Sunday, December 23, 2007
A Morning at Worship, Father and Son
I'm starting to think about what I will say at the Celebration of the New Baptist Covenant, which is coming up in about month. It will probably be the largest audience I have spoken too, one of the most diverse, and one of the most important. One of the Celebration's plenary speakers (along with Clinton, Carter, Grassley, John Grisham, and Bill Moyers) will be Dr. Charles G. Adams of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, which is one of Detroit's largest African-American churches. [I'm speaking as part of the Special Interest Sessions, which also include people like Bill Self, former Texas Gov. Mark White, Mary Darden, Millard Fuller, James Dunn, and Rev. James Forbes of Riverside Church in NYC]
This morning, my father and I went to the 7:30 am service at Hartford Baptist to hear Dr. Adams preach. The service lasted nearly three hours, though it seemed like a few minutes. Dr. Adams is one of the most talented preachers I have ever heard, and as some of you know, I work with some pretty talented preachers. His message was complex, clear, deep with meaning and filled with passion. When he takes the stage in Atlanta, I will be there. My parents will be there, too, and at this point I think my father, at least, will be going as much to hear Dr. Adams as he will to hear me, and I can't blame him for that.
Christmas is a time of subtle miracles, if you let it be. For that, I am not only thankful but joyful.
Comments:
<< Home
Osler.. Well I have to say that I do not attend church as much as you do, or okay let's face it.. ever , really, which I guess is pretty sad. However we are still on our quest to find a church to attend for the sake of Spencer... I mean Bill wants to go, Spencer will go, and I will go too and find some way there to make myself useful.
My dream church, pretty much, except for all of the religion stuff, (which, try as I might, as a Unitarian, it just has not CLICKED for me... yet, though I do see lots of things around me that can only be described as miracles)is the one you are describing. I would like to find a church with a really great choir, and not just one full of old ladies you know? Like that choir in The Blues Brothers movie. I spent like 18 years in choir from like 4th grade thru college. I miss it.
I would love to be in one of those wild choirs where they just have all that energy and just go insane. There is nothing wrong with those Methodist hymns that I sang at eleven years of Summer Camp (where I did my Smartass training) but if I ever have to sing that "And he walks with me and he talks with me.." song again I might have an allergic reaction.
I need a cool church to join, but that is hard here in Portland because of many reasons. One is there are not many African Americans here for whatever reason. And not to engage in a bunch of horrible stereotypes on Christmas, but the African Americans that DO live here are kind of Uhmmm.... nerdy.
If I could find one of those churches that has one of those really cool choirs, I would not even mind being the token crazy white lady who likes to be in the choir.
SO that is a STUPID reason to join a church, no?
And we are looking for a church still, even though our plans to do this were slightly derailed by the Phone Company.
So anyway I envy that you are there in MICH and that you get to go to one of those cool churches and if you could kindly ask if maybe they would like to move their entire congregation to Oregon, that would be GREAT, thanks.
Oh and Osler, one more thing.. I see that its Christmas, and and you are home, and thus it is time once again for the annual photographic essay of the abandoned homes of Detroit section of your blog again...
I totally get where you are coming from.. let me guess You have already made the trip down to Eastern Market to see the pigs and dead chickens hanging from teh ceilings, and that crazy lady who sells live rabbits, and stopped in at that one candy place to get a huge box of Swedish Fish, and to Hirt's for some weird cheese and a trip up into the attic up those creaky weird stairs.... right?
FIne go ahead and do this.. but seriously, We all need you and Baylor needs you and the Law Profession needs you and, I mean, you DO want to find out who is gonna play you in the movie... so PLEASE be careful when you are driving through those crazy neighborhoods taking pictures. Take them from INSIDE the car.
Well, now that I have tainted your lovely post with this inane post I will get back to what I was doing, trying to fall asleep reading Roz Chast cartoon books.
My dream church, pretty much, except for all of the religion stuff, (which, try as I might, as a Unitarian, it just has not CLICKED for me... yet, though I do see lots of things around me that can only be described as miracles)is the one you are describing. I would like to find a church with a really great choir, and not just one full of old ladies you know? Like that choir in The Blues Brothers movie. I spent like 18 years in choir from like 4th grade thru college. I miss it.
I would love to be in one of those wild choirs where they just have all that energy and just go insane. There is nothing wrong with those Methodist hymns that I sang at eleven years of Summer Camp (where I did my Smartass training) but if I ever have to sing that "And he walks with me and he talks with me.." song again I might have an allergic reaction.
I need a cool church to join, but that is hard here in Portland because of many reasons. One is there are not many African Americans here for whatever reason. And not to engage in a bunch of horrible stereotypes on Christmas, but the African Americans that DO live here are kind of Uhmmm.... nerdy.
