TO MY REGULAR READERS... I POSTED 2 CHURCHES THIS WEEK (#'S 39 AND 40!)... THE ONE FOR GOOD FRIDAY, FOLLOWS THIS ONE.
WHERE I WENT AND WHY
On this Holiest day in the Christian church year, I decided to join my neighbors and members of 6 churches in Romare Bearden Park for a community Sunrise service.
WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO
This community service is a tradition in the city and is now hosted in one of our newest parks. At 6:30 am parking is not a problem in uptown and dress was dressy to church casual. The main requirement was shaking the "sleepys" off and getting there for sunrise.
Coffee did the trick.
REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP
MOOD
The mood was a little sleepy, but joyous and welcoming. The diversity of the churches represented and the neighbors who gathered was heartwarming. I wondered if we could be heard in the adjoining apartments and thought what a positive witness it was to see about 200 neighbors gather at dawn to rejoice at Easter.
MUSIC
The music was lead by a small choir representing the six churches. A keyboardist from St. Luke's Missionary Baptist was excellent.
MESSAGE
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| Rev. Pen Peery (1st Presbyterian), Rev, John Cleghorn (Caldwell Presbyterian), Rev Dennis Foust (St. John's Baptist), Rev. James Thomas (Grier Heights Presbyterian), Rev. Joe Clifford (Myers Park Presbyterian, and Rev. Clifford Matthews (St. Like's Missionary Baptist) |
Rev. John Cleghorn (see blog #2) of Caldwell Presbyterian set the tone for peace, social justice and diversity by welcoming us to the service before the familiar reading from John. He recognized that our city was not at peace in September but that we are learning to come together with authenticity.
Dr. Dennis Foust of St. John's Baptist church gave the main message and framed it, as does the Gospel of John, in terms of darkness and light. These have been symbols of the oral tradition for ages, and are mentioned in the Bible 73 times, 33 of them in the Gospel of John. New light begins in the darkness of the tomb and in our personal trials, but emerges into the world with faith, hope and grace. He told 2 stories. One of Barbara Taylor being invited to accompany some folks into a cave in West Virginia where she "let dark happen" and realized how dark the cave/tomb of Jesus was. In the other story a pastor lost his young daughter to leukemia and told his congregation that now he has both darkness and light in him. We are all learners (disciples), learning how light renews us every day. Easter he proclaimed is a Holy Day....not a holiday.
Rev. Clifford Matthews of St. Luke's Missionary Baptist asked in his prayer that we be made "Easter people" and that our walk be worthy and impact the world for good.
Rev. Dr. James Thomas of Grier Heights Presbyterian Church continued the social justice theme of Rev. Matthews and Rev. Cleghorn by adding to the traditional benediction a call for Christ to lead us, walk beside us and push us from behind to bring the Easter message of renewal to the world and to work for peace, mercy and justice.
OUTREACH AND OBSERVATIONS
- The outreach was our witness to the community by being in the park at 6:30 and by joining with diverse congregations to celebrate Easter.
- When you arrive a little late (but before the service began!), you are relegated to the front row! The hard part about that was, we didn't know when those behind us were standing and were a "beat late" several times!!
- It was nice to reintroduce myself to several of the pastors I had visited (Pen Peery and John Cleghorn). I laughed with them and asked if I could count this as 6 churches!
- I'm not sure where or how I will "land" after this project but I know that I won't abandon it. I think I would like to continue visiting different churches after this year, perhaps on a monthly (not weekly!) basis. This is "church" #40 and I have at least 15 more churches on my "list"!!!
THIS WEEK'S EXTRA
My friend Rev. Nancy Kraft posted this video by John Crist of a pastor preparing for Easter on Facebook. It is hilarious!!
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