“God’s handiwork is honesty and justice; all God’s rules are trustworthy — they are established always and forever: they are filled with truth and right doing.” -- Psalm 111:7-8, CEB

Black History Month is not just about what has happened in the past, but also about what is happening now.

Racism is still making history … a black sports hero belted by bananas, an African-American celebrity denied access to a purchase a salesclerk deemed too expensive for the shopper, a suburb refusing to allow bus stops to discourage racial-ethnic minorities from moving into the community.

With every act of violence we ignore, every right we deny and every injustice we leave uncorrected, we make history. Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown provide history lessons that the next generation will discuss in school classrooms, portray on movie screens and describe in stirring speeches.

The United Methodist Church has long played a part in changing history of poverty, discrimination, and inequality. Many of our pastors stood before the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. A retired bishop spent three days and nights in the same jail cell with King. A United Methodist pastor was honored at the “International Civil Rights Walk of Fame.” United Methodist educators and students have marched in protest and lobbied for justice. United Methodists give generously to support the denomination’s 13 historically black colleges and universities.

Today United Methodists join in a month-long celebration of Black History Month. We believe all men, women, and children are created equal.

Offertory Prayer

Loving God, thank you for your history of loving us just as we are. Remind us often that we are both history makers and peacemakers. Amen.

From the Board of Discipleship: Holy God, Architect of all we know and all we do not know, bless the gifts we offer up to you this day. As we are reminded this morning of the authority you given your precious son, so we remember how, in turn, he passed it on to us. Help us to see that the authority we have is not to wield power over one another, but to stir the power of compassion, hope, and love in one another. We pray this in the name of Jesus, the source of compassion, mercy, and healing. Amen. (Mark 1:21-28)

Download a pdf listing of DVDs and Books for Black History Month available to borrow from the United Media Resource Center.