Tomorrow, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the African-American Baptist preacher from Georgia who shook the foundations of American society. Dr. King’s faith in God is to be viewed as inseparable from his hope of Beloved Community – a hope that he perpetually sought to convey to all of humanity.
For King, Beloved Community was intricately connected with the notion of hope. Christian hope served as the foundation for his vision of Beloved Community. In one of his later sermons, "The Meaning of Hope," he defined hope as that quality which is "necessary for life."[i]
King asserted that hope was to be viewed as "animated and under girded by faith and love." In his mind, if you had hope, you had faith in something. Thus, hope shares the belief that "all reality hinges on moral foundations.”[ii]
For King, hope was the refusal to give up "despite overwhelming odds." This hope would beckon us to love everybody – both our enemies and allies. This hope would help us to see that we can resist giving up on one another because our lives together are animated by the belief that God is present in each and every one of us.
In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered in our Nation’s Capital in the summer of 1963, King shared that a part of his dream was that would be able “to hew out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”
These are days of tremendous change and challenge in our society. From the collapse of the economy that has affected all of us – to the wars that are now being fought in at least three places in the Middle East – to the proliferation of violence that affects many of our urban communities- to the health care crisis that has resulted in over 40 million Americans living without health care today, these are days of unprecedented change and challenge.
In three days, our nation will share in the historic inauguration of Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Certainly, Obama’s election as the first president of African descent has renewed the hope of many persons across the nation and the world. His vision for our nation and the world is not unlike King’s. Obama has offered us a framework for what he has termed an audacity of hope amidst the challenges we face. Fundamentally his is a hope grounded in our individual and collective willingness to become the change that we seek in the world.
Hope for a better future is ultimately grounded in our shared potential to change the world. Finally, Dr. King shared that everybody can be great because everybody can serve. He further shared that our service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on earth. Let us be hopeful that each of those who around this nation and the globe celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and the inauguration of Barak Obama will be committed to paying some rent.
[i] King, sermon delivered on December 10, 1967, see Garth Baker-Fletcher, Somebodyness: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Theory of Dignity, (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993), 132.
[ii] Baker-Fletcher, 132.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Signs of Hope - A Call to End the Death Penalty
On Tuesday, January 13, 2009, dozens of religious leaders, clergy and laity gathered at First and Stephens United Church of Christ in Towson, Maryland to call for the repeal of the death penalty in Maryland. Those who gathered - under the auspices of the Interfaith Coalition to End the Death Penalty - represent well over 2.9 persons of faith, and included Christians, Jews and Muslims. We shared in a call to Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland General Assembly to end the state’s death penalty.
The Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment recently released a report with recommendations calling for the end of the death penalty. The Commission’s findings point out that the state’s death penalty is rife with legal, fairness and cost issues. Each of the faith traditions represented in the Coalition share a belief in the sanctity of life that precludes the use of capital punishment.
The Coalition’s letter to Governor O’Malley states that “Common to all of our faiths is the belief in the sanctity of life and forgiveness.” Too often innocent people – often the poor who can’t afford adequate legal representation – are convicted and sentenced to death in our legal system. A disproportionate number of these are people of color – African Americans and Hispanics. May each of us be mindful of the prophet Micah’s words that we are to “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with the Lord.”
The Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment recently released a report with recommendations calling for the end of the death penalty. The Commission’s findings point out that the state’s death penalty is rife with legal, fairness and cost issues. Each of the faith traditions represented in the Coalition share a belief in the sanctity of life that precludes the use of capital punishment.
The Coalition’s letter to Governor O’Malley states that “Common to all of our faiths is the belief in the sanctity of life and forgiveness.” Too often innocent people – often the poor who can’t afford adequate legal representation – are convicted and sentenced to death in our legal system. A disproportionate number of these are people of color – African Americans and Hispanics. May each of us be mindful of the prophet Micah’s words that we are to “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with the Lord.”
