Word on the Street.....MLK Day 2017

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968)

From I Have A Dream (delivered August 28, 1963)

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

The Price of Fame.....

“A Death In The Family”

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

 The Price of Fame

            There is a price to fame. Fame means paparazzi. It means people following you, people recognizing you. It means that people in power might recognize you. And it means they might listen to you. And then, you might be unliked, or even despised.

Ask John. He’s a bit of an odd duck, but he’s loud, and people start paying attention to him. And he speaks about Herod, which Herod hears and listens to, at least because it comes from John. Of course, John pays the price with his head on a silver platter. John, the one that people think Jesus might be, dies because he calls out the ruling powers on their morality. Sound familiar?

Jesus starts to get famous. It’s why people wonder if he isn’t John, after all, or if he isn’t a prophet, or if he isn’t Elijah. And that just can’t be. After all, he’s Mary and Joseph’s boy. He’s Jesus from Midway Court, or Boyton Street. He can’t be that, can he? He can’t be, because we won’t let him be. We know him better than that. 

So what happens when we go out to tell the story? Are we willing to say that we’re with the famous guy? Do we want to be famous? Are we willing to take what comes with fame? Or are we willing to be known for the sake of the Gospel?

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy Jesus, you sent many into the world to proclaim your kingdom on  earth. Send us, equip us, and walk with us so that everyone can learn of your abundant love. Amen.

Rev Up with Rev. Kate!: New Beginnings! January 2016

Rev Up with Rev. Kate!: New Beginnings! January 2016: Rev Up with Rev. Kate! May God’s Grace and Peace be unto you … It’s January and we are at the beginning of a New Year and a new begin...

New Beginnings! January 2016

Rev Up with Rev. Kate!

May God’s Grace and Peace be unto you …

It’s January and we are at the beginning of a New Year and a new beginning in the life of our Church! Over this past Advent Season I have been so graciously welcomed by the Congregation – with open hearts, open minds, and wide-open arms.

For both the congregation and the Minister, beginning a new Call in a new Church is somewhat like an “arranged marriage.” Before I even landed in Topeka, I prayed for each of you. I’ve been told you have prayed for me as your new incoming Pastor.  What courage this takes – what faith!  We both have pledged and purposed to pray for one another, to love one another and to support one another. What an arrangement, indeed!

What a gift we have set before us all. It is a blessing beyond measure. 

God has ordained this time, set apart for us, to grow together, learn together and to bring God’s Blessings to Topeka and beyond. 

What an amazing blessing it is for me personally, and I give thanks – ahead of time - for such a wonderful congregation as Trinity. We have a long future ahead of us as we expand our Church into the community of faith that God has intended for us here at Trinity Presbyterian.  The deep gratitude that I want to impart is said best by the Apostle Paul: “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.”  What a blessing, indeed.

Continuing on with the theme of new beginnings, my first sermon with you, on December 27, was on the new beginning as seen through the eyes of a courageous Old Testament figure:  John the Baptist.  Let’s take note of his powerful transition of power as Jesus’ ministry begins, as told in the Gospel of Matthew 3:13-17   13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”

Wow, what a beginning! John the Baptist stepping forward, fully expecting to be blessed by the Messiah, and the Messiah requesting to be blessed by John. What an example of leadership. Here we see a leader who is blessed by one who is led.   Now that is courageous leadership!  John the Baptizer, the cousin of Jesus, paved the way for Christ.  John prepared the people for Jesus’ ministry with a unique ministry of his own, courageously calling people to repent and live out what they claimed to believe. 

This, in part, is my vision for Trinity Presbyterian.  That we, together, will grow in servant leadership.  What a blessing indeed ~ I am excited about the future of our beloved congregation and its impact for God’s Kingdom in the years to come.  

Happy New Year, indeed!    

Rev. Kate Huddelson