Wake Forest Baptist Church

All Are Welcome, No Exceptions

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A Day Without Immigrants

Dear friends,

There is a  national protest today called “A Day Without Immigrants.” Workers and students who have immigrated to the United States are striking, showing in a non-violent way, how important immigrant presence is here in Winston-Salem and in the nation.

This is a photo of marchers in downtown Winston-Salem, standing up against the new anti-immigration Executive Order, taken just this afternoon. There are stores and restaurants that are closed. Do you know anyone who went on strike today?

A few weeks ago, we sent a letter of support to a local Latino congregation, El Buen Pastor. Today, we received their reply. The original is surrounded by signatures of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but you’ll have to come Sunday to see it:

These are our brothers and sisters who have come to our country for a better life. Let’s recognize their contribution and be prepared to support them whatever comes.

Warmly,

Pastor Lia

 

 

 

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Forward Together (Not One Step Back!)

A lot of us are concerned about the direction that our country is going. The leadership seems more proficient at division and fear, than love and concern. The leadership seems focused on upsetting the status quo, and not worrying much about what gets broken, or who suffers, as a result. The leadership wants to “make America great” by scapegoating those who are “other.”

The Forward Together Moral Movement and its founder, Rev. William Barber II, shares those concerns, and has been working to build a coalition to put forward moral issues like these in the forefront of political discussion. This coalition is wide ranging, and ecumenical, and is focused on love, not hate.

At least 26 of us traveled to Raleigh last Saturday to participate in the 2017 Moral March, also known as HKOJ (Historic Thousands On Jones St.) It’s hard to guess crowd sizes, but it is a safe bet that there were more than 20,000 people there, with a wide range of interests and concerns.

We were proud to have made the journey to stand in solidarity and to be counted along with our brothers and sisters concerned about injustice on the basis of race, religion, national origin, economic class, gender, or sexual orientation.

It will take more than marching to bring love to the oppressed and justice for all, but it’s a start.

Here’s Rev. Barber’s inspirational sermon:

Here’s a part that I found particularly touching:

But my momma’s here… eighty three years old…
She had me, two days after the March on Washington…
She said, I never thought I would have a baby,
that when he was fifty years old, he’d still be fighting,
some of the battles that I fought…
But she said, Boyyyyyyy you’d better Fight!

You’d Better Fight!

‘Cause Bowing Down Is Not An Option!

The weather was good, spirits were high, and everyone seemed to feel like the effort to stand up and take part was worth it.

As you can imagine, there’s a lot of work that goes into an expedition of this size. I’d like to thank Eve and Steve Andrews, Judy and Terry Lovelace, Elizabeth Corney, and Drew McCarthy for all their hard work. And many of you made contributions too, from camp chairs to financial resources. Special thanks to all of you who marched, too!

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Guest Preacher Carol Howard Merritt

This Sunday, February 19, Carol Howard Merritt will join us in worship. She is the author of Healing Spiritual Wounds: Reconnecting with a Loving God after Experiencing a Hurtful Church.

 

Carol is a minister whose writing, speaking, and teaching are anchored in theological wisdom and sociological insight. She’s a sought-after keynote speaker, especially on the topic of ministering in a new generation, and the award-winning author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation and Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation. Carol is a frequent contributor to books, websites, magazines, and journals. She is a regular writer at the Christian Century where her blog is hosted. Her new book will be available for purchase by check or credit card.

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First 100 Days Prayer Vigil

A Review by Elizabeth Corney

Sunday, January 22 2017, two days after the inauguration of a new president, about one hundred people gathered at Parkway United Church of Christ for a prayer vigil. Already, controversy swirling as the press and the new administration went head to head over which “facts” to report. Despite the energy of the Women’s March, there was still a sense of concern for the coming days.

In the face of uncertainty, people of faith came together to pray and read from their sacred texts. One part of this particular service included a litany that Elizabeth Corney wrote with help from ministerial colleagues. Perhaps you would like to use it in your own prayers.

Merciful God, we are grateful for your care and faithfulness to us in past ages. You strengthen oppressed people calling them to break down walls in hopes of a better future.

We are grateful for those who have gone before us in the struggle for liberation. We celebrate their work and their victories securing our freedoms.

We fear for the future, some of us for our very lives. Already, we see hate seeping into the mainstream as space and bodies are violated. And so, we pray…

For those facing loss of health care coverage.

For those who are LGBTQIA and whose very right to exist is under attack not just by lone vigilantes, but the very institutions meant to protect them.

For women, whose rights must include physical safety, economic equality, and bodily autonomy.

For people of color threatened by state sanctioned violence, lack of resources, and the school to prison pipeline.

For all whose faith marks them as targets for hate speech and violence.

For refugees fleeing turmoil and for immigrants seeking the American dream.

For Mother Earth facing destruction for our worldly gain.

For our protections provided in the Constitution

Strengthen us to stand up for justice for all people. Help us restore civil discourse despite polarizing divisions. Help us reestablish credibility in an era when truths are no longer accepted as truths and falsity given voice and credibility. Help our government to remember their duty to serve all regardless of status.

God of freedom, may the memory of the past inspire us to hold fast to the liberty we enjoy today, and more sensitive to the rights of others. May we never cease to work for the day when oppression will be no more, and all of humanity will live with liberty, justice and peace. Amen.

We sometimes set aside spiritual disciplines like prayer during crises because it seems such a small thing to do, but the smallest things turn out to be full of meaning and power. This prayer vigil did not immediately transform reality or eliminate fears. However, coming together reminds us that we have coconspirators in resistance. It helps break up the cycle of worry with contemplation and inspires action in response.

Wake Forest Baptist Church

P O Box 7326
Winston-Salem 27109
Email: admin@wakeforestbaptist.org

Phone (336) 860-0777