We continued to collect pins from participants this year and have an updated map. The Body of Christ is truly gathered in one virtual space all over the world.

Now, let’s take a closer look at today’s events.
Thursday of the Festival of Homiletics was a day of prophetic proclamation! Some participants kept the Twitterverse apprised of their favorite moments:
When Melva Sampson both preached and engaged in a Q & A with Karoline Lewis, you shared:
We celebrate the empty tomb because it contradicts a foul system.
— Carrying trauma for as long as I can remember (@ReverendKimB) May 20, 2021
Dr. Melva Sampson #Homiletics2021
What does the future of the church/preaching matter when the future of marginalized people is being snuffed out? Rising is Disruption. We MUST preach the rising. Dr Melva Sampson is bringing the word into this place. #homiletics2021
— Julie Kelly (@missofdivinity) May 20, 2021
Melva Sampson tells #Homiletics2021 attendees how she still finds herself in a grief-stricken state, like Mary Magdalene, standing outside the empty tomb, neither rejoicing nor shouting, but weeping, sobbing, lamenting in a world that seems to have taken away her Lord. pic.twitter.com/fIXowNdlTP
— Friends Journal (@friendsjournal) May 20, 2021
During her Q & A Dr. Sampson claimed that “the Church (because of the pandemic) is more ‘pliable’ and not restricted to location” and described “digital hush harbors” where we preach to each other, engaging the text together, not putting it all on the one preacher.
Author and activist Kaitlin Curtice presented a lecture on authentic storytelling based on her 2020 book Native, and led a workshop for those with premium access on decolonizing our faith. Here’s what stood out to you:
"There is no more time. " @KaitlinCurtice preaching the need to pay attention NOW. To tend to the collective and live into epiphany. #homiletics2021
— Julie Kelly (@missofdivinity) May 20, 2021
I could listen to @KaitlinCurtice talk all day. So much humility, wisdom, and love in her words! Such an important word for the church. Learn your story, tell your stories, and listen to the stories of others. #Homiletics2021
— Matt Gorkos (@RevGork) May 20, 2021
It's great to see @KaitlinCurtice, the author of Native, speaking at #Homiletics2021 this afternoon. "Decolonization is lifelong work," she reminds us. "It's seasonal work; it's cyclical work… It's important to consider that this is a journey." pic.twitter.com/76QNgxMwJa
— Friends Journal (@friendsjournal) May 20, 2021
William Lamar IV’s premium lecture evoked multiple responses on Twitter:
"The Church is not called to preach only to itself," @WilliamHLamarIV exhorts the #Homiletics2021 audience. "Our speech, like our God, is not for Christians only." pic.twitter.com/frsVtmaUyM
— Friends Journal (@friendsjournal) May 20, 2021
O Lord! I’m listening to @WilliamHLamarIV teaching at #Homiletics2021 in a public space on my earbuds. And people are looking at me because I’m clapping, snapping, and hooting before I catch myself. Thank you, Bill!
— Michael Wilker (@RevWilker) May 20, 2021
"Preaching never happens on neutral ground."
— David Harris (@PastorDLHJr) May 20, 2021
Rev. Lamar IV is planting some good words at #Homiletics2021
Otis Moss III made many participants feel seen and included:
#Wehavenothingtolose #Homiletics2021
— Julie Freeman (@grammy_jules) May 20, 2021
"You've got to question the boxes that others created for you." Otherwise, @om3 says, you'll end up participating in your own restriction. But, like the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment, we can choose not to let other people set boundaries on our life. #Homiletics2021 pic.twitter.com/CdmeEA7ziY
— Friends Journal (@friendsjournal) May 20, 2021
Jesus elevates her above all the disciples and calls the woman "daughter." He gives her authority in that moment! "Midwives, Daughters, Mothers, will be the ones who save the people." She is a daughter of the KING and God has said so. @om3 #homiletics2021
— Julie Kelly (@missofdivinity) May 20, 2021
We got to listen in on the first Working Preacher Books podcast with Walter Brueggeman
"Imagination is the capacity to hold onto a world that isn’t the world right in front of us." – Brueggemann #Homiletics2021
— Matt Gorkos (@RevGork) May 20, 2021
FInally, they might not have been tweeting, but check out the Facebook thread of pet pics, supporting their humans as they participated in the Festival today:
https://www.facebook.com/festhomiletics/photos/a.330651910927/10159147549250928
As the day comes to a close, which songs are still ringing in your ears from the virtual hymn sing, led by the Fleshpots of Egypt?