In her pastoral response to living in a culture of violence and poverty, CRS Inaugural Yvonne V. Delk Theologian in Residence Rev. Erica N. Williams reflects on Jesus doing the work of love, justice and liberation in his ministry, and calls us to the do the same by showing radical and revolutionary compassion.

Amidst Brandon Johnson's inauguration as the new mayor of Chicago, we invite you to reflect on the impactful words of Rev. Erica N. Williams, our Yvonne V. Delk Theologian in Residence. as she reminds us about our shared duty towards the most marginalized in our communities.

New staff member Terrell Barnes offers a meaningful approach to seasonal renewal during the days surrounding Easter. Read his devotional here.

Over the weekend, many of us will gather with our faith communities in search of hope as we process the state of the world and the heaviness that we have each experienced in the past week and days. View our statement, guide for discussion, prayer, and join our virtual space for reflection.

As we move toward our Easter Celebration of the Risen Christ, and beyond, and we end our Lenten fasting, consider the command given to the people and seek out opportunities to address poverty in our community and world.

The practice of Lectio Divina, “a contemplative practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer”, invites us into transcendence through repetition. When we repeat the words and pause and reflect – we believe something will resonate and speak to our spirit and mental consciousness.

Lent provides us the space to remember and the opportunity to re-adjust our lenses—or get us some new ones. An anti-racist lens. A decolonial lens. An intergenerational lens. An anti-sexist lens. An LGTBQIA+ affirming lens.

We must consistently in all places and in all times commit to ensure the dignity of every human is not only respected but truly valued. As Richard Lischer writes in The Preacher King: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Word that Moved America, “This understanding of full humanity lies at the heart of King’s efforts to develop the Beloved Community.”

The season of Lent is an opportunity for us to turn back to God, again. To recall the story of God’s liberative love as modeled in the life and ministry of Jesus. To have the courage and humility to ask powerful questions of ourselves as followers of Jesus and as the church, with the intention of living truly transformed lives and to be the church.

Regardless of whether you thrive in crowds or in quietude - at some point we all need rest. We all need to practice self-care to be our best selves. Self-care evangelist Katie Reed says, “Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”

Family, as we enter into the seasonal observation of Lent (for those who engage in this faith practice), in the spaces and places that we occupy in our towns, our cities, our states, our countries, and our worlds, juxtaposed with the multiple pandemics that are currently still occurring in our lives, I suggest we reflect upon what fits and doesn’t fit in our lives.

It’s a helpful reminder during this Lenten season that the popular act of giving something up was designed to create room in the heart, mind and soul. Creating room within ourselves is an intentional practice of preparation. Preparation so that we may be transformed by the resurrecting power of God.

Rev. Jason Carson Wilson, CRS’ inaugural Bayard Rustin Fellow, interviewed University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) journalism professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning former Washington Post Reporter, Leon Dash, about spending time with Timuel Black during Mr. Black’s last days, as well as Dash’s storied career as a Black journalist. Watch the recording.

“Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it.”

Thank you for sharing in the struggle for freedom, inclusion and love alongside Community Renewal Society throughout the year. May you be inspired with Advent hope, love, joy and peace this season and beyond.

The good news of Advent is the hope, love, joy and peace of the season. It is all wrapped up in the greatest gift of all times, the gift of Jesus. Advent reminds me that even through my trials and tribulations, Jesus is still the center of my joy.

See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

Part of what makes Christmas so special is that it’s different from other days. Our celebrations are marked by surprise. Our children spend Advent wondering what’s underneath that wrapping paper. Christmas morning brings the joy of discovery. Who knows what the gifts will be?

The angel Gabriel told Mary that she would have a son and that she was to name him Emmanuel. His birth would be an Immaculate Conception. The baby would be the son of the most high God and become the spirit of a faith that has transcended countless generations.

This year has been challenging. We were all anxious for 2021 after the sobering and sinister effects of 2020 and the global pandemic that continues to plague us. Instead, we began 2021 with one of the most outrageous attacks ever leveled against our government. The January 6th assault on Congress was repulsive to watch.