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Some thoughts that wandered through my mind in church this morning.

Media meme states that America is hated, so why do people from every other country on the planet want to settle here?

Media meme number 2: Americans are racially divided and white people are bigots.

Here is why these thoughts came to me —

My parish is in a traditionally working class neighborhood - Hampden - which did not collapse with the white exodus to the suburbs after WWII, because they were too poor to move to better locations. And because many worked locally in mills, there was a strong multi-generational community spirit.

These lower income people were ‘salt of the earth” types; hardworking and self-sufficient.
As city neighborhoods go, it was safe for all ages.

Now it is becoming a bit gentrified, due to its location, close to Johns Hopkins University, and not far from downtown.

So back to church:

Our pastor is a young charismatic born-Korean who came to the US with his parents when he was a small child.
Our organist is a Chinese woman who is a professor at The Peabody Institute.
Our alter servers come in many colors, from many different continents.
Our congregation is also multi-colored. For example, the three young people in the row behind me were Asian, and one bowed in a Japanese manner after the “Our Father”.

What do we have in common? Our love of the Church, and our comfort in this parish.

As I was musing about this situation, the final hymn was announced:

“In Christ there is no East or West”; melody adapted from an African-American spiritual

1. In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north;
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

2. In Christ shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.

3. (Words copr.)

4. In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north;
all Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.

*****

How appropriate!