BLACK HISTORY MONTH
What Is Black History Month?
Black History Month is an annual February celebration honoring the achievements and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. Started as “Negro History Week” by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926, it recognizes Black Americans’ central role in shaping our nation’s story – from arts and culture to social justice movements.
Black History Month Events
Join us at First Plymouth Church as we celebrate Black History Month through special worship, guest preachers, music, poetry, art, movies, education, and forums!
At First Plymouth Congregational Church, we recognize that the path toward racial healing requires both celebrating Black excellence and confronting systemic racism – work we engage in year-round as we strive to create opportunities for all people to reach their full potential.
Ways to Honor Black History Month
- Support Black-owned businesses in Denver
- Contribute to charitable organizations
- Volunteer your time and talent
- Educate yourself on Black history
- Celebrate Black leaders and visionaries in your field
Recent Sermons on Black History Month
Minister’s Meditations
It is a rare February when we get the opportunity to celebrate Black History Month in full! It happens every three years and 2025 happens to be one of them!
The CE CAM, Racial Equity CAM, Outreach, the pastors and more gathered together to create a program for Black History Month that creates continuity between worship, faith and spiritual formation, some of our small groups and the social justice work we engage in. We are excited for what a deep dive into honoring Black History Month will bring to First Plymouth!
This year the national theme is African American Labour. We will follow that theme as well. For me, labour, is broad, especially when we are reflecting upon Spirit and spiritual labour. During worship we will be honoring a variety of ways in which we engage faith and spiritual formation and expression – the labour of God. The voices of our African American siblings will guide us in this reflection.
As we begin Black History Month, it is important that we have a good grounding in understanding liberation theology, especially Black Liberation Theology. Liberation theology looks at our Sacred texts and God’s movement in the world from the point of view of the marginalized and oppressed. Liberation theology flips the world upside down, as Jesus did, reminding us consistently that God and Jesus walk with the marginalized and oppressed; that God moves in this world to bring freedom and liberation to those who are being oppressed and marginalized. It is a powerful theological lens that calls out the corruption of those in power and seeks to amplify the voice of the voiceless, the marginalized, the oppressed, the dismissed in our society and world.
As we reflect upon and deepen our understanding of Black Liberation Theology, we will bring in the voice of Rev Dr James Cone, father of Black Liberation Theology, to aid us in our understanding.
With ourselves grounded in the work of liberation theology, we will continue to celebrate and honor the gifts that our black siblings of faith have offered and taught the Christian Church. Rev Derek Terry, in his e-newsletter this week, share a quote from Frederick Douglas: “I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs!” This quote, this legacy of resistance can be traced powerfully through the history of the Black Church. This legacy of resistance is the foundation of Black Liberation Theology.
In worship on February 9th we will explore the legacy of resistance through the concept of “Holy Troublemaking.” We will honor the lives of those who taught us what Holy Troublemaking is and why God desires us to engage in praying with our legs. We will look specifically at the life and ministry of Bayard Rustin and his impact in the Civil Rights Movement. Our children will lead us in this exploration!
Another legacy and gift that has come to us through the voices of our black siblings and the Black Church is a powerfully transformative expression of art and music. From poetry, to visual arts, to spirituals, to gospel to rap, the voice of the black artist places of mirror before us, asking us to reflect upon the systems of oppression that continue to harm our world. On Sunday February 16, we will bring those voices into our worship experience. Come and listen to poetry. Be moved by song and music. Sit in the stillness reflecting upon the mirror that is being held before you. Allow Spirit to shift in you a place of hardness, a place within you that is connected to the systems of racism and oppression that our world is so deeply engrained and entrenched in.
Finally, on the last week of Black History Month we will have the honor to worship with Rev Dr Lee Butler, President of Iliff. I am confident that he will bring a powerful Word to us, bringing together our honoring and celebrating Black History Month and challenging us to recommit ourselves to the pathway of racial justice!
As a predominately white congregation, Black History Month is an opportunity for all of us to consciously chose to re-engage in our work as anti-racist allies. Let us Center fully the voice of our African American siblings and celebrate fully the legacy of Justice grounded in liberation theology.
Especially this year, let us open our hearts to be transformed and hear how God is calling us to stand against racism in our church, in our country and in our world.
So that we may all be One.
Pastor Jocelyn