| Lift Every Voice |
| “Lift every voice and sing” – these powerful words open what is known as the Black National Anthem, a hymn that has served as a beacon of hope and resilience for over a century. Written during the Jim Crow era, Lift Every Voice and Sing emerged as a testament to the African American experience and the enduring faith that sustained communities through profound challenges. James Weldon Johnson, a renaissance man of his time – educator, writer, civil rights activist, and diplomat – penned the hymn poem in 1900. Its debut was extraordinary – more than 500 school children recited it at Jacksonville’s Stanton School, where Johnson served as principal, during a celebration of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The melody, composed by his brother J. Rosamond Johnson, transformed the poem into a hymn that would spread rapidly through Southern schools, churches, and communities. By 1919, during a period of intense racial tension and violence in America, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) designated it as the “Negro National Anthem.” This was particularly significant as James Weldon Johnson served as the NAACP’s executive secretary from 1920 to 1930, becoming the first African American to hold this position. Under his leadership, the NAACP fought against lynching, segregation, and racial discrimination while advocating for voting rights and equal education. The hymn’s final stanza particularly moves us with its plea for justice and liberation: -God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, -Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; -Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, -Keep us forever in the path, we pray. This past Sunday, our Resurrection Choir delivered a powerful arrangement of another historically significant spiritual, Come By Here (also known as Kumbaya My Lord). This song emerged from the Gullah-Geechee people, descendants of enslaved West Africans who maintained strong cultural ties to their African heritage in the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. The Gullah people preserved their unique creole language, traditions, and spiritual practices despite the brutal conditions of slavery. “Kumbaya” comes from the Gullah phrase “come by here,” and the song dates back to the 1920s, when it was first recorded by folk music historians. It began as a simple, earnest prayer – documenting the Gullah people’s faith that God would “come by here” to comfort those who were suffering, support those who were praying, and stand with those who were crying out for justice. The song gained widespread popularity during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, where it became a powerful anthem of unity and hope. Kyle Pederson’s contemporary arrangement, which you’ll hear in Sunday’s service recording, honors these historical roots while reminding us that God accompanies us through life’s peaks and valleys, present in our moments of hope and challenge. Daily, we ask God to “come by here” and guide us toward a brighter future. We seek justice for all marginalized people and liberation for those bound by physical and mental constraints, including those trapped by systematic structures that suppress rather than lift voices. These aspirations align perfectly with Resurrection MCC’s core values: * Inclusion: Embracing all people as God’s beloved children, following the example of Christ’s radical welcome * Community: Building connections that sustain and uplift each other, just as these songs have united communities for generations * Spiritual Transformation: Opening ourselves to God’s ongoing work in our lives, as expressed in these timeless spirituals * Justice: Working actively for the dignity and equality of all people, continuing the legacy of those who sang these songs before us As we raise our daily prayers for God to “come by here,” we rest in the assurance that God remains unchanging – yesterday, today, and forevermore. And yes, God is here, present with us always. Let us continue to lift every voice and sing until earth and heaven ring! In Christ’s liberating love, Sharri L. McGlauthing |
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| Sharri L. McGlauthing Board of Directors Sharri@ResurrectionMCC.Org |
| View Last Sunday’s Service HERE Sunday’s Opening Song for Practice: Every Praise |