In summer worship (June 22-August 31, 10am in Willett Hall), we hear from one another about “how we learn to be brave,” (based on a book by the same name here). Bravery is something we begin learning when we’re young and continue strengthening throughout our lifetimes, figuring out how to stand up for what is right, what is good, what is worth defending.
Some of my favorite people in this world are criminal defense attorneys. I’ve known two very closely and have been continually inspired by their strength and integrity, their clear sense of wrong and right, their ability to see the humanity in everyone, their willingness to use the power of their intellect and persuasion to help the defenseless. They’ve embodied the words of Equal Justice Initiative founder, attorney and author Bryan Stevenson: “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done” (Just Mercy, 2014).
On Sunday, one of our own, Miriam C., will reflect on her career as a Public Defender and what it’s meant to learn to be brave while defending others. I’ve read her drafts, and it’s some powerful, inspiring stuff.
We’ll ground ourselves in Proverbs 31:8-9, which states:
Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.
Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
And Psalm 82:
Rescue the lowly and the needy.
Deliver them from the power of the wicked!
They don’t know; they don’t understand;
they wander around in the dark.
Reminding us:
You will die like mortals;
you will fall down like any prince.
We’ll sing some Simon & Garfunkel and probably some Bob Marley. It promises to be really GOOD and you’ll be GLAD you came or tuned in. I LOVE summer worship!
In faith,
Kent
How We Learn To Be Brave series
June 29: Adam S. — taking a leap of faith with vocational change
July 6: Amy Norton-Benfield — loving bravely
July 13: Miriam C. — defending others
July 20: Wendy W. — speaking up for immigrants, followed by a presentation and Q&A
July 27: Koinonia M.
August 3: Bob C. and Deb S. — facing dementia
August 10: Marwan H.
August 17: Nathan D. — finding God amid life’s sorrows
August 24: Kate H. — rescuing children in wartime
August 31: DJ H.
Image credit: Photo by Miriam of her and a client
