Alka's Angle

This is the second Sunday in the Lenten season. As you may remember, we are following the series “What R U UP 2?” created by Worship Design Studio, inviting us to take UP things that make this world a better place, this Lenten season. This Sunday we will be reminded that Jesus was very clear that following him might not be a smooth ride. He was bound to choose the just way, not the easy way, through life. To TAKE UP the cross was to lose one’s life — to let go of certain expectations of safety and acceptance in order to stand for the Gospel message of love. And we will be invited to think how can we take up the causes of Jesus — justice, righteousness, and mercy in our day?

We observed Ash Wednesday this past Wednesday, and with that entered into the Lenten season! Worship Designer, Marcia McFee says, “Lent is often known as a time of giving something up in order to make room in our lives for spiritual pursuits. Rather than just “giving up” in Lent, the scriptures ask us to consider all that Jesus is “up to” and all that he asks us to be up to in his name. Instead of bemoaning what we can’t do, or used to do, in a culture where “measuring up” to external standards seems impossible, this Lent we will celebrate the small things that we can do right now to respond to God's call in our place, for our time.” And with that idea she has created this series titled, “What r u up 2?” which we will be using for this season. 

“We who constitute the [Methodist Church] must find ways to bridge the gap of racial separation in our church, or forfeit the continuing opportunity to preach the Christian gospel of redemption...”  are words by Bishop Charles F. Golden spoken in 1962 at the Convocation on Christian Social Concerns, according to an article on the GCORR (General Commission on  Religion and Race) website, reminding us that there are many unsung heroes and sheroes in our history who we hardly know. One of them was Bishop Charles F. Golden and another is Clara Ester.

Today is the second day of Black History Month in the U.S. Created as Negro History Week in February 1926 by Carter G. Woodson of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, the month aims to encourage “people of all ethnic and social backgrounds to discuss the black experience” (ASALH).

Beloveds, I hope the year has started well for each and every one of you, and as most people do- you also started the year with some resolutions and intentions for 2024. I hope you are able to keep up with them for a long time.

As a church, we also invited you into a commitment with Broadway United Methodist Church, to always seek ways to share the love of God with all the people of God, to the best of our ability.