Signs of Hope - Singing the Songs of Zion
As the sanctuary began to fill with people, we could sensed the spirit of the Lord in our midst. We came together from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Africa to share in an experience of praise and worship with the Africa University Choir. As several hundred of us gathered at Ames Memorial United Methodist Church in West Baltimore on the evening of Sunday, January 11, 2009, the choir led us in songs of joy and celebration. The members of the choir were eleven students from 6 different African countries. They sang in several different languages, including Shona, Swahili, French and English. As we sang and danced, this was indeed an evening to celebrate – to celebrate the awesomeness of God, to celebrate our shared faith in God, to celebrate our diversity, and how only Christ can connect Christians from Africa and America to sing the songs of Zion. Signs of hope are in our midst as we worship God who ties us together amidst our differences.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Signs of Hope - Global Connections
In January 2009, The Africa University Choir will be in concerts of praise and worship at two United Methodist locations in the Baltimore region. The first concert will be at Mt. Zion UMC in Bel Air, MD, and the second will be hosted by a group of six Baltimore city congregations at Ames Memorial UMC in west Baltimore. These two events point to the connectional nature of the church, and the value of ongoing partnerships in ministry – both locally and globally.
Mt. Zion is a congregation that has become known for its extraordinary generosity in mission - having established an orphanage and school in Namibia – the Children of Zion Village - where many of the children living at the orphanage are infected with HIV/AIDS. The church’s work has been recognized by the White House, and local and national media.
The six Baltimore city congregations that will host the second concert, four of which are part of Communities of Shalom in Baltimore - Ames Memorial, John Wesley, New Covenant, Monroe Street Churches - along with Mt. Washington-Aldersgate Churches, are each engaged in vital ministries that offer hope, shalom and transformation in communities challenged by poverty, violence, drugs and dis-ease in the city.
It is no small irony that these six churches have chosen to share in the opportunity to connect with the choir from Africa University. Africa University - a Pan-African, United Methodist-related institution - is located in Zimbabwe a few miles outside of Mutare. In June 1999, almost 10 years ago, I, along with Bishops John Schol, Felton May, Marcus Matthews, and Peggy Johnson and about 20 others, was privileged to visit Africa University, and parts of Mutare. It was a life-changing experience for me.
A part of our work in Zimbabwe involved providing training for several congregations to become Communities of Shalom. One of these Shalom Zones was established at the Hilltop UMC in Old Mutare Village. I recall walking through the community that sits below Hilltop Church. The community was unlike anyplace I had ever been in America. It was obvious that all of the people in the neighborhood lived in abject poverty. There was no running water, no electricity, and no sewage system. In the midst of this, the people welcomed us into their neighborhood with kindness, warmth, and signs of peace.
I also recall walking back up the hill to Hilltop Church, and looking down into the neighborhood that we had visited, and realizing that it was the church that offered real hope for that community. The Shalom Zone at Hilltop would offer hope for children affected by HIV/AIDS, educational opportunities for those who would otherwise not have access to schooling, and the means of addressing numerous other real needs. In the years that followed our visit, the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry continued to support Communities of Shalom in Zimbabwe, along with other churches and the Africa University through ongoing mission support, educational support and technical assistance.
The visit of the Africa University Choir to the Baltimore region in a few days will afford yet another opportunity to witness the church at work through our global connections.
Mt. Zion is a congregation that has become known for its extraordinary generosity in mission - having established an orphanage and school in Namibia – the Children of Zion Village - where many of the children living at the orphanage are infected with HIV/AIDS. The church’s work has been recognized by the White House, and local and national media.
The six Baltimore city congregations that will host the second concert, four of which are part of Communities of Shalom in Baltimore - Ames Memorial, John Wesley, New Covenant, Monroe Street Churches - along with Mt. Washington-Aldersgate Churches, are each engaged in vital ministries that offer hope, shalom and transformation in communities challenged by poverty, violence, drugs and dis-ease in the city.
