When the Dawn Comes By John Thomas III, Editor  Four years ago, when I penned my first December editorial, I was encouraged to share a meaningful word to lead into the new year. On most of our minds and hearts was the election and impending inauguration of President Donald Trump. The vicious and venom-filled 2016 Presidential Campaign showcased the United States’ worst impulses and we steeled ourselves for the worst. And it was bad. When historians tell the story of the Trump administration, they will speak of the corrupt, inept, and mean-spirited gang that sought to “Make America Great Again”. Read More Here |
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Courage, Not Cowardice By Rev. Monica C. Jones, PhD., Contributing Writer  The word “coward” stings a little. One pictures a person running away from a conflict or failing to protect in a time of war or violence. Yet, spiritual cowardice is very real too. When we fail to speak out against the wrong we see because we fear rejection, we are not showing courage. When we do not discipline our children because we want to remain popular with them, we are not showing courage. When we do not speak out against the onslaught of evil against the church and atheistic thought against the very fiber of our beliefs, we are not showing courage. When we allow the world to disrespect Christ Jesus in either media or commentary without a response, we are not demonstrating courage. Jesus has called us to be courageous. Our task is to answer the call. Read More Here |
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Living and Ministering Through A Pandemic By Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Contributing Writer 
We are living and serving God in difficult times. We are practicing ministry and living under new modalities. Our existential experience has been altered by COVID-19. How do we live and how do we do ministry in these difficult times? First, to minister and live a certain quality of life, we must minister to ourselves. Howard Thurman said, “The central fact in religious experience is the awareness of meeting God. Read more here |
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Shaking the Dust Off Our Feet By Jenn P. Sims, Ph.D., Contributing Writer 
According to Luke, when the people in Jesus’ hometown rejected his teachings and tried to hurl him off a hill, he left. Mark adds that he taught his disciples to do the same, saying that if the people of a town refuse to accept them then they should leave and shake the dust off their feet. Read More Here |
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Tension, Change, and the Possibility for Radical Growth in 2021 By Katurah York Cooper
You are standing at the door of 2021. Your hand is on the handle and ready to fling open the door and boldly step across the threshold. Before you cross over to 2021, let’s reflect. Even though we’d rather not. We’d rather not look back at the shock of the invasion of COVID-19 into our life, the stark reality that worship on Sunday morning became a super-spreader for this virus, the terrible feeling of isolationism inflicted on quarantined humans. We dare not look back at the decimation of our income, the encroachment into our savings, the evaporation of our vision, and the reduction in our mobility. Worse of all is the walk in the shadow of the death of friends, colleagues, and family members because of COVID-19 or brought on by an over-stressed healthcare system. Read more here |
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An Advent Reflection for the Present Age By Rev. Dr. Missiouri L McPhee, 11th Episcopal District 
Advent comes from the Latin word, “adventus,” which is translated as “coming.” It refers not only to the coming of Christ in human flesh at Christmas but also to the coming of Christ in our lives through grace, the sacrament of the Eucharist, as well as Christ’s Second Coming. It is a time set aside by the church for spiritual preparation in anticipation of Christ’s return. Read More Here |
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The Advent Season By Rev. William C. Legolie, II, 15th Episcopal District
 The Advent season is a four-week period before Christmas that celebrates the anticipation and coming of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. The origin of Advent is from the Latin word “adventus,” which simply translates “coming” or “arrival.” Not only is the Christian meaning for preparation and celebration of the coming of Jesus Christ and his birth at Christmas but it also celebrates the new life when someone accepts Jesus Christ as their Saviour and the anticipation of Jesus returning. Read More Here |
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 | Please watch the TCR Dialogue with Bishop Reginald T. Jackson and Mr. John Jackson |
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Information for Virtual Worship Service Celebrating Council of Bishops President Michael L. Mitchell
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Lilly Endowment Announces 2021 Clergy Renewal Program 
Lilly Endowment’s Clergy Renewal Programs are administered by the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Christian Theological Seminary. Through its religion grantmaking, the Lilly Endowment—an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation—seeks to deepen and enrich the lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes.
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AAMES Introduces Episcopal Patch Series
Beginning January 1, 2021, the Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES) will premiere a new religious activity aimed at engaging and encouraging youth to learn about the mission of the AME Church in an easy and fun way through the lives of the bishops of the church. AAMES’ Episcopal Patch Series, the brainchild of the Rev. Dr. Missiouri McPhee, was borne to honor the faith and sacrifices of the men and women who built, led, and continue to lead the AME Church. These men and women not only defended the faith but worked tirelessly to promote equality, diversity, and excellence for the whole of humanity. Read More |
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Healthier Food in our Churches By Rev. Natalie Mitchem, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Matthew 4:23 says, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Recently, it was announced that African Americans are dying and suffering at a greater rate from COVID-19 than other ethnic groups. Read More Here |
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Reimagining Sincerity and Truth in the Thanksgiving Season
 Imagine a world where people are invited to share their differences of opinion, and others do not see these differences as threats to their own existence. Imagine a world where violence is not the answer. Imagine a world where groups of people historically marginalized from the dominate narratives are recognized and appreciated. Imagine a world where a person’s story is not judged but heard.
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