Celebrating Black History

This Black History Month, we lift up two distinct traditions of Black excellence: Black church and sacred music, and Black women leaders. Yesterday, we welcomed Mark Miller for his first Sunday as February’s Guest Artist to make music with our own West End Choir and he brought us many gifts. Mark’s gift to West End Church continues for the coming three weeks, and I extend a special invitation for you to join us after worship this month for Mark’s seminar entitled Protest & Praise: African American Sacred Music.

As you heard from Pastor Bridget in yesterday’s sermon, we are also lifting up the stories of Black women leaders who have shaped our lives both personal and political. Bridget shared the story of a quilt her Grandmother made for her and evoked many names of Black women who have shaped her and have much to teach all of us. 

With gratitude to Bridget and with Mark’s music in my ear, I have been thinking of the Black women and artists to whom I owe my own gratitude. Among the long list, one living artist comes to mind this day: Amanda Gorman. The 22 year-old Youth Poet Laureate made history when she recited her poem for the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris; she made history again last night as the first poet to share her work at Superbowl LV. The following is an excerpt of her Inaugural poem, and is about as good a piece of theology, history, and call for this moment that I can imagine. You have probably heard it before; I encourage you to read it again.

As we celebrate this Black History Month, I encourage all people of faith to practice this most simple profession of faith: Black Lives Matter.

In celebration,
Pastor Will

“Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
If we're to live up to our own time
Then victory won't lie in the blade
But in all the bridges we've made
That is the promise to glade
The hill we climb
If only we dare
It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it's the past we step into
and how we repair it” 

— Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman on the occasion of the Inauguration of the 46th President of the United States