Remembering Dr. King and The Dream

By / January 20, 2016
rencherLife at St. Peter’s, between Saturday, January 16, and Monday, January 18, will remember the ministry of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his faithful leadership in efforts to respond to God’s Dream.

All are invited to witness Charlotte’s MLK Holiday Parade tomorrow morning in front of St. Peter’s Church. Start time is 10:30 a.m. and I will be there no later than 10:00 a.m. Sunday’s liturgies will include the Collect appointed for his feast day in Holy Women, Holy Men. On Monday, a brief celebration of the Holy Eucharist will be offered at 11:30 a.m., followed by this month’s Center City Concert “Gospels, Spirituals, and Classics” performance by soprano Helen Goldsby at Noon. All that we offer, and whatever you are able to attend, undoubtedly will bring blessing and be a holy reminder of the invitation that we have to co-create the beloved community in response to God’s Drem.

 

The coming days of remembrance also remind us of the need to live in unceasing prayer. In case you missed yesterday’s news, The Episcopal Church (TEC) has been sanctioned temporarily from certain Anglican Communion roles per a majority vote at the Primates 2016 gathering in Canterbury. A majority of the Primates present find TEC’s decisions in favor of marriage equality at General Convention 2015 to be a step, in their opinion, that works against the spirit of communion.

Nonetheless, I wholeheartedly disagree with their position. Our prophetic witness and understanding of full inclusion of LGBT members of the body of Christ causes them great distress for a host of reasons. Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, offered a powerful reflection on this decision in this video on our diocesan website. For a deep understanding of the matter, I commend this editorial from Episcopal Cafe, which also includes Bishop Curry’s response to his peers. Next week, I will share a response from our Bishop Diocesan Pro Tempore, The Right Reverend Anne Hodges-Copple.

St. Peter’s Parish Vision is to become a community of bold followers of Jesus, a crowd that effects good change for the world, a place known for radical love and welcome, and a beacon of hope in Center City Charlotte. Together, we will remain focused on becoming what we articulate in our vision. I pray that all human beings will come to know and never forget that each of us is God’s “beloved” and that reconciliation is at the core of who we are called to be – in God’s Dream.
Peace, blessings, and hope to see you soon.

The Reverend Ollie V. Rencher, Rector
Direct 704-749-6140
Email orencher@st-peter.org