Celebration of MLK Holiday -TODAY
Franklin Garcia
Happy New Year to all.
I hope most of you are doing well, and staying virus-free. I am excited for all that will happen in the next few days, with the new Biden-Harris administration. And while in-person celebrations will be limited for a number of reasons, be sure to get creative and celebrate this historic moment. Start the celebration today:
Here are a couple of events to get you started:
The 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will take place TODAY, Monday, January 18, 2021 at 12:00PM on-line. This year's theme, "Now is the Time," honors and connects the movements of the past with what's happening today. Click Below to visit the MLK Parade's YouTube channel and watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Oo81bMvmwkwv-bfrjRh2Q/videos
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Healing our Divide, hosted by Dr. Rev George E. Holmes
Time: Jan 18, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/5420420774?pwd=T2RxdGppMlhON0gvRWU4WTRvRHNaZz09
Meeting ID: 542 042 0774
Passcode: 043973
From: Dr. George E. Holmes [mailto:revge...@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2021 9:40 AM
To: ALL
Subject: Historic Zoom Virtual Meeting MLK Day: Healing our Divide: Democrat US Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook & Former Republican / Councilmember Carol Schwartz now Independent Party
Greetings my Fellow Americans:
We are the Citizens of the United States of America. We come from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different places, different political parties, different views, different ways in which we look at our Nation, our Politics, our Lives, and each other but I say unequivocally that despite our many differences, we still have more that "unites" us, than divides us! We are stronger together, than apart! We are stronger when we 'work together' to solve our divide! Because within these differences, we will become stronger as a Nation, as we open our hearts and find ways to communicate to each other to solve our great divide. Now is not the time to shut down communication, nor is it the time to be divided. Now is the time to come together as the Citizens of the United States of America, in spite of our indifferences, and to listen and try through God's help to best understand each other, as we unify our Nation and the World on one accord, through God.
Isaac and Ishmael and their two distinctly heritages, one Hebrew and one Islamic were imbedded with generational hate, mistrust and not fully understanding one another but they still found that one common thread of unity, and it was their Father Abraham. We need to seek the same common thread as believers in unity, which is our Father, Our Father God who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. It is time to embrace and live out those words found in notable American literature, such as the Bill of Rights, the US Constitution and the Dollar Bill, that was stated from the hearts of our Founding Fathers, when together they wrote, "In God We Trust". Furthermore, the Bible that accompany them from Old England to New England states that, "If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray...then I will heal their land." We must go to God and humble ourselves and pray for one another and ask God to bridge our great divide and bring healing across our land. We must trust in God to unify and heal our land, a movie we never have seen before.
As Chair of the Religious Council of the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee and our Religious Committee, we would like to work with all of our colleagues, our brothers and sisters across all barriers of engagement, Democrats and Republicans and Independents alike, Voters and Non-Voters, Whites and Blacks and all Colors of our wonderful Rainbow, All Faiths and Denominations, as we come together to unify ourselves as citizens under the banner of the United States of America and to launch a weekly virtual discussion circle, undergirded by prayer. The purpose of the circle will be for us to find common ground to heal America and to make every effort to save and embolden our Republic.
Please note that this will be an interfaith, multi partisan prayer circle, so all communities and cultures are welcomed to join. The inaugural prayer and discussion circle will take place on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s National Holiday which is Monday, January 18th starting 7:00pm EST and subsequently following on every Sunday at 7:00pm. Our guest speakers will be the Honorable Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, the first female and first African American to become the U.S. Ambassador-At-Large for International Religious Freedom. She is a Democrat. She is Black and her Faith is Christian and her denomination is Baptist. She was born in the Bronx, New York. Our other guest speaker will be the Honorable Carol Schwartz, the former District of Colombia At-Large Councilmember. She is a former long term Republican now 7 years Independent. She is White and her Faith is Jewish. She was born in Greenville, Mississippi. 2 distinguished women, 2 different backgrounds, 2 different Faiths, coming together to find common ground.
Topic: Healing our Divide
Time: Jan 18, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/5420420774?pwd=T2RxdGppMlhON0gvRWU4WTRvRHNaZz09
Meeting ID: 542 042 0774
Passcode: 043973
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,5420420774#,,,,*043973# US (Chicago)
+16468769923,,5420420774#,,,,*043973# US (New York)
We would be delighted to have you and yours in virtual attendance. Please join us and bring your hope for change, opportunity, healing and prayers as we progress our Nation. Thank you and may God continue to bless you!
Rev. Dr. George E. Holmes,
Religious Chair of the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee
Like always, looking forward to seeing some of you, this time on-line! Thank you.
Franklin