One of the greatest gifts God has given me through Coracle is an invitation to respond meaningfully to the ongoing process of healing the lasting legacy of racial injustice in the United States. As much as I would wish that we were a city and country where love and justice reigned in every dimension of life I am regularly reminded that this is just not the case.
Last year my daughter Megan and I had the privilege of being invited to help pilot a 50-day American Lent experience that helped us grow more deeply in our understanding of the history of race in America and the ongoing legacy of pain that it has engendered. A multi-racial team of pastors and Christian leaders from around the country crafted a daily collection of readings, videos, and reflections that spanned the 50 days beginning with the first day of Lent and taking us right up to Easter. What I was exposed to has forever changed how I view myself, my city, and country and has led me to take incremental steps to try to make a difference for good in the circles where God has placed me.
Do you find yourself wanting to better understand why we struggle with the challenges we do, particularly right here in Baltimore? Would you like to join a larger community of fellow disciples wanting to become agents of healing and restoration? I am so excited that An American Lent Experience will be made available to anyone who is hungry to grow and be transformed.
To kick off Lent this year we have invited George Hopkins, pastor of Gallery Church SoWeBo, and Bill Haley, Coracle’s founder and co-creator of An American Lent, to lead us in a dialogue about God’s heart for repentance, reconciliation, and restoration right here in Baltimore. We will gather at churchOne (1301 Cheverly Rd., Towson, Md. 21286) from 7-8:30 pm on Tuesday night February 13th (doors open 6:30). Please spread the word and invite your friends and anyone else you know cares about walking more intimately with Jesus in this arena of brokenness in our society.
The American Lent online experience will begin February 14th, Ash Wednesday, and continue through April 1st, Easter.
Lastly, we will be offering a day long Lenten retreat on Saturday, March 3rd. Lent is the season to come home from the places we have drifted. This will be an opportunity to be with an intimate community for a day to reflect on where this past season has taken us and how we would like to reconnect with our Father who runs to us with open arms at the first sign of our turning towards him.
May God’s heart’s desire be fulfilled in all of us as we approach this sacred season filled with the hope of Jesus’s triumphant resurrection. Come soon Lord Jesus and reign in and among us!
—Scott Buresh
Community Minister for Coracle Baltimore
on behalf of the Coracle Baltimore Team