The Adult Education ministry team met recently to plan our fall programs. Please note a change: the class on Paul’s letters has been moved to the new year, beginning January 2021. We have planned the following interesting opportunities for spiritual growth:

• What’s So Amazing About Grace This popular video series from Philip Yancy helps us move from an understanding of religion that is too often guilt-based to develop a faith full of grace, forgiveness and abundant love. It will meet 6:30-8:00 Wednesdays, Oct 21- Dec 16.
• The Case for Christmas Our Advent study is from a book by Lee Strobel, and poses an intriguing four week exploration of the Christmas story. The class will meet Sunday evenings Nov 29 – Dec 20.
• Adult Bible Study Until we are able to meet in the Ministry Center, we are uncertain when and how the Adult Bible class will meet. This class studies the scripture text of the Sunday sermon

One Small Step
It’s easy to get discouraged about change. I’m talking about the kind of change that we yearn for – change from the discord around us, change from the violence that frightens us, change from the hatreds so openly expressed, change from the negativism that hangs over our heads. We know these things are not of God and that God must be grieving the pervasive waywardness that we see every day.
It’s easy to be discouraged. I thought that race relations were improving. I thought that civil rights and integration would naturally bring us together as country, like I learned growing up, a “melting pot.” I thought that electing a Black president was a sign that America’s racial divisions were behind us. But now we know that’s not true. We have a lot of work to do, and prayer.
I know that some of us are tired of hearing about race, but the truth is, we have a lot of work to do, and prayer.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) has put together a helpful study guide for congregations to do this work. It is called Facing Racism: A Vision of Intercultural Community. Our Adult Education Ministry is offering this course. Pastor Joanna and I will lead the teaching sessions and members of the adult ed ministry team will facilitate the conversations. What we appreciate about this course is that it combines good biblical insight with excellent discussion questions. We learn from each other. This class is a safe place to share.
We begin with the Bible. We explore the Bible’s teachings about Creation and the Image of God, and what the Bible says about diversity and justice. Then we will think about what Jesus teaches us about being in community together. We will examine our own mission statement of SPC to hear what we have said about what kind of community we believe God wants us to be. What do the church’s confessions tell us about how the church addresses culture? As we face the daunting problem of race in America, what might we do as a community of faith? Could we, perhaps, take one small step for change?
I encourage you to participate. The class will meet from 6:30-8:00 on Wednesdays, Sept 9 – Oct 14. It is likely we will begin meeting through Zoom, and a link will be provided. To help us prepare, please sign up by contacting Ilona at the Church Office: 457-6811; spc.office@southportpresbyterian.com.
What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Take care. Be kind. Walk humbly,
Pastor Ann

At this time wounds of racial discord and misunderstanding in our country are raw. How can we truly lay a foundation for a better day in America? Is there a rainbow on the horizon of a new day? We continue to care, pray, and hope. We can also keep listening and learning. Our suggested readings and video will help you on the journey of racial inequity understanding. Contact the church office if you need a link to the Zoom meeting for this discussion.

Read: https://debbyirving.com/how-racism-damages-us-as-white-people/, How Racism Damages Us as White People, by Aaron Wilson-Ahlstrom

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYyvbgINZkQ, How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them, TED Talk by Vernā Myers, encourages work vigorously to counter balance bias by connecting with and learning about and from the groups we fear. (19 minutes)

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeMfwUN5z_4, Stevie Wonder “Living For The City.”

It is difficult to know how to respond to the current racial turmoil in our country, yet it is important to be aware of the complexity of issues. That is why our church is committing the month of July to “Racial Equity Understanding.” Our E-blasts during the week will include links to activities, articles, videos, audio clips and observations.

These brief activities will help deepen our community connections and understanding. Each day there will be choices for ways of engagement. We recommend keeping a journal to reflect personal observations. Journaling is an important part of this work to reflect on what you are learning and how you are feeling. Keeping a journal will help you track what you have read, seen, thought, etc. Another reason for keeping a journal is that we will be gathering via Zoom on July 15 at 6:30 pm to discuss what we have read, seen, heard and learned so far. We want to remember our thoughts, learning and feelings in order to share them with one another. All are invited to this conversation. Church members have been sent login information. Others who are interested in participating can call the church office for login information – (910) 457-6811. Our hope is that this initiative is easily doable for everyone, and will assist our entire congregation to listen to different voices. We hope you will join us.

The resources we draw from come from the work of Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. In 1996, Dr. Eddie Moore started America & MOORE, LLC to provide comprehensive diversity and leadership training and workshops.
Read:
“Caught Up In God,” by Willie James Jennings in The Christian Century.
Watch:
Test Your Awareness

On Friday evening at 7:30 pm, our church hosts a “Vigil of Remembrance and Hope.” As Americans, and as Christians, we still believe in what is best in humankind. We look for goodness in one another and our neighbors. We know that we can stand on the side of justice and we can answer Jesus’ call to be peacemakers. For everything there is a season. This is the season to respond.

Painfully, we are reminded that some immigrants came enslaved. The Emancipation Proclamation did not eradicate bigotry. The Civil Rights Act did not remove prejudice. Sanctioned violence against people of color, especially black men, is real. And this week our country erupted. Crisis upon crisis upon crisis is tearing us down. We watch and pray while America bleeds. We cannot look away from the division and suffering that torment our land and people.

In the hymn that Jennie Bryan sang so beautifully on Sunday morning, we hear the refrain: Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing. It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?+ Through all the tumult and strife, can you hear a song in your soul? Is there a deep current of love to sustain you and give you hope and courage? We will listen and pray, and we will ask for God’s mercy and help.

+from My Life Flows On, music and text by Robert Lowry