"For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock." (Psalm 27:5)
On January 21, 2019 we will once again recognize and celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy. Dr. King fought for the rights of black Americans who were experiencing discrimination and segregation. However, prior to Dr. King's achievements there were many others who fought for the rights and freedoms of black Americans. Among them were many notable women. Sojourner Truth who was born a slave in Hurley, New York and worked as a servant, became a powerful voice against slavery. She felt God's call to a greater mission as an abolitionist. As a result she began a ministry as an itinerant preacher delivering God's judgment against the evils of slavery and in time she joined this theme with a commitment to women's rights. Sojourner Truth, like Dr. King faced great opposition and at times violent mobs. Yet she never doubted slavery would end and was present in the capital in 1865 when Congress ratified the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery. Her struggle for freedom and equality continued until the day she died on November 26, 1883 at the age of 86 years.
"Black Moses"
Similarly, Harriet Tubman who was often referred to as the black "Moses" of her time was the "conductor" hero of the Underground Railroad. She, like Sojourner Truth was also born a slave. In December 1849, she escaped from slavery and began rescuing slaves in 1850. She helped lead dozens of runaway black slaves to freedom, including her own parents who were led to freedom in 1857. In April 1858 she was introduced to abolitionist John Brown, who unlike Dr. King, advocated the use of violence to destroy slavery in the United States. When the war ended, Harriet Tubman retired to her family home and like Sojourner Truth became active in the women's suffrage movement. In January 1863 shortly after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation, she became the commander of the team in charge of espionage. In March 1913, Harriet Tubman died at the age of 93 of pneumonia in the Home for Aged Colored People that she helped found. The home was later renamed in her honor.
"Sanctuary"
When we look at the church today, some still question why black people form separate congregations. Hated for their skin color, black people rarely found love, acceptance, and safety outside family except in one place: the Black church. At Sunday worship, Wednesday prayer meetings, Friday youth nights, summer day camps--the historically Black church was a true sanctuary from a time of terror and rejection. As a black woman pastor, I can understand the feelings of rejection. It is difficult to find true sanctuary when color, gender, and/or giftedness becomes a barrier to ministry. Yet like, my abolitionist sisters before me, I seek the only sanctuary and shelter that sees me as a daughter of the King. In Psalm 27, David declares three promises from the Lord in times of trouble. He will keep me safe in His dwelling, He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent, and He will set me high upon a rock. (verse 5) It's a comfort to know that like the church which sheltered the black slaves, the Lord is a sheltering God. He is, was, and will always be a sanctuary to all needing refuge.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Pastor Sheree
We are in the season of Advent and Christmas is a few days away. Advent is a time of expectation where once again we wait for the first coming of the Lord as a baby born in Bethlehem. If we think about it, Advent is not just something that occurs every December but it is pervasive throughout the Bible. The overriding theme of Advent is wondering, watching, and waiting. Some Biblical examples highlight this theme. The Lord made a covenant with Abram in Genesis 15 that his descendants would one day be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abram must have wondered what God was talking about but we are told that, "Abram believed the Lord, and He credited to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6) After Abram, whom God renamed Abraham (Genesis 17) was visited by three men near the great trees of Mamre he and his wife Sarah were told they would give birth to a son the following year. Sarah was so skeptical given their advanced ages that she laughed. (Genesis 18) However, Abraham and Sarah watched and waited for God's promise to be fulfilled. (Genesis 21)
Expectations Fulfilled
Joseph wondered about the dreams God had given him indicating he would one day be a great ruler, even over his own family. (Genesis 37) Over the course of 13 years, he watched and waited for his dreams to become a reality despite many situations and circumstances that seemed to work against him. (Genesis 39-45) The book of Exodus chronicles how the Israelites wondered where God was in the midst of their oppression and suffering under Egypt's Pharaoh. They had been watching and waiting for over 400 years for a deliverer to set them free from their slavery. Their deliverer did come when God called Moses to go to Egypt to set the people free. (Genesis 3) The Advent theme of wondering, watching, and waiting finds its ultimate fulfillment in the birth of Christ. As Isaiah declares, "The people walking in darkness (wondering, watching, waiting) have seen a great light; on those living in a land of deep darkness a light has dawned...For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:2,6 italics mine)
What's your Advent season?
I have recently entered a new season in pastoral ministry as I wonder, watch, and wait with expectation for what God is going to do in my personal "advent." What about you? Are you experiencing your own "advent" season of wondering, watching, and waiting? If so, expect great things to come as Immanuel (God with us) will bring it to pass just like He did thousands of years ago in Bethlehem and God is faithful!
Merry Christmas and A Blessed New Year!
Pastor Sheree
In this world of hate and strife,
We give You thanks our God for life!
We pray dear Lord that You will heal,
And make your presence known and real,
To those who cry to You for peace,
That dissension on our earth will cease.
So as we gather for our meal,
We pray our hearts with love you'll seal.
Remind us of the folks in need,
And keep us Lord from willful greed.
To you, Oh God our hands we lift,
With thanks for every perfect gift,
That flows from heaven up above,
Made perfect in the Savior's love.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Pastor Sheree
