Calvary continues to diversify along the same direction as our denomination and our country. I have had visitors tell us that one reason they decided to try us out is because of how diverse we look in the pictures on our website. We are blessed with so many different individuals and families, our international student population, etc.
I am someone who believes that most forms of expression can be included in our church life if it is given to glorify God and edify the body. I hope that some of the elements we’ve included in our worship services over the last several years have been edifying for you and put the beauty of our God’s creation on display.
Because such a significant portion of our Calvary family is of African or Jamaican heritage, the anti-racism team has sought to enrich our life together during the month of February with highlights of Black history and culture. This year, we will be blessed in several ways that Lynda laid out during the mission moment of January 29.
Accompanying this article is just one of many paintings and artifacts on display from local artist Eunice Lafate. If you’re reading this online, you can click here to see more of the display. Eunice is a Jamaican born self-taught artist whose art in acrylic, oil, and watercolors portrays folk culture and embraces human diversity with some distinct allusions to Christian doctrine and practice. You can read her full bio here or there are copies in the Narthex.
On February 26 (which is also the first Sunday of Lent), we will welcome back the Fashion Steppers dance & drill team to our worship service, and after worship that day, we invite you to a “soul food” luncheon after worship (a sign up sheet is in the Narthex; look and see if there’s something you can contribute).
There is actually some concern with the anti-racism team and myself about making sure we don’t highlight Black history and culture in such a way as to relegate it to one month. Indeed, we have been striving to make diverse influences more a part of our church life year-round. In that vein, we are not finished when February is over. On March 26, we will welcome Rev. Dr. Marilyn Turner-Triplet, the interim pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church of Wilmington, the oldest historically black church in Delaware, and we are also in conversation with the YWCA about Calvary hosting a screening of a film about the history of racism in the United States.
May God’s Spirit fill our worship and our community through all of this and more!
