In everything we do, we believe we are beloved of God. We believe you are, too.

We are people of all ages who gather seeking a deeper experience of God.

We are a transformative community that nurtures spiritual growth in ways that help people live meaningful lives, then

sends them out as followers of the risen Christ to make a difference in the world.

Overview of 2nd session

Past – Allison Williams

Present – Kathleen Martin & Mimi Shipp

Future – Tricia Copeland

An Invitation from Bishop Deon

Anti-Racism Covenant: An invitation to people of faith to actively seek equality and justice in our communities.

https://antiracismcovenant.org/

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.”

1 John 4:20

Our Assumptions• We meet everyone where they are – we all are part of this community,

and together we will help one another move forward. • We will get uncomfortable, and need to stick with it. • We acknowledge that racism exists, and our current systems

perpetuate racial injustices. • We listen and engage with the intent to understand. • Building of relationship and community is essential to our work. • What is said in this space stays in this space…take the learnings

forward.

Where we’ve been – the broader Church• 1455: Pope Nicholas V, gave Portugal’s King permission to "invade, search out,

capture, vanquish, and subdue all Saracens and pagans whatsoever, and other enemies of Christ wheresoever placed, and the kingdoms, dukedoms, principalities, dominions, possessions, and all movable and immovable goods whatsoever held and possessed by them and to reduce their persons to perpetual slavery.” Protestant Reformation 1517-1648 Episcopal Church in US formed 1789

• Edmund Gibson, distinguished Anglican Bishop, wrote to Virginians in 1727praising the 1667 statute denying freedom to baptized captives. He talked about how conversion obligated captives to “the Greatest Diligence and Fidelity” to their owners.

That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It

• The value of multiple stories.

• Examples of multiple stories in the Bible • Chronicles, Kings, Prophets • 3 Synoptic Gospel Writers • Genesis, Chapters 1 and 2

• Acts 10 -- Peter’s vision that all of God’s creation is good. • Challenge to what Peter had been taught and his culture

Emmanuel Acho• Philadelphia Eagles player

• “Esther moment” • Obedience to God’s call

• Putting himself out there for us

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Emmanuel Acho & Matthew McConaughey

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Episode 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwiY4i8xWIc

Small Group Conversations

• Consider the ways you may be blind to or discount the stories of others because your experience is different. How can you become more accepting and interested in the stories of others?

• What does it mean to be invested in someone else’s story? What do the Bible and our Christian faith call us to do individually? as a faith community?

• What is next for you in your prayer life and in your attention to the stories of others?

“Throughout our history, courageous people of God have taken the risk of standing up and speaking out with the least and the lowest. God now challenges us to become courageous people who seek to create sacred communities of hope by dismantling the sin of racism. This work involves risking ourselves for the sake of God's love, moving beyond ourselves in order to seek and serve Christ and one another.”

The Rt. Rev. Deon K. Johnson, Bishop of Missouri 2020