• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cleveland Park Congregational UCC

Nurturing love of God and love of neighbor in the world

“Love Wins”

Intergenerational Worship Service
Sunday, Feb. 10, 10:30 am

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Come Visit Us!
    • What We Believe
    • Church Leadership
      • Pastor’s Page
      • Moderator’s Memos
    • Open and Affirming
  • Worship & Music
    • Worship
    • Sermons
    • Music
  • Church Life
    • Adult Programs
    • Children & Teens
    • Member Care
    • Our 100th Anniversary
    • Calendar
  • Social Action
    • Social Action Goals
    • Social Action in Our Community
  • Weddings & Events
    • Weddings
    • Church Rentals
  • For Our Members
    • CPC Fellowship – Info for Coffee Hour Hosts
    • CPC Governance & Admin. Documents
    • CPC Member Care
    • CPC Member Directory
    • CPC Photo Archive
    • CPC Deacon’s Resources
    • CPC Flower Committee
    • CPC Sunday School Resources
    • CPC SignUps
    • Our 100th Anniversary Celebration: A Century of Common Commitment

Reflection- Human 1-20-19

January 20, 2019

Rev. Ellen Jennings
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday

Democratic Whip James Clyburn spoke to Congress this week, condemning racist remarks made by Iowa legislator, Steve King:

I rise today to address what I call a tale of two Kings.  One, a member of this body, who wondered out loud… why the terms “white nationalism” and “white supremacy” are offensive.  I will say to my colleague the terms are offensive because the concepts are evil… today I denounce the words of Rep. Steve King and I do so invoking the words of another king, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, who if [had] been allowed to live, would be celebrating his 9oth birthday tomorrow.

Professor Peniel Joseph at the LBJ School of Public Affairs also refers to “two Kings,” and in this short reflection, I’d like to share his thoughts on them and add a third.

Professor Joseph writes that “celebrations of King in our own time have often split him in two.”  There’s the “good” King, who delivered the beautiful and oft quoted “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington and promoted nonviolence as the key to achieving racial justice.  This King served as friend and adviser to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and made it possible to pass major civil rights and voting rights legislation.  Of course, not everyone liked this King, and many people opposed (and still oppose) such legislation, but today it seems most people, all along the political spectrum, quote and at least give lip service to him.

Then there’s the “bad” King.  And friends, while alive, he was mostly the bad King.  Criticized by major newspapers, clergy and politicians, Dr. King was denounced for calling the Vietnam War immoral, linking the shortcomings of the Great Society to global war and domestic riots, and calling for an American citizenship expansive enough to guarantee jobs, housing, food, and justice to the poor who live amidst its vast sea of wealth.  This King would be appalled at our current politics, dismayed at how far we have not come, and vilified by the current administration.  Meaning, he would be seen as dangerous.  And most likely silenced, in some way, again.

So, those are Professor Joseph’s “two Kings.” The third King, my addition, is the human King: the father, the husband, the friend, the pastor, the sinner, the one called to action who may just have wanted to stay home and live a normal life.  Martin (I use his first name to emphasize his humanness) was not an icon or a symbol or a large rock memorial.  He was a man.  And, therefore, someone to whom we may not only look “up” but “over.” Meaning, we can look to him not just as a leader but as a brother, as one human to another, as someone to whom we can relate, someone we can emulate.

Because if Martin is human, if he’s “just” a man, then if he could do it, so can we.  God knows, so can we.  We, who have so much, are so blessed with education, status, material goods and connections; we can continue the work.  We can continue the struggle for justice, peace and racial equality.  We can advocate for policies that promote human dignity, provide equal and accessible education, build adequate and fair housing, pay people a living wage, and so much more.  We can help create the Beloved Community. 

If Martin could do it, so can we. 

Amen.

LaTia will now sing, Precious Lord, Take My Hand, Dr. King’s favorite hymn.  As she does, I ask that you think of him, his very human being, and the immense personal sacrifices he made on all our behalf.

 

Upcoming Events

Feb
19
Tue
6:00 pm Rehearsal – Benefit concert
Rehearsal – Benefit concert
Feb 19 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
 
Feb
23
Sat
4:30 pm Asylum Benefit Concert
Asylum Benefit Concert
Feb 23 @ 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
 
Feb
24
Sun
9:30 am Fellowship Committee
Fellowship Committee
Feb 24 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am
 
11:45 am Coffee Hour Conversation – Asylu...
Coffee Hour Conversation – Asylu...
Feb 24 @ 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
 
5:30 pm FaithLife Group
FaithLife Group
Feb 24 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
 
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Cleveland Park Congregational United Church of Christ

An Open and Affirming Congregation

3400 Lowell St NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 363-8211
info@cpcchurch.org
view map »

Join Us on Sunday

Worship (all ages) 10:30 AM
Sunday School (K – 6th) 10:45 AM
Childcare 10AM – Noon

Upcoming Events

Feb
19
Tue
6:00 pm Rehearsal – Benefit concert
Rehearsal – Benefit concert
Feb 19 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
 
View Calendar

© 2019 Cleveland Park Congregational UCC • All Rights Reserved