Fenimore Avenue United Methodist Church (FSUMC) on Sunday celebrated Black Historical past Month with a grand commemoration throughout its Worship Service.
The 2-hour-long celebration, dubbed “Heritage Sunday,” was punctuated with, amongst different issues, lofty singing, drumming, dancing, praying, preaching and studying of scriptures, in addition to narration and a Black Historical past Second.
Singer Abena Amory – daughter of late Nevis Premier Vance Amory and eminent Vincentian soloist Erlene Williams-King – set the tempo within the pre-Worship Ceremony with gospel renditions, together with “It’s Been a Lengthy Time Coming”, and ending with the legendary Bob Marley’s “One Love.”
Evangelist Sis. Barbara Castleberry “Steal Away” with the introit; Juniors Angelica Nedd and siblings Nicholas and Noelani Charles introduced the Black Historical past Second; the Youth Worship Workforce offered Reward and Worship, together with “Right here I Am to Worship,” “My God is Superior” and “I Have a Very Large Coronary heart”; The Mixed Choir sang “The Proper Hand of God”; and The Liturgical Dancers danced to “I Received Pleasure.”
Liturgist Min. Cynthia Grant additionally provided the Opening Prayer and skim 2 Tim. 1:3-5; and Grasp Drummers Eric Frazier and Gene Osborne rendered particular displays, whereas “Heritage Sunday” Coordinator Sis. Barbara Moody narrated “Sources for Celebrating Black Historical past Month 2024, offered by the Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church.
The church’s African American Pastor the Rev. Roger Jackson, a local New Yorker, preached on “The Previous is Prologue,” whereas the congregation joined in singing, amongst different hymns, the Black Nationwide Anthem, “Carry Each Voice and Sing,” “I Have Determined to Observe Jesus,” “Let It Breathe on Me” and “We’re Climbing Jacob’s Ladder.”
As well as, Choose Norma Jennings, who’s contesting a Civil Court docket Judgeship for the 6th Judicial District, within the June 25 Democratic Major, made a visitor look, telling the congregation about her {qualifications} for the bench.
In studying the narration, written by Bryan Tener, for the United Methodist Church, Belizean-born Sis. Moody mentioned that February, being Black Historical past Month, is “a woven tapestry of The United Methodist Church,” and that “African People are — and have been — very important, having performed a significant position within the denomination’s improvement.”
She famous that Black Historical past Month has been noticed in February in the USA and Canada since 1976, stating that the celebration was began by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926 “as a weeklong focus to teach American folks about African American historical past.
“Black Historical past Month is a chance to rejoice the items and choices that African People contribute to the world and the church by means of artwork, music, writing, management and motion,” Sis. Moody mentioned. “There may be a lot to acknowledge, replicate upon and share with others.”
In his sermon, primarily based on 2 Tim. 1:3-5, Pastor Jackson preached that “our heritage encompasses our private proclivities – what we eat, how we gown…”
He famous, nonetheless, that “our frequent thread, although, (is that) we come this far by religion.
“We should move down our religious heritage, our ‘correctedness’, our imaginative and prescient” he urged. “Spirit heritage is our religion.
“In our tradition, heritage is to like and respect God,” Rev. Jackson mentioned. “A God we serve is worthy of our reward and worthy of our shepherd. Our tradition consists of our legacy. The previous is a prologue to our tradition.”