It is no small irony that these six churches have chosen to share in the opportunity to connect with the choir from Africa University. Africa University - a Pan-African, United Methodist-related institution - is located in Zimbabwe a few miles outside of Mutare. In June 1999, almost 10 years ago, I, along with Bishops John Schol, Felton May, Marcus Matthews, and Peggy Johnson and about 20 others, was privileged to visit Africa University, and parts of Mutare. It was a life-changing experience for me.
A part of our work in Zimbabwe involved providing training for several congregations to become Communities of Shalom. One of these Shalom Zones was established at the Hilltop UMC in Old Mutare Village. I recall walking through the community that sits below Hilltop Church. The community was unlike anyplace I had ever been in America. It was obvious that all of the people in the neighborhood lived in abject poverty. There was no running water, no electricity, and no sewage system. In the midst of this, the people welcomed us into their neighborhood with kindness, warmth, and signs of peace.
I also recall walking back up the hill to Hilltop Church, and looking down into the neighborhood that we had visited, and realizing that it was the church that offered real hope for that community. The Shalom Zone at Hilltop would offer hope for children affected by HIV/AIDS, educational opportunities for those who would otherwise not have access to schooling, and the means of addressing numerous other real needs. In the years that followed our visit, the Baltimore-Washington Conference and the Multi-Ethnic Center for Ministry continued to support Communities of Shalom in Zimbabwe, along with other churches and the Africa University through ongoing mission support, educational support and technical assistance.
The visit of the Africa University Choir to the Baltimore region in a few days will afford yet another opportunity to witness the church at work through our global connections.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Unwrap the Gift
(This sermon was delivered this evening, December 24, 2008 at the Christmas Eve Worship Service for Aldersgate and Mt. Washington United Methodist Churches in North Baltimore.)
Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:7-12
The reciprocal nature of the Christmas holiday season is found most vividly in the giving and receiving of gifts. The season has been termed by some the season for giving. And if the truth is told, it is also the season when many persons expect to receive.
This act of giving and receiving will be played out from house to house. On Christmas morning, children across the land will share in the ritual act of rushing to the Christmas tree, looking under the tree, finding those gifts that have been placed there for them, and beginning to unwrap their gifts. Young faces will be filled with wonder and joy, as they unwrap their gifts and discover what has been given to them.
These acts of gift-giving, while offering joy to some, should also lead us to reflect upon the very commercialism that has come to so permeate the season, the materialism that has come to consume so much of our collective conscious during Advent and Christmas. This type of "affluenza" – which Marion Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund describes in terms of "us having too much that is worth too little" – in some ways has become even more pronounced in the economic down-turn that affects us all today.
It seems that at the birth of Jesus, the world was similarly uncertain about its future as we are today. In the light of this, there was a certain buzz afloat as to the significance of the birth of this child. The magi – the wise men from the East – had observed – they had seen the Lord’s star at its magnificent and glorious rising. In this star, the wise men were convinced that they had witnessed a marvelous sign of the birth of the Messiah – the Savior of the world - and they wanted to pay him homage. And so as they entered the house where Jesus was, they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:7-12)
What significance does this have for us today? I believe the birth of Christ and our celebration of Christmas help to remind us of the ways in which God has broken into history in the unlikely person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born into poverty, uneducated, and unconnected to the established social and political order of his day. He was a “nobody” - an unlikely Savior he was.
That Jesus was born poor and homeless, that his earthly father was a working class man and his mother was unmarried – a single parent - offers us a cause for pause and reflection in the light of the relative elaborateness of the season of Christmas for so many.
That, according to Luke’s account - Jesus was born in a manger, and that his mother wrapped him - not in fine clothing but in swaddling clothing, gives us cause for pausing yet again to reflect upon who it is that we worship, who it is that we follow, who it is we seek to imitate, and who it is that we celebrate during this season.
