On Reading Malcolm X’s Autobiography on the 101st anniversary of his birth

Seven recommended habits for white folk like me
designed to breach the wall of racism

 Ken Sehested

Prelude. “Come on and raise your voice above the raging seas / We can't hold our breath forever / When our brothers cannot breathe / Come on and raise your voice above the raging seas / We can't hold our breath forever / When our sisters cannot breathe.” —“All Good People,” Delta Rae 

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On graduations, as rights of passage

Ken Sehested

Unlike traditional cultures (mostly of the past), Western modernity has few common “rites of passage,” typically during the transition of adolescence from childhood to adulthood. Getting a driver’s license is our substitute, along with school graduations. What follows are two pieces of adaptable commentary.

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al-Nakba

Meditation on Israel, Palestine, and the calculus of power

Ken Sehested

Prelude. “Adonai (Psalm 113:3).” —Hebrew and Arab voices, must by Nathaniel Bassey: “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised"  

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Ascension deficit disorder

A meditation on the Feast of the Ascension

Ken Sehested

Prelude. “Lord we praise you / All things were created by you / Everything, everything, all things.” —translation of "Tsohle Tsohle" (“Everything is Everything”), performed by Abel Selaocoe, Bernhard Schimpelsberger, and the Aurora Orchestra 

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I am, I said

Editor’s introduction. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly declared (as recently as a week ago) his intent to “take Cuba” after crushing Venezuelan sovereignty and attempting the same to Iran. Stan Dotson, along with his spouse, Kim Christman, have lived in Cuba for the past 12 years. They serve as associate pastors at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Havana. Dotson’s sermon is based on Jesus’ declaration, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (See the bottom of this sermon for more context regarding US-Cuba relations.)

Sermon by Stan Dotson
Circle of Mercy Congregation
May 3, 2026
Text: John 14:1-14

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Marking the official end of the Vietnam War

Ken Sehested

Introduction

Today, 30 April, is the anniversary of the official end of the Vietnam War (1975). Though it was never officially a “war,” since the US Congress, according to explicit Constitutional directive, is the only authority to declare such.

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The Earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work

For Earth Day:
Biblical texts which reveal the non-human parts of creation
responding to God’s presence, provision and purpose.

Ken Sehested

Prelude. “Salvation is created, in the midst of the earth, O God, O our God. Alleluia.” —translation of “Spaséñiy, sodélal” (“Salvation is Created” from Ps. 74), Pavel Chesnokov, performed by National Lutheran Choir

Call to worship. “Freedom is the world’s water / and weather, the world’s nourishment / freely given, its soil and sap: / and the creator loves pizzazz.” —Annie Dillard, “Annie Dillard On God, Earth, and Freedom”

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Contagious resurrection

(resurrectus contagio)

Ken Sehested

Prelude. “Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 ‘Adagio.’” —J.S. Bach, performed by Alexei Ogrintchouk & Sinfonietta Rīga

Invocation. “Coax us back to Jerusalem’s turmoil, where Heaven contends with Earth’s remorse, where the promise of forgiveness confronts the knots of enmity, where danger’s threat is met with the Spirit’s assurance that one day public good shall supplant private privilege, when the tyranny of might over right will end, when all tears will be dried and death itself comes undone.” —excerpt from “An Emmaen prayer

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