Today we commemorate the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all of the courageous individuals of the Civil Rights Movement. We have the space and time to examine our hearts and minds for biases and prejudices that we have toward people who are different from us in any way; economically, politically, ethnically, racially, religiously. We pray for God to remove the walls of division and convict us once and for all of the divine truth that we are ALL God's children made in the image of our Creator.
Perhaps it might be helpful for each of us to remember that no matter what our past experiences have been with people who are different from us that we can't generalize; that one negative encounter we have had or news story we have heard doesn't mean that ALL people of a certain demographic are that way. God made us as individuals out of love and worthy of love and we never know what load a person is carrying, or the distance they have travelled, or the storm that they have navigated. I don't think that God is going to deny us entry into heaven because we were too generous or we loved too much. It might make us appear foolish sometimes, but like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I choose to err on the side of love.
An Opportunity to Learn a Little More...
At this month's Theater and Theology offering:
JUST MERCY
This Friday, January 21 from 6:30-9:00, we will be watching the film and sharing what the Holy Spirit is stirring up inside our hearts and minds. We read this powerful book by Bryan Stevenson in our Laidback Book Club and it opened my eyes to a wider, more diverse world than what I generally experience within the city limits of Midland. Check out the trailer to get a feel for the movie. The event is free, but please register on the website so we know how many to expect.
For more information and to register, visit the parish website:
https://www.blessed-midland.org/2021/12/29/theater-theology-just-mercy/
Other Wonderful Opportunities to Journey Together
Is there a young adult or college student or two (or three) that you would like to send a little LOVE to this Valentine’s Day?
If so, please join us on
Thursday, February 3 at 7:00 for our yearly “Box Full of Love” event.
Thursday, February 3 at 7:00 for our yearly “Box Full of Love” event.
Visit the website for details and to register:
https://www.blessed-midland.org/2022/01/05/box-full-of-love/
Laidback Book Club begins February 6.
Please join us as we dive into:
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams
“ How do we find joy in the face of life's inevitable suffering? In this unique collaboration, the Dalai Lama and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, offer us the reflection of real lives filled with pain and turmoil in the midst of which they have been able to discover a level of peace, of courage, and of joy to which we can all aspire in our own lives.”
Details will be on the website soon, but for now, grab a copy of the book or download it on your favorite app! I'm so excited to read this together and share how our lives can be transformed by the power of joy!
THE CHOSEN
You loved Season One and we know that you won’t want to miss Season Two of this awesome series. Anne Boyd will again be hosting these wonderful evenings beginning Wednesday, February 9 at 7:00 at the Parish Center. Of course you could watch them by yourself, but watching and reflecting together adds even more depth to these beautiful stories of the people who encountered and were transformed by Jesus.
Don't miss an episode of this season! Register now by visiting the parish website:
STEWARDSHIP? What does THAT mean??
“Stewardship” is a word we hear tossed around quite a bit in Church, but have you ever wondered what “Stewardship” actually means or thought about what true stewardship looks like, lived out in our day-to-day lives? Maybe you’ve never thought about stewardship at all or you would like some encouragement on how to be a better caretaker of all that God has given you. If you fit into any of these categories, and I think that WE all fit into one of these categories, you won’t want to miss this evening with Don and Chris Buchalski as they share their stewardship journey on FEBRUARY 15 from 6:00-8:00. Details and registration will be on the website soon, but save the date on your calendar today!
SURPRISE... A SONG!
O.K., so not really a surprise, but a nice way to end a January Flocknote. If you have been part of our group for long, you have probably concluded that I am a U2 fan. It's not just their music that I love, but their their unabashedly Christian lyrics and commitment to Social Justice. Today our song is U2's PRIDE (In the Name of Love), but with a country twist provided by Dierks Bentley with Larkin Poe and Ben Helson.
With Winter Warmth, Peace, and Joy,
lyn