And so it is that we might take a few moments amidst the hustle and bustle – amidst the hurriedness of the season to reflect upon the real meaning of Christ. What do all the signs of the season mean to us? What do all of the candles, and lights, and gifts really mean? How have we stopped to pay homage to Jesus? What hope does Christ bring to our fractured world today? Where do we see signs of the presence of the Messiah in our lives – in our world today?
The gift that is Christ is one that if are to really unwrap it, helps us to see that he is for the poor among us – for he was poor. If we unwrap the gift that is Christ, we discover that he is for the immigrants and exiles among us because he was born to travelers. If we unwrap the gift that is Christ, we see the unfolding of the reality that he is for the bound, as he came to set at liberty those who were bound.
If we are to unwrap the gift that is Christ, we find one who healed the sick and fed the hungry in his day. He ate with sinners and blessed untouchables – lepers and those who were demon-possessed.
If we are to unwrap the gift that is Christ, we’ll realize that he calls us to live in solidarity with those who will sleep outdoors on our city’s streets tonight, with the estimated 20 million children who live without adequate health-care, with children who will awaken tomorrow with no food to eat, let alone gifts under the Christmas tree.
Unwrap the Gift. I am reminded of the story of a little boy who one year decided that what he wanted for Christmas was a wagon. In each of the days leading up to Christmas, the little boy would pass by a church where there was a statue of Jesus in front of the church. Everyday, the boy would pass by, and he would pray, “Jesus if you give me a wagon for Christmas, I will give you a ride… Jesus, if you give me a wagon, I promise, that I will give you a ride.”
Well, on Christmas, the little boy went downstairs, and under the tree… he found the wagon that he had prayed to Jesus for.
And so the boy went outside with his wagon… As he was riding, a police officer stopped the boy and said to him, “We have a report that a statue of Jesus is missing from the church down the street, and I notice that you have one in your wagon.” The boy said to the police officer, “Sir, I’m just keeping the promise I made to Jesus that I would give him a ride.”
I believe we are like the little boy, and we owe Jesus a ride for the gifts not only that he has given to us, but for the gift that he is to us.
Unwrap the Gift. And so it is that the real gift of Christmas is Christ. And when we unwrap this gift, we discover real peace amidst a warring world. We find true joy amidst joy that often feels vapid and false. We find hope in the face of the apparent insurmountabilities and utter despair of life.
And ultimately, the gift of Christ is our redemption. (Titus 2:14) This is what would lead Job in the midst of his own despair to declare, “I know that my redeemer lives.” (Job19:25) In these days of uncertainty and fear, Christ makes real claims upon the church, our communities and the world, and real claims on each of our lives.
These are days when most stores offer instant rebates for many of the things that we have bought. In days past, I can remember my grandmother collecting S&H Green Stamps for the things she would buy… When she had collected enough green stamps, she would go to the store to cash in the stamps - redeem them - for something she had been waiting to buy.
Ultimately, that is what Christ has done for us. He came into the world, and has entered into our lives to be our redemption. He came to buy us back, to redeem us, and claim us for God. This is really the gift that we unwrap during this season, Christ, our redeemer, Christ, the redeemer of the world.
Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:7-12
The reciprocal nature of the Christmas holiday season is found most vividly in the giving and receiving of gifts. The season has been termed by some the season for giving. And if the truth is told, it is also the season when many persons expect to receive.
This act of giving and receiving will be played out from house to house. On Christmas morning, children across the land will share in the ritual act of rushing to the Christmas tree, looking under the tree, finding those gifts that have been placed there for them, and beginning to unwrap their gifts. Young faces will be filled with wonder and joy, as they unwrap their gifts and discover what has been given to them.
These acts of gift-giving, while offering joy to some, should also lead us to reflect upon the very commercialism that has come to so permeate the season, the materialism that has come to consume so much of our collective conscious during Advent and Christmas. This type of "affluenza" – which Marion Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund describes in terms of "us having too much that is worth too little" – in some ways has become even more pronounced in the economic down-turn that affects us all today.
