See the Dream

This Great Idea was inspired by an email requesting children’s books to read on Martin Luther King Sunday – but it’ll be worthwhile at any time in these coming years – and I’ve added to the book recommendations to flesh it out a bit.

For background – or leading up to this event – you might have already shared:

[I also recommend just about anything from our History of Race in America lib guide.]

Start this practice/worship segment by giving everyone a piece of paper and drawing utensils.

Ground in Jesus’ vision of the kin_dom of God.

Share either version of The Beatitudes:

…or a favorite parable that Jesus introduces with, ‘The reign of God is like…’ (See Mark 4, for instance.)

Consider how Jesus shared visions of God’s preferred future with the people who listened to him. Jesus appreciated that in order to transform the world into what is to what God intends for us, humans first have to be able to imagine it.*

Then underscore what a powerful visionary Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was. He was a great orator (or speaker), but more importantly, he had a clear vision of the future he knew God desired for this country: a future in which justice and right relationship and equity were available to every person, no matter their creed, the color of their skin, or any other trait or characteristic.

One of Dr. King’s great gifts of leadership was the ability to share a vision.

As you read (or share the video) invite folx – of all ages – to listen carefully for an image shared by Rev. Dr. King that resonates with them. What part of Dr. King’s Dream inspires their dreams?

Then read I Have a Dream, or share the video that includes Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech along with the beautiful illustrations. The video’s audio is a bit choppy, but it may be worthwhile to hear it in his voice.

Invite people to draw their vision.

Once pictures are drawn, invite people to turn to a neighbor and share their vision with one another.

Collect all the images and put them on a prominent bulletin board in your entry space.

Create spaces and opportunities for all ages to consider what it would take to move into your visions of God’s preferred future.

Can your congregation agree on some next steps toward living into the Dream?

~~~

*For a powerful deeper dive into the importance of human imagination for shaping our future/our social systems and culture, join us for our Building a Moral Economy book discussion (Learn more here.) and/or join the EcoFaith Summit, April 5, 2025 in Duluth, MN where author Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda will be a keynote speaker. Learn more here.