Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com
It is Martin Luther King Sunday! We celebrated this momentous day at the Bloom in the Desert Ministries in Palm Springs, California. Rev. Kevin A. Johnson delivered the message. As is my habit, I took notes poetically during the sermon. Here is what I heard Rev. Kev say after the sharing of Bible story of Jesus’ first miracle:
Isaiah held firm and encouraged
The people to speak out.
Do not be silent; be encouraged.
Let your convictions eek out.
Exclusion and hate are taught
In many places in our land,
But pockets of humanity exist –
Some are right here where we stand.
We are called to be up-lifters.
In authentic ministry we speak.
Our call is to the Glory of God.
Love and kindness are what we seek.
In John 2:1-11, Jesus performed
His first miracle; quite a display!
Hundreds of gallons of water into wine!
My, what would we do with such today?
The point isn’t the miracle of wine.
It is the extravagance of Christ’s love.
It is the way Jesus helps in more
Ways than we can imagine – way above!
Jesus was only beginning His miracles.
He was tolerated until He messed
With the money of the church.
Then His ministry was put to the test.
Today is the celebration of MLK Jr.’s life.
We recall the way His life was given
In compassion for the poor and the sad,
For the disenfranchised and the imprisoned.
Martin Luther King lived out his faith
With a call to action in the power of peace.
Like Jesus and MLK Jr., we are called
To make our world more lovely and eliminate grief.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
Only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
Only love can do that.”Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is the unison prayer we read as a congregation. It touched my heart. I hope it impresses upon your heart, too:
“O God, all people are your beloved – across races, nationalities, identities, religions, sexual orientations, and all ways we are distinctive from one another. We are all manifestations of your image. ‘We are bound together in an inescapable network of mutuality and tied to a single garment of destiny.’ You call us to action for your unending work of justice, peace, and love. Reassure us of your presence among us now. Awaken us to delight in our diversity, which glimpses the mosaic of your beauty. Strengthen us in your steadfast love. Transform despair and fatigue into hope and action. In the protection of your wings, carry us to find rest, renewal, strength and hope. We are inspired by the example of your modern prophet and Christian disciple, our brother, Martin. Thank you. Amen.”
How did you celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? Did you honor his legacy in a way that recognized his example, his passion for equality, non-violence, and love for all humankind? Tell me about it!
Comments on: "Martin Luther King’s Example" (2)
I was in the fifth grade in 69 or ’70, when my teacher Nettie Baker taught us a song about Dr. King. “There was a man, a gentle man/ Who gave up his life for his land./ He reached out his hand to touch every heart/ For he knew that we would understand./ This man had a dream that someday for all/ The bells of freedom would ring./ His dream will become reality, for his name is/ Martin Luther King.” I don’t know who wrote the song. I haven’t heard it anywhere else since, so maybe Mrs. Baker wrote it. I sang it to my children and will teach it to my grandchildren some day. I sing it every year on his birthday. We all lost a an enormous light in the world when he left us, but his light shines on, brilliant and beautiful, still. I believe it always will, as long as there are people who live, as he did, with unconditional regard for every human being.. ♥.
[…] through my WordPress feed. I love having time to do this. Several bloggers I follow including Jan Beek asked how we will celebrate today. This is how I answered […]