Dear St. Lukers,
On October 3, 1904, Mary McLeod Bethune opened what would one day become Bethune-Cookman University with $1.50, faith in God, five little girls, and Dr. Bethune’s own son, Albert. In 1936, Dr. Bethune became the highest-ranking African American woman in government when she was named Director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration and was a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unofficial cabinet. She served as Vice President of the NAACP beginning in 1940, and was later appointed by President Truman as the only woman of color at the founding conference of the United Nations. Her list of accolades, accomplishments, and firsts goes on and on. She was a woman who the Holy Spirit stirred in her the holy discontent about the inequities of education of African American women, injustice, and lack of racial, gender, and economic equity. She was empowered by her God-given, Spirit-empowered DNA, and her life, in a way, is still transforming lives.
For decades, Bethune-Cookman University has partnered with the United Methodist Church of Florida, and over at least the last 30+ years has had a relationship with St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. We have St. Lukers who are alums, who have served on the Board of Trustees, given to scholarship funds, and have found ways to be supporters of this leading HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).
We are thrilled to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. weekend by hosting the Bethune-Cookman University Concert Chorale on Sunday night for a live concert at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This will be a powerful evening of music led by students in one of the premiere music chorales in the nation. Please make sure to put it on your calendars, but also invite your friends and family to this celebration concert event! During the performance we will be taking up a special offering to support the students in the Chorale and to share with the University (you can also give online by clicking here).
The concert will be the culmination of a beautiful Sunday in worship honoring Dr. King’s legacy. Pastor Jeremy will be bringing us a message to help us find the song we have been wired and called by God to sing, asking you to share what the Spirit has stirred in you, calling you to a holy discontent. Prepare your hearts for worship by praying over Psalm 40:1-11, and we will see you on Sunday, because it’s not St. Luke’s without U.
Blessings,
Jenn.