FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A FIRST READING FROM ACTS 1:1-11
A READING FROM PSALM 47:5-9
A READING FROM EPHESIANS 1:17-23
A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 28:16-20
TELECONFERENCE PANEL: Challenges for Incoming Chicago Mayor Johnson’s Administration- May 18, 2023, 7PM (CST)
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
I. WHO: PartneringReformation.wordpress.com -Southside Black Church Preservationists (Telling Reformation African American Lutheran Chicago’s Roseland Rose & Englewood Good Legacy Sanctuaries Stories-Plus) -New/media CPE Blog-Plus & Southside Black Church Preservationists Annual /Small Press (Voluntarily MCS-ELCA).
II. WHAT: Presents and Hosts: A Black Church-Based Community Roundtable Discussion Re: Challenges for Incoming Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Administration.
III. Theme: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE: Top-Down Technocracy or Just, People-Based, Model City?
IV. Featured Panelists: Rev. Chris Butler, Pastor, Embassy Church-Chicago Network; Mr. Johnny White, LCSW, CEO, Hue-Man Counseling-Chicago; Ms. Arntimese Myrick, Lead Organizer, Live Free Chicago; Rev. Dr. Gale Frazier, Windsor Park Lutheran Church-Chicago; Ms. Cecile Johnson, CEO, African Development Plan-Chicago; Reformation-Chicago’s Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Bi-Vocational Pastor, Moderator; & Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor/Chair, Africana Studies Department, California State University, Long Beach, Exec. Dir., African American Cultural Center (Us), Los Angeles.
Respondents: Rev. Victoria C. Brady, ABJ Arts Ministry-Chicago & Mr. Kamm Howard, N’COBRA Chicago Chair.
V. WHEN: Thursday May 18, 2023, 7PM, CST, Black Church Preservationists Ascension Day -A Mayor-Elect Johnson Administration Inauguration & Address Evaluation. Note: Mayor-Elect Johnson’s inauguration date is Monday May 15, 2023.
VI. HOW: Video Conference Presentation Via Our Free Conference Call Account One Number here: (727) 731-7760.
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Bi-Vocational Pastor, Southside Black Church Preservationists- The New/Media Publishing Ministerium of Reformation African American Lutheran Kusantiko/Congregation-Chicago (Voluntarily MCS/ELCA). -Updated 5-18-23. Gathering music 6:45PM -7:07PM (CT).
PLEASE FORWARD! ADVANCE THANKS.
Sunday May 7, 2023 -Cycle A- 4th in the Season of Easter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A READING FROM ACTS 6:1-7
PSALM 33
1 PETER 2:4-9
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JOHN 14:1-12
Sunday April 30, 2023, 3A -Third Sunday of the Easter Season-
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A READING FROM ACTS 2:36-41
A READING FROM PSALM 23
A READING FROM 1 PETER 2:20-25
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JOHN 10:1-10
April 23, 2023, 2nd Sunday of the Easter Season, Re: The Black Church Lectionary
–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A READING FROM ACTS 2:14, 22-32, PETER’S SERMON
A READING FROM 1 PETER 1:3-9
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF LUKE 24:13-35
April 16, 2023, 1st Sunday of the Easter Season, Re: The African American Church Lectionary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ACTS 2:42-47 Foundational Congregational Communalism
PSALM 16
1 PETER 1:3-9
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JOHN 20:19-31
TELECONFERENCE PANEL: Challenges for Incoming Chicago Mayor Johnson’s Administration- May 18, 2023, 7PM (CST)
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
I. WHO: PartneringReformation.wordpress.com -Southside Black Church Preservationists (Telling Reformation African American Lutheran Chicago’s Roseland Rose & Englewood Good Legacy Sanctuaries Stories-Plus) -New/media CPE Blog-Plus & Black Church Preservationists Annual /Small Press (Voluntarily MCS-ELCA).
II. WHAT: Presents and Hosts: A Black Church-Based Community Roundtable Discussion Re: Challenges for Incoming Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Administration.
III. Theme: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE: Top-Down Technocracy or Just, People-Based, Model City?
IV. Featured Panelists: Rev. Chris Butler, Pastor, Embassy Church-Chicago Network; Mr. Johnny White, LCSW, CEO, Human Counseling-Chicago; Ms. Arntimese Myrick, Lead Organizer, Live Free Chicago; Rev. Dr. Gale Frazier, Windsor Park Lutheran Church-Chicago; Ms. Cecile Johnson, CEO, African Development Plan-Chicago; Reformation-Chicago’s Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Bi-Vocational Pastor, Moderator; & Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor/Chair, Africana Studies Department, California State University, Long Beach, Exec. Dir., African American Cultural Center (Us), Los Angeles.
Respondents: Rev. Victoria C. Brady, ABJ Arts Ministry-Chicago & Mr. Kamm Howard, N’COBRA Chicago Chair.
V. WHEN: Thursday May 18, 2023, 7PM, CST, Black Church Preservationists Ascension Day -A Mayor-Elect Johnson Administration Inauguration & Address Evaluation. Note: Mayor-Elect Johnson’s inauguration date is Monday May 15, 2023.
VI. HOW: Video Conference Presentation Via Our Free Conference Call Account One Number here: (727) 731-7760.
Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Bi-Vocational Pastor, Southside Black Church Preservationists- A Publishing Ministerium Small Press of Reformation African American Lutheran Kusantiko/Congregation Chicago (Voluntarily MCS/ELCA). -Updated 5-9-23.
April 9th, 2023, Holy Easter (Resurrection) Sunday Solemnity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ACTS 10:34-35
ACTS 10:37-43
PSALM 118:1-17
1ST CORINTHIANS 5:6-8
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JOHN 20:1-9
April 2, 2023 -5th Sunday in the Season of Lent- Palm Sunday & Holy Week, Cycle A of the Western Church Calendar
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOLY WEEK SUNDAY: JOHN 12:12-19 JESUS’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY IN JERUSELEM
FIRST READING
Isaiah 50.4-7 of Sunday April 2, 2023
The servant of the Lord said: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens — wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
“The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.
“I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
“The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.”
Psalm 22 of Sunday April 2, 2023
All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver; let him rescue the one in whom he delights!” R.
For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shrivelled; I can count all my bones. R.
They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid! R.
I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! R.
SECOND READING
Philippians 2.6-11 of Sunday April 2, 2023
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.
Therefore God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
GOSPEL
Matthew 27.11-54 (shorter) of Sunday April 2, 2023
(For the longer version, see the print edition of Living with Christ. Alternatively, see Partnering Reformation’s AMP copied text next:) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A11-54&version=AMP&interface=print
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.
Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.”
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.
The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”
Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!”
Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his Cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the Cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”
Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many.
Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
NEW DIRECTIONS: Reformation African American Lutheran Free Congregation Chicago's Legal Defense Fund Saving Black Churches 