Pray on MLK | Dinner & Dialogue
August 28, 2022
SHOW UP
BE CHANGED
BEAR WITNESS
Welcome to the Pray on MLK event page. The event has ended, but the work has not. You can still show up on Martin Luther King Drive in your city and be changed by walking through the Pray on MLK guide:
Our liturgy for incarnational engagement.
United as One Voice, on One Day, to pray for
One Dream, for the glory of One king, Jesus!
We are gathering for the 59th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech. Together, we will stand for one hour of prayerful protest to express our legitimate discontent with the racial injustice, poverty, and division still present in our cities. With a one-word silent prayer written on white tape, we will intercede for the sweltering heat of bitterness, hatred, and inequity to be transformed into a spiritual, cultural, and economic oasis. We'll then gather for dinner & dialogue.
**Registration is required to attend. Register your party by Saturday, August 20, 2022.
Where?
We'll meet at the corner of Martin Luther King Dr. & S. New Braunfels Ave. (Near Pittman-Sullivan Park) at 6:00 p.m. Dinner & Dialogue will be held at Ball Hoggs BBQ immediately following prayer at 7:15 p.m.
Why an Hour of Silence?
The hour of silence is an act of humility. We need grace to momentarily silence our voices so we can hear the heart of God through one another. We need grace to be changed and become a catalyst for transformation in our communities. We'll end our silent protest by gathering to sing "Amazing Grace" on behalf of those still waiting for their voices to be heard.
Why the Language of Protest?
We use the language of protest in remembrance and connection to those who initially heard "The Dream" and protested with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington in 1963. Oxford English Dictionary defines protest as "a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something." To live as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God is to remain in humble yet courageous objection to prevailing cultural norms, demonic systems of oppression, and all forms of evil that stand against the Good News of the Kingdom that Jesus preached and announced when He declared, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come." Luke 4:18-19 NLT
Why Are We Eating Together?
Eating together points to our collective hope that every need among us and in our communities would be met. Hunger is a shared physical experience unique to no one.
Who is Invited?
This event is open to all. However, gathering at the table together requires humility to be present within each of us.
Our Hope & Prayer:
We are praying for a mighty flood of justice and an endless river of righteousness. That God would purify our lips and change our hearts and give us grace to share pain with our brothers and sisters. We pray for local businesses to thrive, innovative ideas, and equitable systems that benefit San Antonio's East Side.
Guidelines for Dinner & Dialogue:
We will send out our "gathering covenant" for Dinner & Dialogue the week of the event and will include any essential details. So please keep an eye out for our communication.
**Event Sponsor or Generous Donations Needed**
We're excited to support Ball Hoggs BBQ, locally owned by Hubert "Street" Brown. At Ball Hoggs BBQ, Street is providing employment, mentorship, and training to the kids on the East Side. According to Street, "We're changing the kids lives and that's more than money."
We need generous donors to cover the cost of this event (Dinner for all will be around $450). To donate click here or email Gabrielle Leonard at gabrielle@returningtojoy.com