8th Day: Church of Fools in the Covid Pandemic: Friday 19 June, Black Lives Matter. Time 18:30 UTC

Alan Cresswell

Next Friday is the 19th June, Juneteenth, and especially given the events of the last few weeks it's been suggested that our service be focused on prayer for racial justice. We think it would be useful if we can find a time where more of our US based Shipmates can attend.

I'll start putting together an outline service structure over the weekend, any suggestions gratefully received.

Amanda B Reckondwyth

I do have an anthem that would be suitable.

And certainly Song of Solomon 1:5-7.

Alan Cresswell

How do people feel about a service that's more prayer and reflection focused?

A three part structure seems sensible to me: past, present and future

Past
Reflection and confession for the sins of our predecessors which sowed the seeds of racial injustice.
Song of Solomon 1:5-7 - our ancestors forced others to work our vineyards building wealth for us, at the neglect of working their own vineyards impoverishing them

Present
Reflection and confession for the sins of our societies, built on and perpetuating racial injustice.

Future
In lieu of one of us giving a message, I suggest we play this speech, though given that quarter of an hour is longer than our practice maybe just from 11:20
Affirmation that we share in that dream, and acclamation that we will work for that
Colossians 3:11

I'll fill that out a bit over the next couple of days. Given that structure, we'll need people to lead prayers, but those prayers would include silence as we each reflect on our own together. @Amanda B Reckondwyth , where in that would your chosen anthem fit best?

fineline

I like this idea. I think it's an important thing to do.

Amanda B Reckondwyth

The anthem I have in mind is the spiritual "Jesus Lay Your Head in the Window" as arranged by Moses Hogan. Hogan, a well respected Black composer and conductor, was known for his concert arrangements of spirituals. He died at age 45 of a brain tumor.

The singer begs Jesus to "hear some sinner pray," saying that he "has fallen short of thy glory" and asks "Good Lord, deliver me." I think it would fit in between Present and Future, but I'll leave it up to you to decide.

Alan Cresswell

OK, so here's a slightly fuller outline:

Introduction: Song of Solomon 1:5-7 @Alan Cresswell

I am black and beautiful,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
because the sun has gazed on me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
they made me keeper of the vineyards,
but my own vineyard I have not kept!
Tell me, you whom my soul loves,
where you pasture your flock,
where you make it lie down at noon;
for why should I be like one who is veiled
beside the flocks of your companions?

Confession - sins of the past: @Rossweisse

The Beloved is Black and Beautiful, she is forced into tending the vineyards of others, while her own vineyard is left untended.

Our nations were built on the labour of others forced to tend our vineyards. Africans taken from their families and shipped across the Atlantic in horrendous conditions to work plantations. Native peoples displaced within their own land to make way for our settlements or access to natural resources.

Prayers of confession for the past sins of our nations in the treatment of other people

Reflection - sins of the present: @Martha

The Beloved is Black and Beautiful, she is looked down upon and hides herself behind a veil.

We live with the consequences of our nations’ past sins. The treatment of others as not fully human, as mere commodities to trade or inconveniences to move out of the way, is still reflected as black lives matter less. While our communities benefited from the labour of others, those others were impoverished and have not recovered the lost ground of prosperity and still live in greater poverty.

Prayers of reflection on our relative prosperity built on the labour and exploitation of others
Anthem: "Jesus Lay Your Head in the Window" @Amanda B Reckondwyth

Dreams of tomorrow:

The Beloved is Black and Beautiful, we have a dream when all people will be seen as beautiful for their character, without consideration of the colour of their skin

Message: Rev. Martin Luther King (“I have a dream”) @Amanda B Reckondwyth
Prayers of affirmation and commitment to work for that dream

Close: Colossians 3:11 @Alan Cresswell

Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free; but Christ is all, and is in all.

Alan Cresswell

I took the liberty of assuming @Amanda B Reckondwyth could get both the anthem and the last 5 mins or so of the "I have a dream" speech into a form easily shared.

That leaves three sets of prayers (whoever takes those are free to adapt, amend or totally reject my musings I've put in there) and two readings.

We also need to think of the time. Would I be right in thinking that generally slightly later than the 1700-1800UTC we've used before would be better for Shipmates in North America? Much beyond 2200UTC would be getting very late for me, and probably most others in Europe.

