Scriptures: Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Luke 4:21-30
Message: “Do Not Be Afraid of Them”
This Sunday is communion: a time when we are reminded of the importance of unity in all that we do. Why, then, is it that the word “Unity” feels trite to me. I’ve heard so many ministers and leaders stand on their podiums demanding unity seemingly without acknowledgement of our diversity and the generational habit of oppression that has and continues to focus on elements of this diversity. It feels like “unity” is like the race-resistant term “colorblind” – if we ignore the tension maybe it will go away.
Still, though, we are called to unity. I like to hope that this unity is not about agreeing or conformity; unanimity or ignorance. Instead, it is simply about eating together. It’s about our combined hope for justice that leads to the kind of holy equity that God imagined at Creation. It’s about recognizing, from within the loving presence of God, that hope is not lost because we are forgiven and that transformation is always possible by this very grace.
And so we gather and eat and drink because we will need this love as fuel for our faithful efforts to bring unity into our communities, because we have been called to this task! Join me this Sunday as we discuss this call and anticipate the journey of faithful advocacy and action for which we have all been called!
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Cheryl
Music:
Prelude: “Cristo” Pablo Sosa
Anthem: “Let Us Break Bread” African Am. spiritual
Meditation: “Through it All” Andraé Crouch
Postlude: “¡Canta, Canta!” Luiza Cruz