Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America

Photos from Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America

Here are some of the photos taken at our inauguration eve event Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America. Click here to browse the album at Flickr, or enjoy the slideshow below.

 

The FundamentaList asks: Can progressive Christians mobilize?

We've been scanning the Internet for mentions of last week's wonderful Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America event (photos coming soon) and came across this interesting blog called The FundamentaList by The American Prospect. They've been tracking the religious right for some time, but are now looking at the religious left as well, as we immediately popped onto their radar!

In addition to noting other inauguration-related items (including the Rev. Rick Warren's comparison of himself to Dr. King!) blogger Sarah Posner attended our event last week and had this to report:

Your thoughts on this momentous occasion

[Obama at MLK Day]

When Barack Obama was elected as our country's first African-American president in November, many peace activists raised our voices in celebration. On the FORpeace blog, we discussed our reactions - a lot of joy mixed with some skepticism - about what changes this might bring to Washington, D.C. and to the nation. Today we observe Martin Luther King Day on the cusp of Obama's inauguration, and the juxtaposition of these two events couldn't be more powerful.

RSVP for Rebirthing King in the Nation's Capitol

January 19, 2009, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, a new President will be inaugurated and begin to work with a new Congress. The day before, Monday January 19, is Martin Luther King's Birthday. In Washington on January 19, we will hold a celebratory service and teaching at which Vincent Harding of Iliffe School of Theology, one of Dr. King's closets advisers; Rev. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches; Dr. Sayyid Syeed, general secretary of the Islamic Society of North America; Sammie Moshenberg of the National Council of Jewish Women; Mubarak Awad of nonviolence International; Rev. William G. Sinkford of the Unitarian Universalist Association; and many other leaders of broad religious and political backgrounds are scheduled to speak.

Find and host local Rebirthing King events

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, a new President will be inaugurated and begin to work with a new Congress. The day before, Monday January 19, is Martin Luther King's Birthday. The Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership is leading effort to make this extraordinary confluence of dates into a moment of transformation.

In Washington on January 19, we will organize celebratory services and teaching around the US. Search by zip code to found out if there is a service near you. If there is none, please consider clicking Create an event to host one yourself.

January 19th Program, Litany, & and Speakers

Martin Luther King, Jr. BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE,

Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America

January 19, EVE OF INAUGURATION DAY, 2009,
All Souls Church, Washington DC

Full program and order of events

As people arrive, each will be given a candle, andinvited to stand in silent vigil in front of All Souls Church before enteringthe sanctuary in silence, led by Japanese Buddhist peace drummers.

Ringing of Church Bells: All Souls Church member

Covenantal pledge

REBIRTHING KING, RE-INAUGURATING AMERICA:  
A COVENANTAL PLEDGE ON JANUARY 19-20, 2009  
 
On this rebirthing day , January 19, 2009, Martin Luther King's Birthday, on the eve of there coming into office a new government to represent the American people, I join in covenant with other Americans: --   
  
I commit myself to give a new birth in America and in the world to the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, to call ourselves and  every nation now to develop an overriding loyalty to humankind as a whole, in order to preserve the best in our individual societies;  
  
I commit myself to work toward a world-wide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond any tribe, race, class, or nation;  to call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all humanity and for the web of life upon our planet; 
  

Sample liturgical scenario

What follows is an outline to help guide you in developing your own ceremony. We hope you will find it useful.

 


LITURGICAL SCENARIO FOR

Martin Luther King, Jr. BIRTHDAY OBSERVANCE,

            Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America 
            
January 19, EVE OF INAUGURATION DAY, 2009 
 
  
As people arrive between 4:45 and 5:30, each is given a candle, invited to stand in silent vigil and then enter the sanctuary with drums and song at 5:30.

Coming Together,  Summoning of the People According to the Traditions              
Blowing of the Shofar     
Ringing of Church Bells           
Muslim Call to Prayer             
Buddhist Bells 
Unitarian Universalist chalice-lighting

Rebirthing King in your own community

On January 19, 2009, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Observance and the eve of the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, a broad representation of the Faith Community committed to peace and nonviolence will gather at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Washington, D.C. for a program titled Rebirthing King, Rebirthing America.

The program for the evening has been designed to be replicated in local communities around the country, wherever friends would like to celebrate this event in solidarity with those gathered in Washington. There are a number of components to this event and they can be adapted to whatever resources are available to your community.

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