FCAC
Celebrates Black History Month |
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A
Breath of Fresh Care This is Black History Month and true to our
tradition, we take the time to highlight someone from the
African American community that we deem worthy of special
attention. While this may be helpful to recognize someone of
merit, I think it also is an unintentional enabling ritual that
allows faith communities to avoid engaging in deeper difficult
discussions regarding race, personal and institutional racism.
I find it interesting that during a pandemic we have not more
forcefully connected the dots before us. We consistently hear
that we are living in a divided nation and focus on those
things where we have strongly differing opinions. However, I
submit to you that it may be time for us to use the same energy
and power of mass media to send a different message that will
begin to highlight the things we have in common. The major
impact of COVID19 on the human body is the inability to breathe
and the last words uttered by Eric Garner and George Floyd
referenced their inability to breathe. COVID19 is a vivid
reminder that irrespective of class, race, nationality, or
creed, if you cannot breathe you will die. In some of our faith
traditions we are told that the breath of God rendered humanity
a living soul. I believe the words we breathe can also create a
negative or positive environment. Therefore, I urge everyone to
be intentional in how we care for one another so that we all
continue to breathe but with a “breath of fresh care”. As faith community servant leaders, we must take
control of and shape the narrative of our existence based on
the reality of what God would have us to do in caring for His
human creation. Hence, the new normal may entail the necessity
to put aside biases and socio-political rhetoric in order to
connect with one another in a new meaningful way. I humbly
offer this suggestion to you knowing that I do not have all the
answers, but I do have a desire to bring about a healing and
change within and between our respective communities. I have
begun to look at two large groupings, the scarred and the
scared. When I honestly analyze my interactions with members of
the community of humanity at large, I am either attempting to
control being scared of what has, is or might happen or heal
from a past or present scar. Scared or scarred, what a
difference an “R” makes. It is my responsibility to be
introspectively honest as to which it is because like it or not
my perception, be it conscious or unconscious will determine my
reality in the moment. It is only when I own my feelings of
being scarred and scared, that I am able to effect positive
personal change and increase my intentional effectiveness in
extending a healing hand and a “breath of fresh care” to all of
humanity. This in part is what I believe occurred when people
of all colors joined together to hold our society accountable
and call for change. I am sure there will be those who question how
they will know what to do or say and use that excuse for their
inaction. Thus, I leave you with a thought from the
award-winning songwriter, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. I offer
it as a non-denominational example of the feeling I envision
you having when you begin the journey to heal our community
with the first step of honest introspection and communication
in love. He says, “Oh such tears of joy, I’ve never known, I
can’t remember. It’s like a song, I’ve never heard, I’ve
never sung, but know the words.” I assure you though
you may have never heard or sung/spoken the words of
reconciliation, when you act in love, God will give you the
words. Peace and blessings to all. |
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| Reverend Dr. Gareth E. Murray Associate Pastor First Baptist Church, Silver Spring Executive Committee member Faith Community Advisory Council |
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Black History Month, Our History Month By: Rev. Daisy Thompson I would have never dreamed a year ago, that Black
History Month would be celebrated on Zoom, or various other means
of media, solely. This is an unprecedented perilous time that we
are all living through; due to COVID-19. However, thanks be
to God, and we give Him all the Glory, for the fact that we are
still making History as we speak; even during this COVID-19
pandemic. We have elected our first, Black, Jamaican Asian,
woman Vice President. We have had many peaceful, multiracial
demonstrations, protests, and marches in support of the Black
Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter Movement, (BLM), is
a multiracial cause, that began in 2013, following the death of
Travon Martin, but this movement has been energized by the
shameful killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless
other unarmed Black Americans by law enforcement officers. The
credit for the intensity of the re-ignition of The BLM movement,
that took place during a pandemic, is largely due to our
millennials, our youth. This movement went global. It was
amazing. Therefore, I am so immensely proud of our young
people of all races, who came together to protest a just, and
worthy cause. They organized using social media, they marched,
they were pepper sprayed, beaten, and arrested; this exemplifies
love, and sacrifice for others, that they did not even know. They
are our future. Finally, there are countless contributions that
African Americans have made throughout history, we are continuing
to make strides in the world. But I am proud of the fact, that we
are raising young people who are continuing the fight for
equality of all people, no matter what the: race, ethnicity, the
gender, or the economic status. I believe that, one day, Black
History Month will become ”Our History Month." Teach Us to Pray By: Rev. Kenneth Nelson Heartfelt thoughts and prayers are vital to our
healthy living. I did not realize how important our thoughts
until my Aunt Vera Hunter taught me a valuable lesson about
prayer. For some family dinners and special occasions, the
meal starts with grace or blessing. I was new to the family, and
Aunt Vera offered me an opportunity to pray for Thanksgiving
dinner. I thanked her, and I immediately delayed a great dinner.
