This March & April St. Cyprian's is intentionally sharing our Lenten journey with our neighbors. We're inviting representatives from various groups working to make the city a more livable place to share their story over a simple meal, followed by a time of prayer and meditation. Tonight, we heard from one of congregation's newest members, Dale Danley of the Panhandle Park Stewards who was interviewed by long-time Cyprian member and Panhandle native Robyn Amos. Our meal and conversation takes place in the sanctuary, by candlelight. At the end of the evening guests are invited to participate in an adapted form of Night Prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book, and a few poems. Tonight's poems were from Langston Hughes, which you'll find below:
Litany
Gather up
In the arms of your pity
The sick, the depraved,
The desperate, the tired,
All the scum
Of our weary city
Gather up
In the arms of your pity.
Gather up
In the arms of your love ---
Those who expect
No love from above.
Spirituals
Rocks and the firm roots of trees.
The rising shafts of mountains.
Something strong to put my hands on.
Sing, O Lord Jesus!
Song is a strong thing.
I heard my mother singing
When life hurt her:
Gonna ride in my chariot some day!
The branches rise
From the firm roots of trees.
The mountains rise
From the solid lap of earth.
The waves rise
From the dead weight of sea.
Sing, O black mother!
Song is a strong thing.
Heaven
Heaven is
The place where
Happiness is
Everywhere.
Animals
And birds sing ---
As does
Everything.
To each stone,
"How-do-you-do?"
Stone answers back,
"Well! And you?"
From "Selected Poems of Langston Hughes"
Vintage Classic Edition, September 1990
No comments:
Post a Comment