Faith

Remarks to the Cary Town Council from Rev. Melinda Merkley King, transitional pastor at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church

Hello Cary Town Council and fellow members of the Cary Community. I am Melinda Merkley King, and I currently serve as transitional pastor at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Cary. Our congregation would certainly supply willing workers for this project should it be approved.

Each year, the board of every Habitat for Humanity organization in the country will sign the Affiliate Covenant -- the foundational document of Habitat. This simple, yet profound document has guided the Habitat movement for 48 years. Annually reflecting on the Covenant helps to keep our powerful theology alive.

Habitat for Humanity International is a global Christian housing ministry. At home dedications all over the world, we have a tradition of presenting a Bible to the homebuyers.

We have this tradition because the founders of Habitat started this ministry based on what they read in the pages of the Bible.​​​​ They were convinced that Jesus was radically inclusive, ​​​​​​and so should we be.  

Reflection by Steve LaSala, Habitat Coordinator at Beth Meyer Synagogue an architect of the Interfaith Build

Good morning, and welcome to this year's Habitat Wake Interfaith Build.  We are all here because we believe that our duty to God and the practice of our faith traditions encourage it.  But I'd like to spend a little time going deeper into those notions.

Ask a child what they want for their birthday, and you might hear some similar answers: maybe a Lego set or an art project, maybe a new soccer ball or video game. But not for nine-year-old Cora June. This year, she had a different wish: to host a lemonade stand and raise money for Habitat.

CJ spent a 95° birthday weekend selling lemonade and orangeade in her neighborhood and at her grandparents’ congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, a Habitat Faith Partner of at least 10 years.

Houses are important but we advocate for people. Each house is more than a structure of wood, sheetrock, and nails. Each represents the real lives of the people living in them, where new starts take place and hopes for the future are born.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. Participating in the Interfaith Coalition with my brothers and sisters is truly a highlight of my year. The love that exudes from the Interfaith Build is an inspiration to me.

Our spiritual teacher and master, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, teaches us that the goal of human life is to realize our innate divinity and the divinity of all creation. He says Unity is Divinity and to attain this, He gave four divine commandments – Love All, Serve All, Help Ever, and Hurt Never.

We are here at Old Poole Place this afternoon because of our commitment to the vision of the Beloved Community to which each of our faith traditions is called to respond.  

Reflection presented at the kick-off ceremony for the Spring Flowers Place Faith Build on February 24, 2024. Written by: Rev. Asa Bell, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church