Some unique opportunities to learn about issues of justice being addressed in the church are available during March as the Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, Director of the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C., visits west Michigan.
Rev. Hawkins – author of Unbroken and Unbowed: The History of Black Protest in America — will offer both a sermon entitled “To Know Jesus Is to Know Justice” and the keynote speech during the March 11, 2023 Presbytery of Lake Michigan Stated Meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Holland.
He also will speak about different topics during themed programs at area churches, including:
Thursday, March 9, 2023
- 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 321 West South Street, Kalamazoo — An overview of the work of the Office of Public Witness and advocacy in the PC(USA). How are we called, as people of faith, to engage in this work?
- 6:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 47 Jefferson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids — Conversation around spiritually equipping ourselves for the prophetic role of the church and how advocacy work is a vital part of Christian witness.
Friday, March 10, 2023
- 10 a.m. at Parkwood Presbyterian Church, 7998 28th Avenue, Jenison — Discussion of Rev. Hawkins’ book, published in February 2022, and book signing. Order a copy of Rev. Hawkins’ book for $30 for delivery at the March 11, 2023 Stated Meeting. To receive your copy before that, scroll down the page to find a link for ordering a direct-shipped copy.
- 5 p.m. at Okemos Presbyterian Church, 2258 Bennett Road, Okemos — Conversation about gun violence in America and how churches can respond. This is an especially important conversation given the recent gun violence at Michigan State University, which is located within the border of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan.
Sunday, March 12, 2023
- 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2021 North Aurelius Road, Holt — Rev. Hawkins will preach during worship.
Watch the presbytery’s website blog and Facebook page for more details about each event.
Order a copy of Rev. Hawkins’ book for $30 from Socialight Society, an independent bookstore that has worked with the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan, and have it delivered at the Stated Meeting. If you want to receive a copy before the Stated Meeting, scroll down the page to find a link for ordering a copy shipped directly to you.
Rev. Hawkins published Unbroken and Unbowed, his first book, in February 2022. The book walks the reader through the many forms of Black protest in American history from precolonial times through the George Floyd protests of 2020.
Read about Rev. Hawkins’ background, including more than 20 years pastoring churches and work with various interfaith/ ecumenical and non-profit boards, in a December 2016 article written as he was called to become Director of the PC(USA) Office of Public
Find information here about Hawkins’ book, including reviews.
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