“What is at the heart of the practice of our whole faith,” asked Felicia. “Isn’t it that we are invited to confess our sins, even those of our racist past, and, not because we deserve it but because God wants us to live into our wholeness, we are forgiven and liberated to live our best. It would be interesting if we invited them to confess in the presence of the others and seek God’s forgiveness.
That is, as I understand it, the essential meaning of grace. If we confess our past, we can be set free to live a better future. If t worked for David and Bathsheba, maybe it can work for us,” said Brent.
“Maybe,” said Roy, “we could also develop a contest to see who could build the best picture of what it would look like if as churches we committed to living out the kingdom of God that we all pray for in the Lord’s prayer. We might even learn to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.”
“I think we have just described some of the main elements in our weekly worship service,” said Fred. If we are really going to get into this, let’s work on developing some ways to help our people see the worship services in a more powerful way.”
Later that night Urk would kneel in prayer and thank God both for his chapel experience and for what had now happened with his clergy friends. He didn’t know about crossing any Red Sea, but if that happened, he had more courage to face the wilderness.
IF YOU ALSO FEEL CALLED
If you feel God’s call to assist your church in addressing racism, I can offer you some help.
Begin by viewing this introduction Then, if you want help guiding your church through this process, I will make you this offer:
For $197, I will send you an 8-part video expanding on the ideas in the story, and a workbook that contains all of the worksheets, questionnaires, and surveys that you can use in guiding your leadership and members in exploring racism and growing spiritually in the process.
AND if you are among the first one hundred to sign up, I will send half of your fee to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. This makes the decision a WIN/WIN decision for everyone. You get the video webinar and workbook, but in the process, you also know that you are assisting a premier disaster assistance agency to help those who hurt in this world. I’ll also throw in a free phone call to that first 100 to ask me any questions you develop in the process. 727-800-2737
Your persistence is remarkably commendable and to be admired!
Many Blessings