Use With Care
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STLT#348, Guide My Feet
Today, gentle readers, I offer you A Tale of Two Liturgical Moments. Because indeed, as our man Charles Dickens wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The best of times was when I learned an arrangement of this African American spiritual in my seminary gospel choir; the harmonies were… Continue reading
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STLT#307, The Human Touch Can Light the Flame
Sometimes I sing a hymn and I think “it’s a fine hymn, but when would I ever use it?” (See the end for an important edit) It’s a fine hymn. Another solid lyric by our friend, English Unitarian minister John Andrew Storey – a song of welcome, for sure, and a song of community and connection. And… Continue reading
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STLT#305, De Colores
I am really struggling today to know what to say about this song. Partly, it’s because I didn’t look ahead enough to think about interviewing colleagues Julica Hermann DelaFuente or Marisol Caballero, both of whom might have more insight into the difficulties or joys of this Mexican folk tune appearing in our hymnal – perhaps… Continue reading
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STLT#304, A Fierce Unrest
I need the hope of possibility. I need the promise of unanswered questions. I need the assurance of unsealed revelation. Especially today, as I conclude my ministry at First Universalist Church of Southold and begin a community ministry in the arts and worship – a ministry whose form is not entirely clear but whose call… Continue reading
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STLT#211, We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder
Later this morning, I am leading our congregation’s Teach In on White Supremacy, joining over 600 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the country in examining the larger cultural systems that even progressive organizations like ourselves don’t realize we’re perpetuating. In this service, I am preferencing the words of people of color, letting their words inform and… Continue reading
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STLT#210, Wade in the Water
I’m feeling at a bit of a loss this morning. On one hand, this is an important code song from the Underground Railroad, a warning to follow the river and keep an eye out for the friendly folk. As Walter Rhett at Black History 360 writes, “People think the song is about Moses and Exodus,… Continue reading
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STLT#208, Every Time I Feel the Spirit
This is one of those hymns that make you go “huh!” (And that isn’t a bad thing.) First “huh” – it’s a Pentecost song, most definitely, stuck in the Worship section. And I go “huh, is that so we’ll use it, because some music directors and ministers will flip right by that liturgical season?” Second… Continue reading
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STLT#186, Grieve Not Your Heart
I don’t know what to say about this one. It’s not that I don’t get it – I do. It’s an encapsulation of Confucianism, ending in the golden rule. It captures the nuggets of carefully measured wisdom and advice a Confucian parent doles out to their child, reminding them that the way out of chaos… Continue reading
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STLT#184, Be Ye Lamps unto Yourselves
Gentle readers, I’m in an odd place with this one. I am certain (and am glad) there are people who draw strength and inspiration from this text, a beloved (anonymously translated) passage from “Buddha’s Farewell Address” – a passage from the Mahaparinibbana Suttana. I don’t. I mean, I get what it’s about – it’s all over… Continue reading
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STLT#183, The Wind of Change Forever Blown
It may be lack of coffee. It may be lack of ease with Buddhism. It may be lack of sleep. But whatever it is I am lacking seems to be keeping me from understanding what the heck this lyric, written by Sarojini Naidu, the first female president of the Indian National Congress, is saying. It… Continue reading
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links
Learn more about my ministry at The Art of Meaning
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