Easton District Newsletter

Transcription

1 Easton District Newsletter V I C T O R I E S D O N T H A P P E N B Y A C C I D E N T Newsletter Date: September 19, 2018 Love thy Neighbor: Everybody has a story -for we all can share the grace of God Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV) Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 'Implicit bias': The problem and how to interrupt it. Plus, the beads test. By Michele Silverton Let me tell you a story about implicit bias. In 2009, I married a man I met the first day of law school. He is white. I am black. We live on Chicago s North Side. I often walk around my neighborhood with my two biracial kids. My kids could pass for white. And because I am black, I am often assumed, by some well-meaning parents, to be my children s nanny. I am asked how much I am paid, do I have any friends looking for work, or am I looking for work. I was once told, You treat them just like your own kids! And it s not just what s said. It s what unsaid. It s when those well-meaning parents don t sit next to you on the bench, include you in conversations, or look you directly in the eye, because they think you are the nanny. When they treat you like someone who just doesn t belong. Now they would never claim they were doing it on purpose, or that they were acting biased at all, until you ask them, Why do you think I am the nanny? See, this is implicit bias. And it helps explain (in part) the rash of publicly reported incidents over the past month of white people calling police on people of color who look like they just don t belong. It s because (in part) they think one thing should only be this way, because they have only ever seen it this way, and cannot adjust their mind to seeing it any way else. How can we interrupt that bias? How can you interrupt that bias? Start by accepting that we all have biases. We need to stop pretending we don t notice differences. We do; we all do, even if it s unconscious. Then, examine your circle of influencers. There s a great exercise I ve done at my job. I give you a glass bowl and an empty cup. The bowl has beads of six different colors. I assign each bead a different race or ethnicity. Then I ask you to assign beads to the names or categories that I list to represent the race or ethnicity of that

2 person or group. For each that you have an answer for, put one or more beads in your cup. You. Put a bead or beads in your cup. Your significant other or spouse. Your neighborhood that you grew up in. Your childhood best friend. Your favorite teacher in elementary school. The author of your favorite book. Your favorite professor. Your boss. Your wedding party. Your current neighborhood. Your first mentor. Your doctor. Your dentist. Your senator. Your president. Now look at your cup. Is it as diverse as you would have thought? Is it mainly one color? This is the world you have built for yourself. These are the sources of the biases in your head, and the result of acting on those biases. What does your cup look like? Who s in your world? One last tip. Get uncomfortable. A white friend once said she would feel uncomfortable attending an all-black church. I responded that I understood because I have been in more all-white churches than I can count. And all -white conference rooms. And all-white elevators. And all-white classrooms, bars, weddings and hockey games. Minorities live and breathe in majority spaces. If you want to interrupt bias, then start entering spaces where you are the minority. Become aware of your biases. Become aware of your expectations. Become aware of what you say and how you think of people who don t fit into your preconceived notions. That s the start of interrupting implicit bias. Michelle Sharpe Silverthorn is the diversity and education director for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. Copyright 2018, Chicago Tribune (reprinted by permission of author) Prayer: Dear Lord, may we answer your call to interrupt implicit bias. As we seek to live in peace and harmony, shall we find the joy of a child s heart and trust that we are created in the image of God. The image that reflects the power to open our hearts as we embrace our differences and celebrate our oneness in Christ. My neighbor s house looks different than mine and it contains different furniture and fixtures. Yet, Lord we both are built on the firm foundation of God. Dear God, we thank-you for the firm foundation. We thank-you for our differences; and the wisdom and strength to interrupt implicit bias. Amen. Pastor B New Christian Chapel of Love We had an old fashion spiritual fellowship service. Our guest preacher and choir were from New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown, Maryland. Afterward, we feasted on fish and chicken dinners.

3 Bishop s Day on the Easton District Union UMC, Federalsburg Around The District - Charge Conference Season~

4 4, 11, 18, 25 District Events September Waters UMC, Oxford, Pre Homecoming Revival, 7pm. Guest Speakers: 9/4 - Rev. Roland Brown; 9/11 - Rev. Lester Justice; 9/18 - Demetrio Beach; 9/25 - Rev. Leonard Palmer. 22 Wesley Chapel UMC, Rock Hall, Worship Leaders Workshop, led by Rev. Lester Justice, 9am - 12pm. Questions & registration to info@yourrockhall.church. 23 Installation Service Salisbury District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Rob Townsend, 4pm, Bethesda UMC, 406 N Division St., Salisbury, MD. 23 New Zion UMC, Cordova, Annual Homecoming, 3:30pm. Guest Pastor: Rev. Wayne Thompson, Choir and Congregation, Asbury-John Wesley/Mt. Pleasant UMC, Millington, MD 23 New Life Community UMC, Centreville, Pew Dedication Service. 3:30 P.M. Guest Preacher: Rev. Lester Justice, Director of Strengthening the Black Church 23 Metropolitan-Zion UMC, Federalsburg, Annual Homecoming, 3:30 p.m. Theme: Don t Give Up: Galatians 4:6," 9:30 AM Morning Worship Service: Dr. Vanessa Stephens Lee; 3:30 PM Afternoon Worship Service, Guest Preacher: Pastor Wanda Lake, Restoration Church of God of Prophecy, Federalsburg, MD. Services will be held at the Community Civic League Bldg., 3439 Laurel Grove Road, Federalsburg. 24, 25, 26 St. Luke UMC, Cambridge, Pre-Homecoming Revival, 7pm. 9/25 Rev. Dartanyon Hines, Scott s UMC, Trappe & Asbury UMC, Easton; 9/25 Rev. John Cornish, St. John s Holiness Church, Cambridge; 9/26 Rev. Cornell Johnson, Jesus the Christ Ministries of the Apostolic Faith, Federalsburg. 29 Mt. Pleasant UMC, Pondtown, Yard Sale, 7:00 am. - Noon and Bingo Day, Noon - 4:00 p.m. October 6 St. Luke's UMC, St. Michaels, Apple Festival, 10am-4pm. There will be various types of vendors of crafts and goods for this event. The church will be selling delicious apple dumplings and celebrating the fall season. For further information contact the church office at Mt. Pleasant UMC, Pondtown, Soup & Chili Sale, 11:00 a.m. until. Homemade Chili, Veg. Beef, Veg Crab & Chicken Noodle. 13 Mt. Pleasant UMC, Pondtown, Trustee Day, 5:00 p.m. New Life United Methodist Men s Choir in Concert, Centreville. 14 Union UMC, St. Michaels, Annual Family & Friends Day, 3:30pm. Guest Speaker: Rev. Pearl Geter & Choir, Union Bethel AME, Denton. 21 Waters UMC, Oxford, 135th Annual Homecoming. 10am Service: Rev. Richard Molock. 3:30pm Service: Rev. Dartanyon Hines, Asbury UMC, Easton & Scott s UMC, Trappe. 27 Mt. Pleasant UMC, Pondtown, Trunk or Treat, 2:00 4:00 p.m. November 11 Mt. Pleasant UMC, Pondtown, Annual Homecoming Service, 3:30 p.m. Rev. Markel Thomas, Guest Preacher, Calvary UMC, Berlin, MD, Choir and congregation

