Hope for the City

Monday, May 28, 2018

The Scandalous Gospel

The late Rev. Peter Gomes posited that the Gospel of Jesus is, by nature, scandalous when it’s really preached in its liberative form. That’s a part of what has so many media and church “Monday morning” preaching pundits uncomfortable and upset at Bishop Michael Curry and the homily/sermon he preached at the royal wedding on Saturday.

On Love: Dr. Martin King, Jr. and Bishop Michael Curry

Perhaps Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most important sermon on love was titled, “Loving Your Enemies” (in “Strength to Love”, 1960). On Saturday in his homily at the royal wedding, Bishop Michael Curry gave a 21st century remix on the power of love in “When Love is the Way”, in the legacy of Dr. King. “We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and restated by Bishop Curry)

Beloved Community in a Multifaith World (CMEC), 11/20/17

The Beloved Community in a Multi-faith World

The Central Maryland Ecumenical Council

Monday, November 20, 2017

As we gather together today on the brink of another Thanksgiving holiday, there are indeed a number of things that we can be thankful for today. The diversity God’s creation – and signs of God’s peace and unity is evident in this room as we come together across our difference – religiously, racially, in terms of class and even (perhaps) in terms of our politics. And yet, I believe we can all attest to the fact that we as a society in general, and as communities more particularly, continue to teeter on the brink of despair and that there are signs of apparent hopelessness around us.

In this coming year, we will share in the 89th anniversary of the birth of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2018 will also be the year when we observe the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assignation on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.

With the state of our society today, we’re left to wonder what Dr. King might think and what he might have to say about where we find ourselves. To address this matter, it is important to first remember that Dr. King’s singular vision for the church and society was for the realization of Beloved Community So, Dr. King would first remind us that Beloved Community is rooted in the biblical notion of Agape (God’s unconditional love), and was to be ultimate goal for society.

Prayer for the Maryland State Senate and State of Maryland

Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 10:00 am
Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt, Senior Pastor
Epworth Chapel United Methodist Church, Baltimore, MD

O God, from the rising of the sun, until the going down of the same, your name is worthy to be praised. We gather this morning as your people, and we are grateful for this opportunity that you’ve afforded for us to be together. We are grateful for the opportunities that you afford each of us to serve you and serve your people.

For the state of Maryland, we offer thanks to you. For our nation, we are grateful - for with all that is with us and before us, we know that you have been our help in ages past, and that you are our hope for days to come, and we know that your divine and mighty hand is on the nation and world as it has been in ages past. So, O God, we pray that you will please continue to guide our feet as we run the race that has been set before us.

On this day, O God, we pray that you will bless every hamlet and hill of this great state. Bless every community where your people live, every school where our children learn, the fields and grounds where they play, and the places where your people gather and work.