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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact
February 7, 2024
You can do hard things: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day worship service
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lessed are the Can Do Hard things,” to a book by peacemakers. But public school teacher Gabi Garcia. peacemaking and “The book reflects on the peacekeeping are not the same beautiful diversity of children in our thing. world, and it actually seeks to remind That’s the message from the kids that they have power within Feb. 4 worship service hosted themselves to affirm themselves,” by the Ethnic Local Church Lewis stated. Concerns, sponsored by the The book “reminds children Oklahoma conference of the that they can find the courage to do United Methodist Church, and hard things, even when hard things located at Quayle UMC in present themselves,” according to Northeast Oklahoma City. Lewis. In her opening remarks, Rev. “I think we as people of God also Dr. Bessie Hamilton shared, need this kind of book,” she opined. Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis brings the message, “What a blessing it is for us to “I think the church is in a position “We Can Do Hard Things,” to the 2024 MLK worship service at Quayle UMC. gather to remember the Rev. where we have to begin to do hard Martin Luther King Jr.” things, or we are at risk of falling After having had to postpone come the other day, but now I’m here,” into irrelevance amidst our current the event from its regularly scheduled said Bishop Jimmy Nunn, referring culture,” said Lewis. date due to frigid temperatures and ice to the mixed blessing of the weatherShe discussed Dr. King’s accumulations, Hamilton commented, related delay of the event. contrasting of negative peace and “I think it is appropriate that we get Rev. Derrek Belase pointed out positive peace. Positive peace “will to celebrate the beginning of Black that Hamilton’s work in both Multiagitate for justice and try to reconcile History Month, as well.” Ethnic Initiatives and in New Faith to create beloved community.” She With celebratory music offered by Communities is no mere coincidence. added, “It engages systemic injustice the MLK Day Ensemble, a stirring “As the state demographics have and violence, and positive peace spoken word performance by Makela changed, we’ve realized that those will expose fear, hostility, hatred, Nero, and a rousing solo by Kimberly two things are integrally connected; division - all in the process of social Jackson, emotions were primed for an we can’t separate them. As the state transformation.” inspirational evening of worship. becomes more diverse, we’re going to “Negative peace is the absence Beyond that inspiration came a plant new churches, and we’ve got to of tension that comes at the expense thought-provoking, confronting set of do it in diverse ways.” of justice,” which can “lead to lessons by Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis, Rev. Lewis discussed the complacency and the normalization of the first female president-dean of comparison with the Ten violence.” Gammon Theological Seminary in Commandments given to Moses, She asked, “Are we going to be Atlanta, Georgia. which are things we should not do, and makers of positive peace or keepers of “I’m probably the only person in the Beatitudes that Jesus shared, which negative peace?” Oklahoma who was happy that we had are things we should do. She also “In order to be a positive ice the other day, because I couldn’t attributed the title of her message, “We peacemaker, and to offer in 2024, the
