Extremists for Love

In April of 1963, eight white Alabama clergymen wrote a statement to "strongly urge our own Negro community to withdraw support from these (civil rights) demonstrations." "We do not believe that these days of new hope are days when extreme measures are justified in Birmingham." Click here to read the full letter.

In response, Martin Luther King, Jr. composed his Letter from Birmingham Jail, a profoundly compelling challenge to white Christians. It includes oft-quoted lines like, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" and "There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair." Where the white clergymen argue against "extreme measures," King calls us to be extremists for love and justice. "Was not Jesus an extremist for love?" "Was not Amos an extremist for justice?"

This Sunday, we'll celebrate the baptism of Jesus, an extremist for love, by remembering our own baptism and baptizing little Brandon Andree. And we'll look at the prophetic life and ministry of Martin Luther King, Jr. through the lens of baptism, the Christian sacrament that affirms that every human being is precious to God. I hope you'll join us for a time of worship and reflection as we seek to be extremists for love.

Scriptures for Sunday:
Mark 1:4-11
Ephesians 4:1-6

Blessings,
Manda