Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III | "Dancing in this Darkness: A Call for Uncommon Courage" 6PM 07/05/26

Main message: The congregation is called to "dance in this darkness" — to answer a call to uncommon courage by trusting God, decolonizing their minds and imaginations, and persistently working for renewal and justice. The preacher applies Joshua's charge to a new generation and urges organized resistance to contemporary injustices (including surveillance/war profiteering).

Key points:

• Using Frederick Douglass as example, courage means speaking truth in dark times and choosing conviction over comfort.
• Joshua 1:5–9 frames the sermon: God commands the new generation to "be strong and courageous" as the work of the ancestors hands off to them.
• Decolonize mind and imagination: reject internalized negativity about community, rehearse a vision of renewal (spiritual muscle memory), and imagine local assets rather than blight.
• Persistence and spiritual practices: meditate on Scripture, encourage yourself and others, and sustain faithfulness even amid fear.
• Contemporary application: expose and resist harmful systems (Palantir, predictive policing, data centers) through education, organization, and moral action; adopt an Ubuntu ethic.

Scriptures mentioned: Joshua 1:5-9, Ephesians 6:12, Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 40:31, Proverbs 3:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:13