5 Rev. Joan Brooks with Dr. Eric Dyson. Meeting on Racial Equality St. Luke s, Denton Youth Group East New Market presentation of backpacks for the youth. Board of Child Care Christmas Store Wish List Each year the Board of Child Care Auxiliary hosts the Christmas Store for the young me to shop for their families, friends and staff at the campus. Below is a list of some ideas that are needed to make this year s Store a success. If you would like to donate any items to the Store, you can drop them off to the Denton Campus or to the District Office. Deadline for donations December 3. The Christmas Store will be held on December 5. Candles Men s gloves Sports memorabilia (Ravens/Orioles) cups/lanyards/posters/t-shirts/socks Jewelry Men s and Women s scarves Holiday ornaments Gift sets candy/lotion/body wash Seasonal decorations Wallets Women s gloves 31 Bags- totes Serving platters Night lights Flash lights Ties for men Axe body wash for men Axe cologne spray Axe deodorant Any male cologne Watches Books trivia, magazines, crossword puzzle/word search Blankets Athletic Socks tall black Garden sets/ seeds and starter cups Art supplies/sets Adult coloring books and colored pencils/markers Plastic water bottles DVD s movies all types NOT RATED R Dunkin Donuts gift cards $10 Arby s Gift cards $10 McDonalds Gift Cards $10 Craft kits to make friendship bracelets Potholder maker kits Rug Hook craft sets Paint by number sets Coloring posters with markers Puzzles **There is not a need for small children items as we don t have any residents with young siblings at this time.

6 Come Join Us World Communion Sunday October 7, 2018 at Great Marsh Park, Cambridge, Maryland This Holy Communion Celebration is Sponsored by The Downtown Cambridge United Methodist Churches: Grace Church 501 Race Street Rev. Daniel Gedman, Pastor Sunday 8:45, 9:45 & 11:00 am Saint Paul s 205 Maryland Avenue Rev. Bonnie L. Shively, Pastor Sunday 8:45 & 11:00 am Saint Luke 712 Bradley Rev. Jerome E. Tilghman, Sr., Pastor Sunday 9:30 & 11:00 am Waugh Chapel 425 High Street Rev. James C. Whitaker Sunday 10:00 am Zion 610 Locust Street Rev. Michael F. Hurley Sunday 9:30 & 11:00 am Put on Your Walking Shoes and attend the Church of Your Choice. Later, as the churches travel to Great Marsh Park, we will all gather at Noon for Communion and Fellowship as a Community in Unity. Or just meet us at Great Marsh Park at Noon. All are Invited!

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9 Registration includes all meals and hotel lodging. Single Room: $ Double Room: $175 (per person) Commuter Rate: $100

10 Easton District Office Mailing Address: PO Box 547 Denton, MD Physical Address: 100 S. 5th Ave., Denton, MD Office Phone: Office Web Presence: Rev. Dr. Shirlyn H. Brown Easton District Superintendent DS DS Phone: Beth Stevens Administrative Assistant Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday: 9:00 am 4:00 pm Friday: CLOSED Peninsula-Delaware Conference The United Methodist Church Bishop Felton Edwin May Resource Center 139 N. State Street, Dover, DE Website: Phone: Toll Free: Presiding Bishop Bishop Peggy A. Johnson PO Box 820 Valley Forge, PA Stay Connected! If you would like to receive the weekly Conference Newsletter, please let the District Office know your e- mail address. Looking for a New Home~ Kennedyville UMC has 4 8' tables and 4 9' tables that we would like to sell. We also have other tables that are of assorted sizes. Also we have 80 folding metal chairs which we would like to sell. The buyer will need to pick them up. If anyone is interested, they could call the church at Birthday Corner~ Sept James Whitaker (Waugh Chapel) Sept Alice Hutchins (Grasonville-Carmichael) Sept Bob Timms (Kent Island) Sept Marie Coulbourne (Bloomery-Chestnut Grove)