By Sharon Watkins on
4/27/2012 9:04 PM
Here is the prayer I offered at the memorial service for Bill Nichols. Opening Prayer Memorial Service for C. William “Bill” Nichols April 25, 2012 Sharon E. Watkins O God, You are our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. We give you thanks that we can come together this morning – family, friends, church family, in the shelter of your healing love to express grief and to face emptiness, and to know that you love us. Dear God, we confess it is difficult to mark the end of a lifetime. But it is also right that we celebrate the gift of life as it has come in a particular person. In so doing, we offer our gratitude to you, O God of Creation -- for all that you have given. We give you thanks that we can gather as your children, to comfort and support one another in a time of loss -- and to share words of hope to lighten our sadness, to take away the sting of death. And so we gather...
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By Sharon Watkins on
4/27/2012 8:59 PM
We’ve lost some leaders recently. Here is my reflection a few weeks ago at the memorial service for Dr. William C. "Bill” Howland. William C. Howland A Reflection by Sharon E. Watkins April 7, 2012 It is an honor to be here today to share in this time of remembrance with family and friends of William Charles Howland, Jr., and to celebrate and give thanks for the life of this gifted child of God. I bring greetings on behalf of a grateful Church, with whom you shared your husband and father for so many years. As I think about Bill Howland, the phrase that keeps popping into my head is “larger than life.” I don’t know if people talk that way outside of novels, but to me, Bill Howland was just that – larger than life! When he entered a room – no – Bill didn’t just “enter” a room. When he swept into a room – you knew it. And not in an “oh, look at me” kind of a way. Not at all. No, he possessed such a joyful energy, such a love...
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By Sharon Watkins on
3/23/2012 10:48 AM
As a mother of a young man who played football, my heart breaks every time I see the picture of Trayvon Martin in his football uniform. I have a dozen such pictures still on my fridge and in photograph albums, pictures taken as I watched my little boy grow into a man. When I think that Trayvon’s mother will not have that same joy, I am overwhelmed with sadness. She, especially, and all those who love Trayvon are in my prayers. In my prayers as well are the Zimmermans, the police and the entire community of Sanford, Florida.
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By Sharon Watkins on
3/20/2012 12:05 PM
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in the second anniversary celebration of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative. It took place in Florida and began with a gathering of “Let’s Move: Faith and Community” at Northland Church: a Church Distributed. Joel Hunter (a Christian Theological Seminary graduate) is pastor there. I was asked to give brief remarks and an opening prayer. Here is what I said:
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By Sharon Watkins on
3/12/2012 6:34 AM
Rev. Dr. Billye Pinkston Bridges Light of the World Christian Church; February 25, 2012 The Rev. Dr. Billye Pinkston Bridges came to see me in my office one day. I already knew by that time that she was a gentle, sweet, kind servant of the Lord. She’d already greeted me countless times with her magnificent smile, her quiet high five, her warm hug. In so many quick moments of passing each other – in the lobby, in the elevator, in the hall – she had surrounded me with the enveloping compassion of her spirit.
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