Even during this time of great challenge, love, peace, hope and the arts live on at Grace. We’re sharing beautiful moments from our archives to remind us of the strength and joy in our community.
As we begin a new month, the world feels full of fear and uncertainty. COVID-19 might be new, but the problems it presents us with are not. Context is key and it can give us the hope and understanding we need to navigate the weeks ahead.
Last March, we hosted Dr. Larry Brilliant at The Forum. Our aptly named guest played a key role in eradicating smallpox – a pandemic disease that killed 300 million people in the 20th century alone. He is also the co-founder of one of the first digital social networks, The Well, and currently the chair of the organization Ending Pandemics.
In his March 10, 2019 conversation with Dean Malcolm Clemens Young, Brilliant reflected on the nature of pandemics and the challenges in fighting past and future diseases. He also shared a message of unity and hope, explaining that “in order to eradicate the worst disease in human history, it took not just a village. It took a planet.”
Dr. Brilliant also reminds that “you can’t conquer any global disease without everybody on the globe working together.” So, while we maintain safe physical distances, there are still other ways we can come together to build community and battle this disease.
As always, we invite you to stay connected with Grace through our online events, blog and social media and especially our online Holy Week services, beginning with a live streamed Palm Sunday service this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. We’ll also be hosting our first ever online Forum with African playwright Awoye Timpo, who will discuss issues of beauty and self-worth that face teenage girls across the globe, on Wednesday, April 15 at 6:00 p.m.
You can listen to the entire conversation between Dean Malcom and Dr. Larry Brilliant here and explore all our past Forums here.
Thanks for sheltering at home and stay safe.