Dear Friends

This week begins Black History Month, and in a few more weeks the Season of Lent begins, with our theme Lent of Liberation. Listen to this short poem by acclaimed American poet Nikki Giovanni for why we observe African American History Month in church, as well as throughout the year  If you are interested in receiving ashes mailed to you, or our 40-day devotional Lent for Liberation, please let me know by February 10. Be sure I have your address ([email protected]).

Both of these seasons offer us an opportunity for personal spiritual growth. I want to urge you to consider: Next month we’ll observe a year of living with the coronavirus, a year since we began meeting only on Zoom. It’s not too early to start preparing for Easter. This is your personal invitation to attend church on Ash Wednesday, February 17, at 7 pm and every Sunday in Lent beginning February 21. Go for 6 weeks in a row! Let that discipline lead to a deeper experience of Easter on April 4. Growing spiritually is something we can do together. Let’s covenant to show up for ourselves and each other during this sacred season.

Hope to see you Sunday.
Rev. Jim Mitulski

P.S. I’ve been waiting with great anticipation for the debut on our local PBS stations of the two-part series The Black Church, put together by Dr. Henry Louis Gates. Gates was one of my favorite professors when I had him for a seminar on the Harlem Renaissance, and I know you will see why when you watch this series. Bishop Yvette Flunder is from our neighboring congregation in Oakland www.cityofrefugeucc.org. Here is a link to a trailer about the series https://www.pbs.org/video/trailer-ectdli/, and here is the website for the series, which will air on February 16 and 17: https://www.pbs.org/weta/black-church/.