070115 Closing Revival and Reconciliation Service

και δι αυτου να συνδιαλλαξη τα παντα προς εαυτον, ειρηνοποιησας δια του αιματος του σταυρου αυτου, δι αυτου, ειτε τα επι της γης ειτε τα εν τοις ουρανοις.
Just as the above Greek text of Paul’s original message to Colossians needed to translated and interpreted into the English text (in the upper left corner of this article), so too . . . we need translation and interpretation to understand and practice spiritual revival and reconciliation by the example of Jesus of Nazareth and the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This closing service for our community-wide spiritual revival and reconciliation conference was originally scheduled for 3 PM, but we started approximately 4 PM because the inaugeration parade (running in front of our church) started and ended at least an hour later than planned.

This is the closing service for our four day community-wide spiritual revival and reconciliation conference at Dexter for the Montgomery community of churches. We plan to do this annually in cooperation with other churches like the ones that participated in this one: St. Paul UMC, St. Beeds RCC, 1st Baptist of Montgomery, Frazer Memorial UMC, Central Grove UMC.

Our lay speaker at Dexter, Harold Coleman, first sings "One Day at a Time" then Dr. Elston McLain gave his closing message before shared communion as a means of grace and sign of true reconciliation and revival.

Elston's use of scripture like "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and how our community of compassion and hope encourage him and others to work for reconciliation with those in marginalized sectors such as the black community, who need to complete their education and advancement for themselves and others.

Pastor Ron then played the piano and led the congregation in some great hymns of our Christian faith: "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood" (UMH 622).

Rev. John Sawyer of St. Paul's UMC recalled his Indian grandmother’s question when he was a child, "Why can't we just live together" when musing over the racial tensions of the early and mid-1900's. John says he understands the answer now, because our shared church communities ARE learning to live together. He wants to tell mankind to learn from us and take each other as brother and sister. Before taking communion we should know that Christ's sacrifice on the cross we must be able to let go of all that keeps us from embracing each other as one people in Christ.

Pastor Ron reflects on John Sawyer's guidance of Elston and himself at the Rosa Parks Museum earlier that day before the inauguration parade. Ron says we must recognize that some of the old Montgomery of racial hatred and bigotry is still in existence today. But there is hope in our mutual memory of the ways white and black families have helped each other in spite of the hurt and separation.

We then celebrated Eucharist together, while singing "Come By Here, Lord" as part of the liturgy.