Sunday, June 2
The Lord’s Day
Minute for Mission: Multicultural Church/Immigration
A young girl went out to dinner with her family in downtown Dallas. This was not just a family dinner, however. They went to meet friends who were part of a community group called The Amigos.
The group was started by the girl’s father, Charles, an African American Presbyterian pastor, and Jane, a European American businesswoman. What was unusual about Amigos dinners was that there were adults, children of all ages, and many races gathered together for the meal. This was decades ago, and at that time multicultural dinners were uncommon in Dallas.
Charles’s and Ann’s daughter and Jane’s and Bob’s daughter played together, sailed together, and ate together with other Amigos families, and these early experiences shaped who they became, persons who are blessed to have seen firsthand God’s beloved community of diverse races and cultures joining together in unity.
Psalm 96 declares God’s glory among the nations and God’s marvelous works among all the people. The psalmist encourages all families of nations to rejoice before God.
Images of cross-cultural community, of all people rejoicing before God, are not just images for these daughters, now women. They live, work, and make their way in the world in cross-cultural community. Because of their early experiences playing, singing, and discussing topics with Latinos, African Americans, European Americans, and Asians, they notice when such diversity is not in the room. They realize who is missing. They long for the sisters and brothers of their family when they are not present or invited to share a meal or work or play together.
If their parents had not taught them to welcome persons of different cultures and walks of life into their homes, how different their lives might be.
I know it would be different, because I am Charles’s daughter. How brave it was for Cindy’s mother, Jane, and my father to decide to meet together for dinner and invite their multicultural friends. Thank God they did.
—Rhashell Hunter, director, Racial Ethnic& Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women
Let us pray
Gracious and loving God, as we celebrate Multicultural Church/Immigration Sunday, we pray that others will catch a glimpse of the vision of all families of nations rejoicing before God. Amen.
Sunday Lectionary and Hymns
1 Kings 18:20–21 (22–29), 30–39
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
PH 288, HB 84
Ps. 96
How Great Thou Art
PH 467
Gal. 1:1–12
O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee
PH 357, HB 304
Luke 7:1–10
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
PH 379, HB 368
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 67; 150
First Reading Deuteronomy 11:1-12
Second Reading Revelation 10:1-11
Gospel Reading Matthew 13:44-58
Evening Psalms 46; 93
