The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dear Congregation,

We stand at the beginning of a three-day weekend leading up to Monday’s celebration of the life and work of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Coincidentally, Monday is also Inauguration Day with a significant leadership change in our national government. I think Dr. King’s words on community and its relationship to world peace are worthy of reflection by all Americans, average citizens as well as elected leaders, as they hold much wisdom, and so I share them with you.

May God bless our country and all the countries of the world with justice and peace!

See you in church!

In Christ’s love.

Pastor Candy

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION: Martin Luther King Jr. on Community

“Now let me suggest first that if we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective. No individual can live alone; no nation can live alone, and as long as we try, the more we are going to have war in this world. Now the judgment of God is upon us, and we must either learn to live together as brothers or we are all going to perish together as fools…

It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality. “

PRAYER AND SILENT MEDITATION

Gracious Creator, in your wisdom and love you have gifted us with community. Yet, we deny your gift by setting limits on its vast and infinite possibilities. We impose the false limitations of race and class, gender, language, and sexual orientation on your wonderful gift. Forgive us, O God, as we pray for the courage to be community. Amen.

(Produced by the Office for Church Life and Leadership with funds from the Strengthen the Church Offering)