February Music at Christ Church
Throughout the month of February, we will honor the contributions of black composers to our canon of liturgical music. We will return to the “Lift Every Voice and Sing” service music (Gloria, Sanctus, Great Amen, Angus Dei) as well as sing many hymns and spirituals from this hymnal. The CCRP Choir will present anthems throughout the month that show the historical evolution of black sacred music, starting with a South African piece called “Siyahamba” (which means “we are marching”). The following week we honor the Rev. Absolom Jones, the first black man ordained as an Episcopal priest. That Sunday the choir will present “I Want God’s Heaven to Be Mine, a spiritual arrangement by Betty Jackson King, one of the major players in the early 20th Century efforts to notate, preserve and foster the early black spiritual. We’ll end Black History Month with an anthem by jazz great, Duke Ellington that segues into the evolution of gospel music, with an anthem that the choir is learning in a traditional style, with NO sheet music! Get you toe ready to tap!
Also throughout February will learn a new hymn called For Everyone Born, which carries a strong social justice message of equality. Here are the lyrics and recording.
For everyone born, a place at the table. For everyone born, clean water and bread.
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead.
REFRAIN:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!
For woman and man, a place at the table, Revising the roles, deciding the share.
With wisdom and grace, dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that’s fair. REFRAIN
For young and for old, a place at the table. A voice to be heard, a part in the song.
The hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled, for young and for old, the right to belong. REFRAIN
For just and unjust, a place at the table, abuser, abused, with need to forgive.
In anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to live. REFRAIN
For everyone born, a place at the table. To live without fear, and simply to be.
To work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free, REFRAIN
* Optional verse
For gay and for straight, a place at the table, a covenant shared, a welcoming space.
A rainbow of race and gender and colour. For gay and for straight, the chalice of grace. REFRAIN