Many people could not get to church on Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday so we are repeating some parts of that service by request.  (The children’s time and sermon will be new.)

The Gospel Workshop also got cancelled that weekend, but this weekend the forecast is sunny and not too cold, so we are excited to bring the warmth and light and joyful power of gospel and spiritual singing to the service.  To read about the workshop which will be Saturday late afternoon and Sunday morning, click here.

Powerful music, powerful words and the recorded voice of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—to these we will add Jeremiah (17:5-10) calling us to be like trees planted by streams of water that do not wither in the heat, and Jesus giving his Beatitudes and calling us to shine our light for the world to see (Matthew 5:1-15).

We have an amazing lineup of music provided by Annemieke McLane, guests Jody Albright and Carl Recchia and a Gospel Choir you are invited to join:

• “In Everything Give Him Thanks” by Lanny Wolfe
• “Fill My Cup” by Isaiah Jones Jr.
• “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize”
• “Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)” by Patricia Griffin
• “This Little Light of Mine”
• “Sing ’til the Power of the Lord Comes Down”
• “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by Thomas Dorsey
• “We Shall Overcome”

Below is a YouTube of Mavis Staples singing “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize,” one of the songs of the Civil Rights Movement.  You will see some of the most famous film clips from that era if you watch, many of which are inspiring.  Others are upsetting but important to see and remember, knowing that things have not changed all that much and without our constant efforts things could get worse.  The only African-American woman in the Vermont legislature resigned just this past year because of aggressive racial hate directed toward her and her family.  We still have much work to do.