It seems that at the birth of Jesus, the world was similarly uncertain about its future as we are today. In the light of this, there was a certain buzz afloat as to the significance of the birth of this child. The magi – the wise men from the East – had observed – they had seen the Lord’s star at its magnificent and glorious rising. In this star, the wise men were convinced that they had witnessed a marvelous sign of the birth of the Messiah – the Savior of the world - and they wanted to pay him homage. And so as they entered the house where Jesus was, they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:7-12)
What significance does this have for us today? I believe the birth of Christ and our celebration of Christmas help to remind us of the ways in which God has broken into history in the unlikely person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born into poverty, uneducated, and unconnected to the established social and political order of his day. He was a “nobody” - an unlikely Savior he was.
That Jesus was born poor and homeless, that his earthly father was a working class man and his mother was unmarried – a single parent - offers us a cause for pause and reflection in the light of the relative elaborateness of the season of Christmas for so many.
That, according to Luke’s account - Jesus was born in a manger, and that his mother wrapped him - not in fine clothing but in swaddling clothing, gives us cause for pausing yet again to reflect upon who it is that we worship, who it is that we follow, who it is we seek to imitate, and who it is that we celebrate during this season.
And so it is that we might take a few moments amidst the hustle and bustle – amidst the hurriedness of the season to reflect upon the real meaning of Christ. What do all the signs of the season mean to us? What do all of the candles, and lights, and gifts really mean? How have we stopped to pay homage to Jesus? What hope does Christ bring to our fractured world today? Where do we see signs of the presence of the Messiah in our lives – in our world today?
The gift that is Christ is one that if are to really unwrap it, helps us to see that he is for the poor among us – for he was poor. If we unwrap the gift that is Christ, we discover that he is for the immigrants and exiles among us because he was born to travelers. If we unwrap the gift that is Christ, we see the unfolding of the reality that he is for the bound, as he came to set at liberty those who were bound.
If we are to unwrap the gift that is Christ, we find one who healed the sick and fed the hungry in his day. He ate with sinners and blessed untouchables – lepers and those who were demon-possessed.
If we are to unwrap the gift that is Christ, we’ll realize that he calls us to live in solidarity with those who will sleep outdoors on our city’s streets tonight, with the estimated 20 million children who live without adequate health-care, with children who will awaken tomorrow with no food to eat, let alone gifts under the Christmas tree.
Unwrap the Gift. I am reminded of the story of a little boy who one year decided that what he wanted for Christmas was a wagon. In each of the days leading up to Christmas, the little boy would pass by a church where there was a statue of Jesus in front of the church. Everyday, the boy would pass by, and he would pray, “Jesus if you give me a wagon for Christmas, I will give you a ride… Jesus, if you give me a wagon, I promise, that I will give you a ride.”
Well, on Christmas, the little boy went downstairs, and under the tree… he found the wagon that he had prayed to Jesus for.
And so the boy went outside with his wagon… As he was riding, a police officer stopped the boy and said to him, “We have a report that a statue of Jesus is missing from the church down the street, and I notice that you have one in your wagon.” The boy said to the police officer, “Sir, I’m just keeping the promise I made to Jesus that I would give him a ride.”
I believe we are like the little boy, and we owe Jesus a ride for the gifts not only that he has given to us, but for the gift that he is to us.
Unwrap the Gift. And so it is that the real gift of Christmas is Christ. And when we unwrap this gift, we discover real peace amidst a warring world. We find true joy amidst joy that often feels vapid and false. We find hope in the face of the apparent insurmountabilities and utter despair of life.
And ultimately, the gift of Christ is our redemption. (Titus 2:14) This is what would lead Job in the midst of his own despair to declare, “I know that my redeemer lives.” (Job19:25) In these days of uncertainty and fear, Christ makes real claims upon the church, our communities and the world, and real claims on each of our lives.
These are days when most stores offer instant rebates for many of the things that we have bought. In days past, I can remember my grandmother collecting S&H Green Stamps for the things she would buy… When she had collected enough green stamps, she would go to the store to cash in the stamps - redeem them - for something she had been waiting to buy.
