A Fitting Tribute: Remembering the Story of Faith and Justice from my Elder. An Advent Sermon

Beloved Elder and Ancestor, you influence us still

Yesterday,

Facebook reminded me

As we now have,

So many apps

Reminding us,

Of important days,

That there were several people

In my life,

Whose celebration of their birth

Into our collective and global realities

Was that day

(pause)

One of those,

Happened to be a beloved Elder

And mentor

In my life

The Rev. Dr. Albert ‘Pete’ Pero

Or

Papa Pete,

As those of us,

Who were blessed

And lucky

To be close to him

Affectionately referred to him.

Me and Papa Pete at the beginning of my Seminary journey, 2011

Papa Pete,

Was one of the first