In every way Jesus was the Great Reconciler, bridging the gap between God and us, and also bringing together disparate and divided people into community and even family. To follow this man is to sign up to be a reconciler and peacemaker, especially in places and times of division and tension. Division and tension around race relations in America describe (all too mildly) where we have been and continue to be in our place and time. So as Christian following the Great Reconciler, we remain called and committed to being agents of reconciliation, gladly working for the Kingdom Community that Christ died to make possible and who still helps us create.

To that end we hope you’ll join us in our “Journey Towards Reconciliation” this year, by participating in some of these efforts that we know about already, and others that will come up through the year.

1. Right now we’re encouraging folks to join in An American Lent, an online experience we helped create with The Repentance Project that applies the Lenten season of repentance to our country’s history of severe injustice against African Americans and its fruit and ongoing presence.  Let us know if you’re interested in doing this with us.
2. We’ll gather mid-Lent on Sunday March 4 from 2-5pm in Northern Virginia for a discussion about how it’s been going with those who are participating, and have further conversation about race in America, and the call to us.  Location TBD, so stay tuned.
3. On Tuesday evening Feb. 13 (the night before Ash Wednesday) at 7pm in Towson, MD myself and George Hopkins–a pastor in southwest Baltimore–will talk and have a discussion about race in America and a Christian’s response.
4. The Corhaven Graveyard regularly organizes book discussions, movie nights, and outings as ways of continuing the dialogue about America’s past and present, and invite others into it together.
5. Coming up this summer we’ll once again be coordinating an opportunity to go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the Mall in DC.  Details on the date and time will be released in a few weeks.
6. Also over the summer we’ll partner again with Steve Park and Little Lights in SE DC for a day of serving and learning about how race and injustices have shaped our city.
7. In just over a week, on February 3rd, our friends at Little Lights are co-sponsoring a day seminar entitled “Journey to Justice: The Witness of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement”, and we’d really encourage you to participate.

Below is a small image of this “An American Lent” printable PDF flier to give to people you think may be interested.