Friends, mentors, and family are gifts from God.
Otis Turner. Melvin Simms (Patsy’s son). Patsy Simms Turner.
Traci Smith, author of Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home has provided a gift of the November 2018 Gratitude Every Day calendar. I am using it as an opportuity to revisit photos and post them as they speak to gratitude.
Filed under Antiracism, Family, Friends, Photo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
St. James Presbyterian Church extended to me the privilege of preaching today. The congregation began their observance of Black History Month.
As I worked on the sermon, I thought of a prayer that I had remembered and included in the worship service for the Presbytery of New York City’s worship service celebrating the life, ministry, and witness of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Rev. Dr. Otis Turner, one of my mentors, wrote the prayer. It reads in part:
We thank you for apostles, martyrs, leaders, and saints
And for humble folk whose names were never in the news.
But are recorded in your book of life.
God has blessed me. I have known many humble folk who have tirelessly pursued justice for all God’s children, loved courageously, and witnessed boldly. I know many who do so today. I give thanks to God.
See you along the trail.
Along the Graybeard Trail 