Here you will find many free, helpful articles,video series to prompt discussion among your family or a small group of friends, and even a course on implicit bias (the bias we don’t think we have) for $20.

There are lots and lots of book lists circulating, this is one I like for doing anti-racist work. If you pick up one of these books, I invite you to find a friend or family member to serve as a conversation partner as you read. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hpub-jkm9cLzJWqZSsETqbE6tZ13Q0UbQz--vQ2avEc/ed it

I will also add that it can be helpful just to increase the voices of black folks you encounter, one way to do this would be to use a Devotional written by a black woman. I have this one, because it was written by a professor of mine from seminary. https://www.cokesbury.com/Bible-Sisters?refq=gennifer%20benjamin%20brooks It is called "Bible Sisters: A Year of devotions with women of the Bible by Dr. Gennifer Brooks.

WITH KIDS: For kids of all ages, start the conversation with questions. What do they know? What have they heard? What are they wondering? Then, find the right resources to learn and grow together. It is ok to let kids know that issues like this are complicated, and that with God’s grace we’re growing together to live in the love God created us for.

Here is a link to the Sesame Street Town Hall on Racism: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/app-news-section/cnn-sesame-street-race-town-hall-app-june6-2020-app/index.html

There is a book on some of the above booklists that can be a good launching point for parents’ self-reflection about race: “Raising White Kids” by Jennifer Harvey. Pastors Ross and Amanda are in a book group about this book right now, and would be happy to be part of your learning journey with it as well, as co-learners. https://www.cokesbury.com/Raising-White-Kids

Here’s a booklist, broken down by age, for reading together with your kids:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/parenting/kids-books-racism-protest.html

As Christians, we are neither helpless nor hopeless, even in the face of tangled webs of inequalities. You’re also not alone as you journey toward God’s vision of Beloved Community. As your pastors, we want to be on this walk with you. Let us know if you’d like to schedule time to talk!

With prayers for God’s Beloved Community,

Pastors Ross and Amanda Baker

 

A message from Rev. Ross Baker, pastor of Eudora UMC:

 

Dear Eudora United Methodist Faith Community:

On Tuesday evening, May 6 members of the Administrative Council and I met virtually to discuss the potential of reopening for “in-person” worship. A major piece of this discussion was based around current guidelines for reopening released by the Great Plains Annual Conference, and current phase-based reopening guidelines released by Governor Laura Kelly’s office. After prayerfully discerning what it would mean to reopen for in person worship, and considering the guidelines currently in place reducing the number of people allowed for mass gatherings, we decided to keep the current building use policy in place. Through at least May 31st, the church building of Eudora UMC will remain closed for all outside groups with exception of Parkwood Day School and the distribution of food with Harvester’s. A subgroup of Ad Council will convene on Thursday May 28th to discuss further plans for reopening.

In the meantime, the church will continue to live out our mission of: “living into God’s dream of a community that welcomes everyone, grows spiritually and serves others.” We will do so in the following ways:

● We will continue to offer weekly connection and participation through Sunday morning worship at 10:45. Available through the following platforms: Facebook, Baldwin 1st YouTube Channel, an Audio Only option over your home or cell phone, and archived services on the EUMC Website.

● Will continue to offer online Sunday School for Children & Youth through ZOOM.

● Continued midweek check-in through our Wed evening Prayer Service at 6:45 pm.

● Weekly Children’s Chapel on Thursday mornings with Parkwood Day School and Pastor Ross at 9 am.

● Continued outreach and service to our church and community.

● Continued invitation to interact through various means with weekly worship.

● We will continue to faithfully support the mission and ministry of EUMC through online giving on the website, through the “GivePlus App” or direct mailing to the church.

● We will continue to strategize on our eventual re-opening plan, carefully following local guidelines from the County, State, and the Annual Conference.

● We will continue to be in communication with you.

And finally, we will continue to lift one another up in prayer, checking in by phone, cards, and email. If there are additional ways we as a church might support you with assistance running errands or help with technology please do not hesitate to reach out to either Dean Manwaring: eudoraumc@gmail.com or Pastor Ross: rbaker@greatplainsumc.org. Until then, I pray God’s blessings upon you and your families. Remember friends, while yes, we may not be gathering in the building the Church is still very much open!

 

Your brother in Christ,

Rev. Ross Baker

 

 

Summer sermon series "Total Request Liveish"

 

Week 1: July 5 "This Is My Song" Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-21

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us this Sunday as we continue our series with one of those timeless hymns: "This Is My Song."  

Week 2: July 12 "Philippians 4:13" Psalm 121 & Philippians 4:13

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us this Sunday as we continue our series exploring where we might find our "strength" in life. Focusing upon a scriptural text selected by Bertha Nichols.

Week 3: July 19 "Romans 8:38-39"

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us this Sunday as we continue our series with one of those scriptural texts selected by Baldwin First UMC member, Tara Welch: Romans 8:38-39.

Week 4: July 26 "The Power Of A Great Gap Story" (Guest preacher Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr.) Acts 1:1-5

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. For the next two Sunday's join us as we hear an inspiring and uplifting sermon from our Bishop of the Great Plains Annual Conference, Ruben Saenz Jr. For these next two weeks he focuses upon the Book of Acts, looking this week to the "Gap Story" between the end of Luke's gospel and the birth of the church in the Book of Acts. 

Week 5: August 2 "Catch Fire For Justice, Mercy and Truth" (Guest preacher Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr.) Acts 6:1-7

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us for the final of two sermons from Bishop Ruben Saenz as he focuses upon the birth of the Church. How might the early churches call to acts of justice, mercy and kindness be that same call to us in the church over 2,000+ years later. 

 

 


  Welcome

Eudora United Methodist Church is a growing congregation with a wonderful mix of newer attending younger singles/families and older adults that have been part of the church's rich history.   We're a mission and service-oriented church that is constantly striving to grow in understanding God's love for us and in our response of sharing that love with others.  We experience and share the presence of God's spirit in an intentionally blended music worship on Sunday mornings and in a variety of Spiritual Formation opportunities for all ages.  Various Fellowship Groups also bring the congregation together for fun activities that meet through the  year.

Looking for a new church home in which to grow and share? Come visit and discover your place here!