Hate Has No Home Here.

February 18, 2019

Hate Has No Home Here.

Scores of people from different backgrounds, races and religions rallied Sunday in solidarity with the congregation of Maryland Presbyterian Church after vandals damaged church signs supporting Muslims, immigrants and the LGBTQ community. Church leader Rev. David Norse Thomas tweeted his thanks to the nearly 200 people who, he said, came to “declare that hate has no home here, and [to show that] we are united to face the wolves that threaten any community with hate.”

Seated in the crowd was Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. In response to a call to publicly denounce intolerance and bigotry, Olszewski agreed to meet with a coalition of community activists and people of faith within 30 days. It’s important, he said, “to show clearly and loudly that hate has no place in Baltimore County.”

Baltimore County police have no suspects in the crime but are continuing to investigate the incident that occurred last Monday as a hate crime. According to their reports, a rainbow-color sign that said “We Love Our LGBTQ+ Friends and Neighbors” had select words crossed out with black marker and changed to say “We Hate Our LGBTQ+ Perverts.” Similarly, a sign that said “We Love Our Muslim & Immigrant Neighbors” was changed to “We Hate Our Muslim & Immigrant Neighbors,” with the word “ALLAH” written down the side, according to police reports.

Unfortunately, this not the first incident of its kind for the progressive church. Vandals previously damaged property and, in 2017, the church received threatening telephone calls objecting to its support of the LGBTQ community, according to news accounts.

In a public message, Rev. Norse Thomas said “It’s important to me to put the signs back up and light them up to show resiliency, but also that the vandal doesn’t win. For me,” he added, “it’s really important that someone, and their hatred and bigotry, doesn’t get to tell anyone where they get to feel safe or where they get to feel loved.”

Presbytery & Church-wide

Listen to The Rev. Dr. Jill Duffield's Worship Sermon

"An Extreme Makeover in Jesus Christ" from the

882nd Gathering of the Presbytery of Baltimore

Click here for soundcloud . . .

Per Capita: $35.73

Presbytery.......................................$25.93

Synod/Mid-Atlantic.........................$ .85

General Assembly............................$ 8.95

2019 Standard Mileage Rates: 58 cents for business and ministry

Confirmed Dates for the Dismantling Racism Training in 2019

Monday, May 20, 2019 at Chestnut Grove PC

(3701 Sweet Air Road, Phoenix, MD 21131), 8:30am to 5pm.

Morning refreshments and Lunch are provided

Registration Fee is $20. Registration Opens in March

Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. Location TBA.

Registration opens in August 2019.

Churches

CPR/AED Training for Church Members

Granite Presbyterian Church is hosting a CPR/AED training session at 12 noon on Sunday, Mar. 24. Class size is limited; pre-registration is required.

Click here to learn more . . .

BLUE HYMNALS AVAILABLE

Churches in need of Blue Hymnals may contact The Rev. John Schmidt of Central Presbyterian Church to obtain copies. Free of charge. First come/ first served.

Interfaith Concert at

Second Presbyterian Church

Second Presbyterian Church is hosting an interfaith concert entitled Music & Words for All Gods People at 7pm on Thursday, Feb. 28. The event features the Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra.

CIick here for details . . .

ST. ANDREW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

seeks

Youth/Young Adult Ministry Coordinator

Click here for job description

Click here to learn more . . .

Community

CONTEMPLATIVE PROGRAM FOR LENT

TE Jenny Williams will facilitate a 6-session time of prayer and reflection Monday evenings, 3/11/19 through 4/15/19, 7pm to 8:30pm at the Church of the Redeemer. Guided by the work Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life by Henri Nouwen and with a focus on Lenten themes, the sessions are designed to encourage the intentional creation of a time for contemplation and reflection in our daily life and to share the same in a weekly community practice. This is a program of Inner Harbor Wellness. Contact Jenny if you would like to attend: jennywilliams1800@gmail.com or all 410.523.3961.