Fierce Freedom February
At Middle, we don’t just celebrate Black people in February, because the gospel isn’t a month-by-month calling. Antiracism is a daily practice; lifting up the beauty and brilliance of our Black siblings is crucial in a country that denigrates Blackness. Moreover, this work isn’t just a sociological calling, it’s a theological one. We cannot know and love a God who chose to enter the world embodied and ontologically Black, without knowing and loving the present incarnations of that divinity in our midst.
That said, in Black History Month, we offer special opportunities to be intentional in this work. This year, in light of the deaths of creative luminaries like Sir Sidney Poitier and André Leon Talley, we’re going to particularly focus on honoring the artistic contributions of Black people to American culture. The centerpiece of this programming will be our new series “For the Love of Black Cinema,” where we will watch and discuss four of Poitier’s films together. But you’ll also see this emphasis across our worship celebrations, prayer meetings and social media feeds.
In the midst of concerted legislative efforts to slap new faces on the same Jim Crow, we hope you’ll join us in proclaiming a different vision for how this nation can be.
Black History Month Programs (All Times ET):
Tuesday, February 1, 6:00 p.m.: Queer Body Language hosted by Queer Black Men in the Middle
Wednesday, February 2, 8:00 a.m.: Pray to Rise
Wednesday, February 2, 6:00 p.m.: Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis at Ebenezer Baptist Church — “What Does It Mean to Love Without Fear?”
Sunday, February 6, 10:00 a.m.: Voter Reform Project
Sunday, February 6: 11:45 a.m.: Worship Celebration
Sunday, February 6, 1:00 p.m.: Middle Out Loud
Monday, February 7, 7:00 p.m.: For the Love of Black Stories
Tuesday, February 8, 5:45 p.m.: Reparations Task Force
Wednesday, February 9, 8:00 a.m.: Pray to Rise
Wednesday, February 9, 7:30 p.m.: Queer Black Men in the Middle
Thursday, February 10, 6:00 p.m.: Young Adults Small Group
Sunday, February 13, 11:45 a.m.: Worship Celebration
Sunday, February 13, 1:00 p.m.: Blessed Are the Antiracist: For They Shall Dismantle the System
Monday, February 14, 12:00 p.m.: Rev. Dr. Lewis Live on Instagram with Cree Myles — “All Ways Black”
Monday, February 14, 1:00 p.m.: Rejoice and Rise ’22: A Body Love Uprising
Monday, February 14, 7:00 p.m.: For the Love of Black Stories
Wednesday, February 16, 8:00 a.m.: Pray to Rise
Wednesday, February 16, 7:00 p.m.: Rising to Freedom with LaTosha Brown & Lisa Sharon Harper
Thursday, February 17, 7:30 p.m.: Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis at Pittsburgh Seminary — Wise Women
Friday, February 18, 7:30 p.m.: Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis at Georgetown University — Fierce Love (Link to Come)
Sunday, February 20, 10:00 a.m.: Voter Reform Project
Sunday, February 20, 11:45 a.m.: Worship Celebration
Monday, February 21, 7:00 p.m.: For the Love of Black Stories
Wednesday, February 23, 8:00 a.m.: Pray to Rise
Wednesday, February 23, 7:30 p.m.: Queer Black Men in the Middle
Sunday, February 27, 10:00 a.m.: Revolutionary Parenting
Sunday, February 27, 11:45 a.m.: Worship Celebration
Sunday, February 27, 1:00 p.m.: Young Adults Small Group
Monday, February 28, 8:00 p.m.: For the Love of Black Stories