What is the connection?
Human Relations Sunday…
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday…
Race
We just celebrated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday and in the United Methodist Church Human Relation Sunday. These two celebrations are together because of the connections to each other. They both offer us an opportunity to reflect on the reason and purpose for the ministry of Rev. Dr. King. We can reflect on the stories in our lives… on the “ism’s”, especially race and racism…on the language that is given to us in a new way. When we reflect, we can hopefully begin to understand. So just a few of the connections between two celebrations … Human Relations Sunday…Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday and Race.
Just hold them in “This place…this space…of grace…!” for a few minutes. Read the language and hold the three together by answering the question “what is…
Human Relations Day
Human Relations Day … calls United Methodists to recognize the right of all God’s children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with one another.
…celebrated on the Sunday before the national observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. …involves congregations in community outreach and service. https://www.umc.org/en/content/human-relations-day-sunday-ministry-article
The National Observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
…the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America and a fighter for racial justice and equality … a day of service to help out at shelters, hospitals, prisons. to feed the homeless, mentor children that come from a life of struggle, and essentially help to make the community a better place. (https://www.cliftonhill.com/falls_blog/the-importance-of-martin-luther-king-day/)
Race
…a social and political construct that creates and assigns people to different hierarchal racial groups and assigned racialized social identities…” ….historically, the social and political idea of race— exacerbated by white Christianity and the notion of manifest destiny— https://r-squared.squarespace.com/what-is-series
Holding the three together gives me an image of language that came long before I was present in this place…this space… of God’s Grace. It allows me to hold them together…in that little space…just that little space of God’s GRACE. Imagine the connection and reflect! What image do you see?
Galatians 3:26-29…in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself in Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
From the Harbor District Antiracism Team
“The Beloved Community”…