Tag Archives: Martin Luther King

The Work Ahead

August 18, 2017Children's Ministries, Curriculum, Discipleship, ResourcesAbsalom Jones, Charlottesville, Christian education, Harriet Tubman, Jonathan Daniels, Jr., lectionary, Martin Luther King, Michael Curry, Race, racism, Sojourner Truth, teaching tolerance, The Episcopal ChurchSharon Ely Pearson

All this week I have been bookmarking articles and resources that have appeared on my news feeds and social media. I wanted to share a curated list of materials that Christian educators and families can use as we attempt to move forward in constructive ways following the neo-nazi and white supremacist violence that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia on Friday, August 11, 2017.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry released a video message this afternoon to respond to the continuing rhetoric, violence, and outrage that continues to fester. He asks, “Where do we go from here?” Do we feed chaos or do we build community? He acknowledges the work that is ahead of us, but reminds us that we do have a way – and The Way is to follow Jesus. That is the work that remains ahead of us.

So, I am called to return to my liturgical tradition to see what resources might inform our current times, knowing that there is more to be done than reading a book or teaching a Sunday School lesson. Continue reading The Work Ahead →

“Find a voice in a whisper”

January 18, 2015Discernment, Sermon1 Samuel, call, Civil Rights Movement, discernment, listening, Martin Luther King, Samuel, SelmaSharon Ely Pearson

1 Samuel 3:1-20 ~ Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ~ John 1:43-51

“Find a voice in a whisper.”

When I was ten years old one of my best friends was a girl who was bused to my school from across town. I don’t remember much about how or why, I just knew there was a bus that brought kids to my elementary school that did not live in my neighborhood. Deborah and I enjoyed playing together at recess, but she didn’t come home to play with me, and I never went to her house after school. I didn’t know it, let alone understand it, and we didn’t talk about it – only perhaps in whispers. It was a time of desegregation in the cities in Connecticut, and all across our nation. It amazes me that it was fifty years ago. How times have changed – or maybe not.

How many of you have seen the recently released movie “Selma”? If you haven’t – go. If you’ve got middle schoolers – bring them along with you; give your high schooler the cash to go with their friends. Continue reading “Find a voice in a whisper” →

Prophets in Our Midst

December 15, 2013Jesus, SermonDesmond Tutu, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, John the Baptist, Martin Luther King, Messiah, Nelson Mandela, prophets, sermon, Soweto Gospel ChoirSharon Ely Pearson

Advent 3

Isaiah 35:1-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

We are getting closer to Bethlehem. What is pointing the way on our journey? That is one of the ways I begin to tell the Godly Play Advent story to our children I often share on Thanksgiving weekend during Holiday Church School. I begin at the beginning, talking about the prophets – who showed us the way so long, long ago. The wooden card I show simply shows an Advent wreath with one candle lit, and a carved hand, with a finger pointing the way. The way to Bethlehem, the way to discover the promise to be born, the promise of God living among us.

What does it mean to be shown the way by prophets? Continue reading Prophets in Our Midst →

Rows of Sharon

Thoughts of a Christian Educator