Rev. Tiare L. Mathison, Pastor & Soul-Tender
Liner Notes: I came to this service this week, in search of a way to express the deep broken heart we all carry, as the true reality of white supremacy, organized sin, and its racist practices come home to eyes, ears, minds and hearts. Rage, pure and open rage; sorrow; shame; guilt; ignorant no more - all roil up inside. I was listening to NPR early in the week when the interview with Anthony McGill came on. He holds the principal clarinet chair at the New York Philharmonic - the first African American to hold a principal chair in this ensemble’s 178 year old history. As I heard Mr McGill speak and then play, I wept. For here in music was the aching heart I felt. Listen to his voice first: Quote: “ challenges fellow musicians and Americans to shine a light on racism in their own way using the hashtag #TakeTwoKnees — which he says is a tribute to Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protests of police violence. "The issue got clouded and disregarded and dismissed by so many people, because it was in the middle of a football game," McGill says. "And so I started writing about how people aren't allowed to protest. They're never allowed to protest quietly or loudly, and they're never allowed to protest peacefully either, because people always say you shouldn't be protesting. So part of what I talked about in my statement on Facebook was this problem: When is it okay to protest? How about now?" Unquote. “America The Beautiful” - Andrew McGill,
#TakeTwoKnees In case the video does not work, take note: Search online for his name and/or go to Facebook. Play the music.
“O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life! America, America, God mend thy every flaw... Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!” This is the second verse. Ray Charles begins his rendition of America the Beautiful, with this cadence. Written in 1893, by Katherine Lee Bates, it is still our prayer of lament today. God mend our every flaw.
In response to Andrew McGill, two of his musician friends created their own #taketwoknees The first, is Billy Hunter, the Met’s Principal Trumpeter. The second, Lawrence Brownlee, an opera tenor, singing Lead Belly’s ‘There’s a Man Going Round Taking Names’ First this scripture: Psalm 79:8-13 Then the music
For us white people, it is essential that we speak up, show up, stand up, in whatever ways we can. We are compelled by the gospel of Jesus Christ to guard our vulnerable sisters and brothers of color, to stand in front when the shooting starts, as the system is stacked in our favor and against them. It will cost us something and it should. It might even be our lives. Book of Order - the calling of the church “The Church is to be a community of Faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life.
Matthew 10:26ff: “So have no fear of the empire protectors...what I tell you in the dark Jesus says, tell in the light, what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body! Rather, fear The One who could send your soul to hell. But does not. The Holy One saves. Look at the sparrows. Not one falls to the ground without God knowing. So do not be afraid; even the hairs on your head are all counted.”
There is a power in silence too. Those of us who marched a week ago with 60,000 silent witnesses on behalf of all the Black and Brown Lives that have been lost to police violence over the years. It was an exquisite gathering of energy and focus for one purpose: a cry of lament.
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent” the liturgy of St. James from the 4th century says: ‘with fear and trembling stand. Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of light descendent...that the powers of hell may vanish as the shadows clear away.” May it be so. In our lifetime, may it be so, Dear God.Amen
Hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent” Ben Sanders & Allen Ries