2CFAR Community churches host united worship event
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This year's 2CFAR community service will be held at the Breeden Insurance Amphitheater, 333 S Main St, Lexington, on July 31 at 4 p.m.
Attendees are requested to bring blankets or chairs, and if necessary, umbrellas. Several churches will supply water. Food trucks may be available.
This event began when a group of people from St. Stephen United Methodist Church, First and Second Reform United Churches of Christ and Shadyside Presbyterian Church came together to talk about what they could do in the East of Lexington.
While inviting people of other ethnicities, the group discovered that everyone had more in common than they did in differences. From there, the 2CFAR formed, which stands for Crucial Conversations on Faith and Race. That same group got together and had a great idea of taking one Sunday out of the year where everyone worshiped together.
This year, on July 31 at the aforementioned Breeden Amphitheater, there will be a variety of people, music and clergy speakers. The venue allows a common space for the community.
Pastor Ray Howell of First Baptist will be a speaker at this year's 2CFAR. “I think anytime we can have a community event that represents a lot of diversity, that is one of the best things we can do to create unity…A problem we have so much in our world is that we are always focused on what makes us different and this is a way for us to focus on what unites us."
Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. The team highly encourages young people to attend, whether they be college, high school or even elementary school students. At 2CFAR, they can be a collective voice for faith and race.
They will also be collecting school supplies for Lexington City Schools. It is an opportunity to be a part of the community and help.
“We’re hoping this will give the community a chance to get to know your neighbors, no matter what side of town they live in, no matter the color of their skin, educational background, social-economic status, just get to know your neighbors,” Pastor Dr. Arnetta Beverly explained.
“What I would love to see, is a willingness to engage in some of the hard questions on a very conversational and personal level. I think part of what we’re leaving with is inviting folks to make a commitment… that we want to seek racial reconciliation and racial justice in this community. And we want this service to empower us to go and to do that,” Pastor Elizabeth Horton added.
