I have a friend who posts those smile-inducing and encouraging words on her social media pages on the first day of each month. It seems like a light-hearted, even silly way to begin each month – except it’s not.
With all that has happened in the past year, not only related to Covid, but also related to the deaths of so many beloved members of our Caldwell community, entering a “whole new month” is not something we can take for granted.
It’s a whole new month, and we are still here, friends. We are still standing together as a community. We are still loving and supporting one another through all kinds of challenges and also all kinds of celebrations, limited though they may be.
It’s a whole new month – February. It’s Black History Month.
Here at Caldwell, we do not relegate Black history, the mention of Black accomplishments, or the challenges faced by the Black community and all people of the African diaspora to these 28 days in the year. It is our intention to honor, recognize, and herald the great achievements of Black people all year round.
But still – there is something special about this month. This is an opportunity to go deeper, to ask more questions, to seek more answers, and to consider more ways for all of us and each of us to broaden our knowledge of Black history and to decide on our place in creating new stories and participating in rewriting history in ways that include more voices and more experiences. I hope that you will avail yourself of the many online resources that can expand your knowledge and appreciation of Black history.
As part of this year’s Black History Month celebration at Caldwell, I am honored and excited to share that I will be preaching every Sunday this month. My plan to walk with you all through the Old Testament book of Habakkuk.
If your brow just got furrowed and your tongue just got tied as you attempted to pronounce that name, you are not alone. Some people say Habakkuk, and others say Habakkuk. In other words, however you say it is fine. How you pronounce it is not nearly as important as how you read it – or that you read it. It’s only three chapters long, and here are links to each of the three chapters – chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3.
Why Habakkuk? Because, although we don’t know when he wrote these three chapters, we do know that his message of sorrow, despair, faith, and hope is as relevant today as it was whenever it was written. Because, although we don’t know much of his story, he tells our ongoing story of wondering where God is when bad things happen, and he invites us to hold onto our faith in God, even when God seems distant and silent.
I hope you will join us for Preacher’s Porch tonight as we consider the first eleven verses of Habakkuk chapter 1. These verses will be my focus this coming Sunday.
Speaking of which, on Sunday, we will celebrate communion together, so please plan to bring bread and cup to (virtual) worship. This Sunday is also the day when we would normally participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring. You are invited to donate to Loaves and Fishes at this link. Friends, let’s bless some of our Charlotte neighbors by supporting the work of Loaves and Fishes.
On Friday morning, February 5th, at 11 am, a service in witness to the resurrection will take place at Myers Park Presbyterian Church for our dear friend and former pastor, the Reverend Charlie MacDonald. At that time, you can watch the service here. You can read Charlie’s obit here.
Beloved ones, we have had a series of challenging months during the past year. For some, this month has already brought new challenges. Nonetheless, it is a whole new month. A whole new month to learn Black history. A whole new month during which we can give God thanks and praise. A whole new month for prayer and for worship. A whole new month to read the Word of God – even books that have names that are hard to pronounce – like Habakkuk. A whole new month to live as God’s generous, kind, and beloved children in a world that desperately needs us to extend God’s grace and mercy and love to everyone we meet.
Grace and peace be with you, Gail