“We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality….”
– Letter From a Birmingham Jail
Dear Caldwell,
As we enter the weekend set side to prayerfully consider the life and unfinished business of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded in particular of how fiercely he held on to a vision of America that reflected the kind of covenant community that God defined for the children of Israel and that Christ painted as the Kingdom of God on earth in the New Testament. In other words, we truly need each other. We belong to each other. We are each other’s keepers, an idea that seems to become more foriegn to the current American dialogue every day.
On Sunday, we will consider Dr. King as prophet in the line of God’s great prophets, called to speak into times of chaos and social change. The text is 1 Samuel 3:1-20. Other things to look forward to Sunday are:
– Adult Sunday school at 9:45 a.m.
– After worship, we will hold a covered dish luncheon, as we have done in Januarys past. This gives us the chance to dwell together as we seek to live into King’s vision over a meal; it also gives us the chance to celebrate someone who has been a part of Caldwell for 30 years, our friend and loyal employee Fred Hamilton. Please bring something to contribute to the covered dish, which will also include a generous donation from Magic Mike’s Barbecue.
– We will prepare breakfast for the neighbors of Caldwell House as we do each Sunday. Prep starts at 7 and serving at 8:30.
– The January edition of the Caldwell Good News! is off the press and will be available Sunday.
This weekend we are keeping in our prayers: longtime member Irene Brown and her son, David, as Irene rests comfortably in the Hospice wing at Presbyterian Hospital; and, Elizabeth Hyland and her mother, Peggy, as they deal with Peggy’s diagnosis of a brain lymphoma and Elizabeth recovers from pneumonia (today is Elizabeth’s birthday).
Finally, please introduce yourselves to our newest intern, Liz Wagner, who began this week. She will focus initially on adult Christian Education.
I trust you will find some restoration this weekend and be renewed in worship (hint hint).
Yours in Christ,
John