I prayed about the heavens and the earth; I prayed about the rain
and the sun; I prayed about the farmers and the crops; I prayed
about the grocery stores and the clerks; I prayed about
everything except how precious this time was for us to be
together. When I finished my elaborate prayer, and the room
emptied, Aunt Vera tugged my hand with all the power of 100-pound
women and stopped me in my tracks. Then My Aunt Vera quietly and
softly said to me: “You have 30 days to learn how to pray for
this family. If you can’t get it right, don’t bother coming back
in January.” I was shocked and heartbroken; I had no appetite. In
an enduring moment, I realized I let my family down and was about
to be excommunicated. But Aunt Vera taught me how to pray and showed me
how to have hope. At the next family dinner, I pray for Aunt Vera
and the relationships that brought us together and the meal's
sharing. I finished the prayer quickly and graciously! Our family
was shocked and relieved. My Aunt Vera tugged me again and said
quietly and softly: "You can come back next year."
Whenever there is grace or a thoughtful moment, I remember Aunt
Vera teaching us how to pray. |
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Caring Matters Offers
Grief Resource for Black History Month As we celebrate Black History Month, we
would like to take this opportunity to share a wide variety of
resources with the goal of building bridges and enhancing our
efforts to better serve the diverse Montgomery County
community. The resources at the link below offer
important perspectives and unique cultural considerations about
grief in the Black community. These voices and resources can
help move us closer to a deeper understanding and more
compassionate support of our Black family members, friends, and neighbors. Click
for Grief Resources |
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UNITED IN ACTION is pleased to provide a Transforum Series: A Conversation on Race and
Unity in the Body of Christ. This event will be held over Zoom; six 60-minute
sessions are scheduled every Saturday @ 8:30 am beginning on
February 27 and ending April 3. These six sessions together include discussion
opportunities with fellow MoCo residents on the important topic of
race and unity in the body of Christ. Would you like to engage with others with
different perspectives and be an agent of healing and
unity? In these virtual sessions MoCo pastors will
present on vital themes relating to our unique history, current challenges,
and personal involvement. Let's take this much needed time to
gain perspective, and allow friendships to form and deepen as we
allow unconditional love to rule. The end goal is to promote unity within the body
of Christ so that local churches can act as one in preaching the
gospel and meeting the needs of those within our county. . Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84531928011?pwd=VVd4VWdHd3Foemx3NEh1eHBHVUUzQT09 Meeting ID: 845 3192 8011 Passcode: 772613 One tap mobile +13017158592,,84531928011#,,,,*772613# US
(Washington DC) +16465588656,,84531928011#,,,,*772613# US (New
York) |
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Please join us for Cedar Lane’s Kiplinger Lecture The Ethic of Revolutionary Love with Valarie Kaur March 3, 2021 7:30 – 8:30 PM Go to tinyurl.com/kiplingerlecture to
register for this exciting free event! Are we ready, after these years of division and
chaos, to engage our better angels in the struggle for community,
justice, and peace? Please join us to be inspired by Valarie Kaur,
dynamic racial justice activist and best-selling author, who
champions revolutionary love! . . . Amid the dark days of
relentless Covid, our national Capitol desecrated, and justice
still but a dream for many, are we in “the darkness of the tomb –
or the darkness of the womb”? Read
more on the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church website |
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COVID-19 Vaccine Montgomery County Government is vaccinating people
in Tier 1 of Priority Group 1A and 1B. Priority Group
1B includes teachers, childcare workers, essential workers, and
individuals with developmental disabilities. People in Priority
Group 1C, Tier 1 (65-74 years old) are also invited to preregister.
For more detailed answers to questions about COVID-19
vaccinations in the County, please visit the the Vaccine
and Priority Group Information website. Sign
up here for vaccine updates. |
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This
website provides a listing of all county food
resources. It is regularly updated so be sure to check back
often. |
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Volunteering is a great way to give back to the
community. Check out the opportunities available
here. |
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