MLK Jr - and Eggs?
What do eggs teach us about MLK’s dream?
Eggs come in a few different colors- the shells that is. They can be pink, green, brown or white. Brown and White ones are the ones we are used to seeing. The color of the shell is determined by the pigments deposited on the egg as it makes its final pass through the oviduct of the hen. The pigment is determined by genetics. Most importantly, the pigment does not pass through the shell into the inner part of the egg- the part we consume; All eggs on the inside are the same. This is the lesson for all to hear on Sunday as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK’s most famous speech is about a dream that his little children would one day live in a nation where they would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. What we have inside of us- the “yoke” is the essence of our being. Have we as a nation arrived at this place? Are we colorblind? How much discussion is there around the true color of Jesus’ skin? We should all dream of a day when we no longer find the need to label people by their shell, rather than by what’s on the inside. Children’s Worship Activity this Sunday will be offered at both services during the sermon. Dr. King’s message continues to have an important place in our teaching to all generations!
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Art with Heart 1st & 3rd Saturday of the Month at 10 am Explore spirituality through art! No experience needed—just bring your creativity and an open heart! Everyone from preteens to adults is welcome to join the fun! Supplies are provided, or bring your favorite medium.
St. Paul's Juneteenth Celebration has become a major event in the life of the Parish. This year's event will feature a Pot Luck, fun & games and a Gospel Choir - You may even learn a thing or two! Mark your calendar for June 15, at 12:30 and dust off those recipes for the "Food of our Father's" pot luck lunch! June 19th is the day in 1865 in Galveston, Texas when a Union general rode in to inform the city that the institution of slavery had ended and that all enslaved people were from that moment, free. This should not have been a surprise to the enslaved African Americans of Texas since President Lincoln had in fact already issued a proclamation two years earlier, on Jan 1, 1863 liberating all enslaved persons living in Confederate states. But the order carried little weight in Texas, where there were few Union soldiers to enforce it, and where, according to Annette Gordon-Reed in her book “On Juneteenth,” despite the formal surrender of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee two months earlier, the Confederate army continued fighting until mid -May. Many of the enslaved persons in that state therefore continued working for their enslavers, but others we are told by Annette Gordon-Reed “knew the gist of the general order prior to June 19, as Galveston, the largest city in Texas was a port city through which most of the cotton picked and processed in the state was shipped out to the world.” And she stresses, “port cities are prefect vehicles for transmission of information to people of all degrees of literacy.” Ms. Gordon-Reed herself a Texan says: “Two days before General Granger arrived on the island, Black men working on the wharves began to shout in exultation. When asked what they were celebrating, they replied, because they were free.” The news began to spread to other towns but the enslaved had to be careful about openly celebrating as “White in Texas were incensed by what had transpired so much so that some reacted violently to the Blacks’ display of joy at emancipation.” Nevertheless, once the announcement was made in 1865 African Americans in Texas and elsewhere in the United States as the cultural practice spread began to celebrate the day. But though acknowledged by some 47 states and the district of Columbia it is only in 2021 that Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
Dr. Kearney brings a successful perspective of more than 30 years experience in management consulting, executive and inclusiveness coaching, research, philanthropy and education leadership. Previously, she was an Executive Director for the Gallup Institute for Global Well-Being, responsible for planning and management of an annual International Positive Psychology Summit, its Programs and Executive Board. As part of a Gallup and Thurgood Marshall College Fund partnership, she served as Chief Academic Officer for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s board and 47 member universities. Also at Gallup, she was Vice President for Social Audits, leading and publishing national surveys on such topics as: Child Discipline, Inclusiveness, Race Relations, Drug Use in America, Gambling, Mentoring and Have and Have- nots. Upon joining the Gallup, Dr. Kearney was trained and certified as a Human Resources Selection Analyst and Consultant, also a Leadership and Strengths group facilitator and coach. Prior to joining Gallup, she was Director of the Executive Leadership Council-Foundation (an association of African American Corporate Executives) in Alexandria, VA, and before, she was an Education Program and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at The Prudential Foundation. Kearney received her Doctorate and Master’s Degrees in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from Boston College, and her Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University.