#Tunesday: “Happy Birthday” by Stevie Wonder

The Universe Is Watching Us
Here Is What I Know About The King Holiday pic.twitter.com/bpGJnpNtsu

— Stevie Wonder (@StevieWonder) January 16, 2023

If you’ve never heard the song that Stevie Wonder created to further the cause of making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a national holiday, listen to it below.

“Happy Birthday” is a song written, produced and performed by Stevie Wonder for the Motown label. Wonder, a social activist, was one of the main figures in the campaign to have the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. become a national holiday, and created this single to promulgate the cause. – Wikipedia

Lyrics:

You know it doesn’t make much sense
There ought to be a law against
Anyone who takes offense
At a day in your celebration ’cause we all know in our minds
That there ought to be a time
That we can set aside
To show just how much we love you
And I’m sure you would agree
What could fit more perfectly
Than to have a world party on the day you came to be
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
I just never understood
How a man who died for good
Could not have a day that would
Be set aside for his recognition
Because it should never be
Just because some cannot see
The dream as clear as he
That they should make it become an illusion
And we all know everything
That he stood for time will bring
For in peace, our hearts will sing
Thanks to Martin Luther King
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Why has there never been a holiday
Where peace is celebrated
All throughout the world
The time is overdue
For people like me and you
Who know the way to truth
Is love and unity to all God’s children
It should be a great event
And the whole day should be spent
In full remembrance
Of those who lived and died for the oneness of all people
So let us all begin
We know that love can win
Let it out, don’t hold it in
Sing it loud as you can
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Ooh yeah
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
We know the key to unity of all people
Is in the dream that you had so long ago
That lives in all of the hearts of people
That believe in unity
We’ll make the dream become a reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday

Epiphany Sermon 2023, “Shining Hope” by Rev. Dr. Sherrie Connelly

View on YouTube. Subtitles (Closed Captioning) available.

In addition…

“The magi were a Median Kurdish priestly caste, or tribe who rose to prominence in Ancient Persia.” –https://goldcountrymedia.com/news/71455/just-who-were-the-three-wise-men-from-the-east/

The magi were a Median Kurdish priestly caste or tribe who rose to prominence in Ancient Persia.”Matthew’s wise men, or magi–the only word of Persian origin in the original Greek Bible were evidently priests of Zoroastrianism, which was the official religion of Persia…” nytimes 

#Tunesday: Freedom Land @MelanieDeMore & @vocalessencemn

Enjoy this musical reflection of Melanie DeMore leading VocalEssence to continue celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day. When some of us are not free, no one is truly free. Let us do what we can to ensure freedom for all people. Be useful, and live goodness and truth every day.

#Tunesday #ThereWasALittleBaby @Raffi_RC

#FridayFeeling Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings.

Blessing Cards from our Harvest Feast 2019

Since heaven comes from the human race, then, and since heaven is living with the Lord forever, it follows that this was the Lord’s goal for creation. . . . The Lord did not create the universe for his own sake but for the sake of people he would be with in heaven. By its very nature, spiritual love wants to share what it has with others, and to the extent that it can do so, it is totally present, experiencing its peace and bliss. Spiritual love gets this quality from the Lord’s divine love, which is like this in infinite measure. It then follows that divine love (and therefore divine providence) has the goal of a heaven made up of people who have become angels and are becoming angels, people with whom it can share all the bliss and joy of love and wisdom, giving them these blessings from the Lord’s own presence within them. He cannot help doing this, because his image and likeness is in us from creation. (Divine Providence §27:2)

#TuesdayTip: Ways to be #Helpful

If you are looking for a way to give a gift this holiday season, many organizations look for assistance during this busy time of year.

You can join The New Church of Montgomery in these, our current efforts:

1. Bringing breakfast to Bethany House on Saturday, December 2, 2017
2. Operation Giveback‘s Holiday Store, December 15 & 16, 2017

Please contact newchurchofmontgomery@gmail.com to let us know in what way you’d like to be involved.

Opportunities arise throughout the year. The website volunteermatch.org is a great way to find places/availabilities in your area.