Kindred in Christ,

I once had a therapist that was an ex-nun. She was a progressive person of faith and considered mental health her present ministry. I greatly appreciated her on many levels.

One of the valuable things I learned from her was the importance of remembrance—both in my actions and prayer. She suggested that when I felt anxious, I should think back to a time when I felt similarly, and ask myself, “Did things turn out as bad as I had feared?”. Usually, the answer was “no.” Moreover, she invited me to reflect upon what had helped me in those past situations. It usually involved turning to prayer and reaching out to others. Remembering how God and my community had showed up in the past empowered me to turn to them in the present and caused me to be hopeful about the future.

As we join our nation in remembering the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., and the many ways God used him to help bring about greater racial equity, may we connect it to the many ways God is still calling us to advance the work of justice and liberation today. This Sunday we will explore how we can utilize prayer to remember God’s mighty works in our world, nation, and personal lives, and how this practice frees us to be part of what God is still doing today. I hope you will join us in celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. and continuing in our series, Let Us Pray!

Alongside you,

Rev. Paul Ortiz