January 2009

From the Pastor

     Another New Year.  And this one historic.  For the first time in our nation’s 200+ year history, we will have an African American president.  Those of us who remember the civil rights struggle are amazed and overjoyed that we have come to this moment.

     However, this does not mean that racism is over.  Far from it.  In fact, the very night that Barack Obama was elected, an arsonist torched an African American church in Springfield.  Authorities are still trying to determine whether or not is was a hate crime.

     It is appropriate that Mr. Obama’s swearing in will occur the day after we honor Dr. Martin Luther King.  These two events, side by side as they are, remind us not only of how far we have come in this country, but how far we have yet to go.  Racism will not be eliminated simply because one man has achieved the highest office in the land.  There is much more work that must be done before Dr. King’s dream of people being judged by their character rather than by their color. 

     Racism plagues and cripples our growth in Christ, and is antithetical to the Good News of Christ.  Indeed racism is a sin.  All persons have been created in God’s image, are loved by God and are equally valuable to God. 

     As we celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and our new president, let us commit ourselves anew to breaking down the barriers of racism and celebrating  the gifts that particular ethnic histories and culture bring to our life together.

Pastor Tony