If I could find one of those churches that has one of those really cool choirs, I would not even mind being the token crazy white lady who likes to be in the choir.
SO that is a STUPID reason to join a church, no?
And we are looking for a church still, even though our plans to do this were slightly derailed by the Phone Company.
So anyway I envy that you are there in MICH and that you get to go to one of those cool churches and if you could kindly ask if maybe they would like to move their entire congregation to Oregon, that would be GREAT, thanks.
Oh and Osler, one more thing.. I see that its Christmas, and and you are home, and thus it is time once again for the annual photographic essay of the abandoned homes of Detroit section of your blog again...
I totally get where you are coming from.. let me guess You have already made the trip down to Eastern Market to see the pigs and dead chickens hanging from teh ceilings, and that crazy lady who sells live rabbits, and stopped in at that one candy place to get a huge box of Swedish Fish, and to Hirt's for some weird cheese and a trip up into the attic up those creaky weird stairs.... right?
FIne go ahead and do this.. but seriously, We all need you and Baylor needs you and the Law Profession needs you and, I mean, you DO want to find out who is gonna play you in the movie... so PLEASE be careful when you are driving through those crazy neighborhoods taking pictures. Take them from INSIDE the car.
Well, now that I have tainted your lovely post with this inane post I will get back to what I was doing, trying to fall asleep reading Roz Chast cartoon books.
Hey, Tyd--
Hartford probably is not the church you are imagining. Though the music was great, it was definitely no more prominent than the other parts of the service. They did have one thing you would appreciate-- they have the largest pipe organ in any black church, and a Ph.D. there to play it, but sitting right behind her is a guy playing a Hammond B3.
Another thing, too-- the music isn't going to be separate from the "religion stuff." A church with great music is one where the spirit and word is within the music, and when people dance or call out or raise their hands, it is very much religious. The music is a product of the Holy Spirit, not apart from it. If you aren't comfortable with people with a deep and abiding faith, then that kind of place will make you really uncomfortable.
Of course, it might be that you can find a deeper faith within that music, and it will spread from there. That happens to a lot of people. It happens to me every time I go to a church with wonderful, spirit-filled music.
How did you know I've been out taking pictures? You must have some Santa-like abilities... And, yeah, I get out of the car. It's the only way to find out what is going on...
Hartford probably is not the church you are imagining. Though the music was great, it was definitely no more prominent than the other parts of the service. They did have one thing you would appreciate-- they have the largest pipe organ in any black church, and a Ph.D. there to play it, but sitting right behind her is a guy playing a Hammond B3.
Another thing, too-- the music isn't going to be separate from the "religion stuff." A church with great music is one where the spirit and word is within the music, and when people dance or call out or raise their hands, it is very much religious. The music is a product of the Holy Spirit, not apart from it. If you aren't comfortable with people with a deep and abiding faith, then that kind of place will make you really uncomfortable.
Of course, it might be that you can find a deeper faith within that music, and it will spread from there. That happens to a lot of people. It happens to me every time I go to a church with wonderful, spirit-filled music.
How did you know I've been out taking pictures? You must have some Santa-like abilities... And, yeah, I get out of the car. It's the only way to find out what is going on...
It seems to be what you do anytime you go to Detroit and have a bit of leisure time. I'm Just sayin.... you know.. Its nice to take pictures of crack houses I guess, if that is what you like, but don't spend TOO MUCH time on 6 mile...NOT a good plan.
I guess I may never have a faith in God, but I may be a little religious. I do not recommend this way of life. It is hard to go through things like the death of both parents, for example, without any kind of faith. SO, I want my son Spencer to have such a relationship, and thus I will go to church with them. And, once there, I don't want to just sit around, so I will try to find a way that I can contribute, even if I do not totally "drink the Koolaid" or whatever....
I do not often feel the presence of "God" or what the equivalent might be for me, but I have at times, when I sing in choirs, for example, felt a certain kind of thing like I am connected to other people totally,. like we are all in this together..
But maybe It just because I was an only child and wow you know how messed THEY are...
Post a Comment
I guess I may never have a faith in God, but I may be a little religious. I do not recommend this way of life. It is hard to go through things like the death of both parents, for example, without any kind of faith. SO, I want my son Spencer to have such a relationship, and thus I will go to church with them. And, once there, I don't want to just sit around, so I will try to find a way that I can contribute, even if I do not totally "drink the Koolaid" or whatever....
I do not often feel the presence of "God" or what the equivalent might be for me, but I have at times, when I sing in choirs, for example, felt a certain kind of thing like I am connected to other people totally,. like we are all in this together..
But maybe It just because I was an only child and wow you know how messed THEY are...
<< Home
