Join us for two special Black History Month events at
St. John’s Church Waterloo
We are delighted to be a part of the Black History Month Exploring Spirit programme at the stunning, newly renovated St. John’s Church in Waterloo.
We have two MLK focussed events and both events are free but booking is essential. The first event is MLK’s final Christmas Sermon, 1967. It’s relevance to the climate emergency, with war as a metaphor for climate chaos, is explored in our latest blog.
We hope you may be able to join us.
Dionne, Deb & Ho-Chih
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SUNDAY 22ND OCTOBER 5pm-7pm Martin Luther King’s Christmas Sermon: A Legacy
A live reading and reimagining of Dr. King’s final Christmas sermon followed by discussion.
With Christmas approaching, we dig deeper into this sermon’s legacy from a climate justice perspective. How do racial injustice, colonialism, militarism, and climate change continue to intersect?
Titled “Peace on Earth,” Dr. Martin Luther King delivered what was to be his final Christmas sermon on Christmas Eve 1967. King considers a world rattled by the threat of war, challenging us to strive instead for peace and unity and to embrace a nonviolent approach to solving conflict.
Reading the sermon for us, we are honoured to have actors Adjoa Andoh (directed and starred as Richard II at The Globe; Lady Danbury in Bridgerton; Barbara Masekela in Invictus) and Paterson Joseph (Othello, Julius Caesar, The Beach). His 2022 debut novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho won the 2023 Christopher Bland Prize awarded by the Royal Society of Literature.
Following on from the performance there will be a discussion.
War as metaphor for Climate Change: how racial injustice, colonialism, militarism and climate change intersect
Joining the discussion will be author and broadcaster Professor Robert Beckford; Director of Faith for the Climate, Dr Shanon Shah; international development & ecumenical partnerships specialist Dionne Gravesande; and Adjoa Andoh will join the discussion also.
Full biographies are here
This is a free event, but booking is necessary. Tickets here
St John’s Church, Waterloo, 73 Waterloo Road London SE1 8TY
THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER 5.30pm
King: A Filmed Record….From Montgomery to Memphis
An outstanding academy award nominated documentary from 1969 that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968.
Constructed from a wealth of archival footage, this film is a monumental documentary that follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 1955 to 1968, in his rise from regional activist to world-renowned leader of the Civil Rights movement. Rare footage of King’s speeches, protests, and arrests are interspersed with scenes of other high-profile supporters and opponents of the cause, punctuated by heartfelt testimonials by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The film is an utterly immersive, unforgettable experience.
After the film we will have a short conversation/reflection led by Wale Hudson-Roberts, the Baptist Union’s Racial Justice Coordinator. Wale is based in Oxfordshire, has extensive ecumenical involvement and is an experienced mentor of church leaders of various traditions. Over many years, Wale has written and spoken extensively about Dr King’s work and legacy: from reparation and economic justice to the relevance of Dr King for the climate movement.
NOTE: The film is 3 hours in length with an interval. We will also take a short break between the film ending and discussion starting. Discussion will start after the film ends.
This is a free event, but booking is necessary. Tickets here
St John’s Church, Waterloo, 73 Waterloo Road London SE1 8TY
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The full ‘Exploring Spirit’ programme is here
https://faithfortheclimate.org.uk/events/exploring-spirit-uk-black-history-month-and-interfaith-week/
MLK Global 