Amanda B Reckondwyth

Alan Cresswell wrote: »

I took the liberty of assuming @Amanda B Reckondwyth could get . . . the last 5 mins or so of the "I have a dream" speech into a form easily shared. <<snip>> Would I be right in thinking that generally slightly later than the 1700-1800UTC we've used before would be better for Shipmates in North America?

6 minutes, 52 seconds.

Any time from 1700 onward would be good for me. I can't speak for those who may be more easterly.

Martha

I can do one of the prayers. I'll take on sins of the past if no one else grabs it. 1800 or later is better than 1730 for me, but I can do 1730 if necessary.

Alan Cresswell

1800UTC or later is better for me as well. That would be putting it into lunchtime to mid afternoon in the US/Canada (exactly when being dependent on which time zone) I think.

Rossweisse

I can read something, if you still need people. I was actually hoping for Sins of the Past, but I will go where I'm useful.

Landlubber

Sorry, I can't offer to contribute this week; I have a family commitment which looks as if it will overlap.

Amanda B Reckondwyth

So have we settled on a time, and do we know who is going to do what?

Rossweisse

Please post the time, when decided upon (and, Miss Amanda, I would be most obliged if you would translate it to Central Time for me, because chemo brain), and whether you would like me to read anything. Thankee!

Alan Cresswell

The only comments on time have been 18:00UTC or later ... so I'm going to opt for slightly later and say 18:30UTC

So, that's 19:30 in UK
and, 13:30 Central time

BroJames

My apologies that I won’t be able to be there.

Martha

Happy to swap @Rossweisse . How about you do past and I do present?

Alan Cresswell

I've edited the outline above putting @Rossweisse and @Martha in for the past and present (respectively). I've put myself in for the opening and closing readings - but if anyone else wants to do one or other of them I'll happily relinquish those.

Amanda B Reckondwyth

Miss Amanda has no head for figures, but she believes that 1830 UTC is 11:30am Mountain Standard Time, which is her time zone, and 1:30pm Central Daylight Savings Time, which is @Rossweisse 's time zone. Please correct her if she's wrong.

Alan Cresswell

12:30 Mountain time, and yes 13:30 central

Rossweisse

I’m sorry - I have to withdraw this week. A friend was going to come assist me with some tax stuff tomorrow afternoon, but that had to be changed because of a late-scheduled MRI. The only other time that works for both of us is today from noon to 2. I will miss you all, but I have to get these numbers together and out to my accountant.

Martha

We'll miss you too Rossweisse. Hope the figures behave themselves.

These are my prayers for the "present" section, with the refrain "Lord, we repent; forgive us and help us."

For the wealth which has been channeled towards the white, the well-off and the powerful, and has left other communities lacking basic necessities. For our willingness to enjoy the benefits of our society, ignoring the cost to others.
Lord, we repent; forgive us and help us.

For the systems in education which contribute to bias and prejudice. For the negative assumptions which we make about black students, blocking their paths and preventing them from achieving their full potential.
Lord, we repent; forgive us and help us.

For the disparities in housing provision which condemn families to sub-standard houses in underfunded neighbourhoods. For our reluctance to welcome others into our communities as equals and neighbours.
Lord, we repent; forgive us and help us.

For the barriers in employment which keep many people in low-paid, insecure jobs. For the explicit and implicit racism in the workplace, and the times that we have not spoken up against it.
Lord, we repent; forgive us and help us.

For the unequal access to services that black people experience, including hospital treatment, social care and benefit provision. For our part in supporting governments which do not value all citizens equally.
Lord, we repent; forgive us and help us.

For the way in which our churches have made God in our own white, Western image. For the ignorance and pride that we have shown, and for our lack of love towards our black brothers and sisters in Christ.
Lord, we repent; forgive us and help us.

Amanda B Reckondwyth

Alan Cresswell wrote: »

12:30 Mountain time, and yes 13:30 central

Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time, so this time of year it's 11:30 for me.

Boogie

Really good - many thanks. 🙏

Rossweisse

Those are beautiful, Martha.

I missed you all, and I will be back next week.

Landlubber

Than you all; I was sorry to miss last week. I have now sat down to use all this material here at home.