Ultimately, that is what Christ has done for us. He came into the world, and has entered into our lives to be our redemption. He came to buy us back, to redeem us, and claim us for God. This is really the gift that we unwrap during this season, Christ, our redeemer, Christ, the redeemer of the world.
Monday, December 15, 2008
High Hopes - Partners in Ministry
While in seminary many years ago, I wrote a research paper on the life of Susanna Wesley. Susanna Wesley was the mother of John and Charles Wesley two of the leading figures in the development of the Methodist movement in England in the 18th century. Through my study of Susanna Wesley’s life, I was impressed with her devotion to God and her family. She and her husband Samuel – an Anglican priest - had nineteen children, ten of whom lived to adulthood. Through untold tragedy, Susanna steadfastly provided spiritual guidance to her children, setting aside an hour each week for each child’s spiritual instruction and nurture.
Today, I had a chance to visit the Susanna Wesley House in Baltimore. Located downtown in the Mt. Vernon Historic District, this house is a ministry of the United Methodist Women of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, and provides transitional shelter and social services to up to nine families. Currently seven families of women and their children reside at the house. Recent news reports have pointed to the rise in domestic violence against women and children. This rise in domestic violence - coupled with the current economic downturn which has a more pronounced effect on those already poor or living on the margins - makes the work of the Susanna Wesley House and other homes like it extremely important.
Among the most impressive aspects of the work of the Susanna Wesley House are the partnerships that it shares with many churches. A story was shared of the people of Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville, MD who had recently come to help with decorating the house for Christmas. The joy of children placing lights and decorations on the Christmas tree, laughing with each other and with sisters and brothers from another community, points to the high hopes that we should all share during the Advent season. Thanks be to God for those who partner in offering hope, peace and joy to all as we look to Christmas.
Today, I had a chance to visit the Susanna Wesley House in Baltimore. Located downtown in the Mt. Vernon Historic District, this house is a ministry of the United Methodist Women of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, and provides transitional shelter and social services to up to nine families. Currently seven families of women and their children reside at the house. Recent news reports have pointed to the rise in domestic violence against women and children. This rise in domestic violence - coupled with the current economic downturn which has a more pronounced effect on those already poor or living on the margins - makes the work of the Susanna Wesley House and other homes like it extremely important.
Among the most impressive aspects of the work of the Susanna Wesley House are the partnerships that it shares with many churches. A story was shared of the people of Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville, MD who had recently come to help with decorating the house for Christmas. The joy of children placing lights and decorations on the Christmas tree, laughing with each other and with sisters and brothers from another community, points to the high hopes that we should all share during the Advent season. Thanks be to God for those who partner in offering hope, peace and joy to all as we look to Christmas.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Signs of Hope - Partners in Ministry
Last night, the reported temperature outdoors in Baltimore was 19 degrees. There were many persons across the city who slept outside, and many others who slept in places where there was inadequate heating. Many of these persons were children. Many awakened this morning and stepped outside into the deadening cold. Some did not own a coat to provide adequate warmth. The day after Thanksgiving, has come to be known in commercial circles as “Black Friday,” and is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. This year's news reports showed people lining up at stores across the country hours before doors opened in order to be ahead of the line in taking advantage of sale items. Monroe Street United Methodist Church in southwest Baltimore offered an alternative to “Black Friday” for persons who could not afford to shop. The church, in partnership with Glen Mar United Methodist Church in suburban Howard County, held a coat give-away on Monroe Street. Persons lined up around the church to receive free coats, and over 53 families were helped through the generosity of these two congregations. Monroe Street reports that as it has done for a number of years, Glen Mar Church has made a commitment to sponsoring at least 8 families for Christmas in the southwest Baltimore area surrounding Monroe Street Church. Signs of hope are seen in the partnerships in which churches share in ministering to those who have the least among us.
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