Welcome to Isle of Faith United Methodist Church
Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World
Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World
Join us Sunday Mornings 9:30AM-10:30AM for Transformational Worship
In-Person and Livestream
(Previous Services Available on Youtube)
CLICK HERE for YouTube Link to Sunday Live-stream
Almighty God, Creator of us all,
In ancient times the Psalmist cried out,
“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1-2)
This weekend another shooter,
leaving messages of racial hatred in so many locations
that they could not be missed,
took an AR-15 and killed
Angela, AJ, and Jerrald,
three Black people
who were buying groceries and goods,
and going about a normal day.
How long, O LORD, will some have to live in fear,
while others read the news
with docile sadness,
as though a shooting in a Dollar General
is a normal day?
How long, O LORD, before we conform to
your commandment
to love our neighbor as ourselves?
How long before we see your commandment
as more than an aspiration, or suggestion,
or a good intention that we should hold
for some day in the future that we sense
we will never live to see?
The enemy that triumphs over us is
the long and tenacious root of racism
that continues to invade our society.
We confess that we have never fully committed
to removing it fully.
We have laid aside our spade and shovel
when the day got hot and the work felt
too hard or too long.
We pray for those who have lost life
and those they love.
We pray for those who experience fear
that is based on facts.
Stir up in a us a desire to serve you,
to live peacefully with our neighbors,
to be their allies and friends.
As we devote each day to your Son,
our Savior, Jesus Christ,
we pray that his Lordship would lead us
to move beyond acceptance
to the work of transformation,
so that all would know the goodness
of life that is free from fear and death.
Help us to love our neighbor
in ways that bring your kingdom
to earth
as it is in heaven.
Amen.
In addition to this prayer, you may want to respond in a more tangible way. Rev. David Williamson, co-chair of the Public Policy and Witness Team of our Bishop’s Task Force on Anti-Racism offers the following open invitation:
Community Conversations is an open meeting by Zoom and in person at Grace UMC in St Augustine on Tuesdays from 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. for anyone who wants to learn and find support to lead the kind of change where understanding, trust and healing can occur across cultural differences. The participants are diverse in many ways, including by race. We gather to learn and practice different strategies to build beloved community where cultural differences are recognized, understood, appreciated and included. The gathering is hosted by Rev. David Williamson, co-lead pastor at Grace UMC. He can be contacted for more information at david@gracestaugustine.org and 407-415-7850.
Zoom Information:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/96076302991?pwd=eTlMNExGKzFKc2YwUDlTV0UvUkVQUT09
Meeting ID: 960 7630 2991
Passcode: 254042
CLICK BELOW to submit private prayer request to the Church Office. Indicate whether you would like the request shared with our KNEEMAIL Prayer Team
All members and visitors desiring to legally carry a concealed weapon on church property are required to attend this training.
For general information contact the church office
at (904) 221-1700.
Better yet, come get to know us first-hand at one of the worship services or events listed in the IoF Church Calendar page.
We Exist to Meet the Needs of Our Community
1821 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224, US
Church Office: (904) 221-1700 Child Development Center: (904) 221-5437