During this season of Lent we invite you to connect the practices of prayer, reflection and discussion with our life in worship together. Each week in worship, the Pastors’ sermons will explore themes generated by the content and history of African American Spirituals, each paired with a companioning Biblical text. Below are lyrics, music, scripture and reflection questions so that you might as an individual, family or small group continue to be shaped by God through the Spirituals, the scriptures and prayer.
The Music and Lyrics
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home,
A long way from home.
Sometimes I feel like I’m almost gone,
Sometimes I feel like I’m almost gone,
Sometimes I feel like I’m almost gone,
A long way from home,
A long way from home.
True believer.
A long way from home,
A long way from home.
Washington, DC based composer Evelyn Simpson-Curenton (b. 1953) has written arrangements for Duke Ellington, Jessye Norma, and Kathleen Battle, among others. On Sometimes I Feel she says “The peak of despair is reached when “True believer” is sung. The slave, “A long way from home,” thinks of their earthly home and motherland Africa, and heavenly home after death.
Carly Noel Black sang this solo during the 11:00 worship service on 16 March 2014, with Gabriel D’Abruzzo at the piano. Listen to it here:
GIVE ME JESUS
In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
Give me Jesus.
Chorus:
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You may have all this world,
Give me Jesus.
Dark midnight was my cry,
Dark midnight was my cry,
Dark midnight was my cry,
Give me Jesus. [Chorus]
Just about the break of day,
Just about the break of day,
Just about the break of day,
Give me Jesus. [Chorus]
The setting of Give Me Jesus heard in worship this morning is from a set of spirituals by Marvin Mills (b. 1958) that were commissioned by mezzo soprano Denyce Graves. The premiere took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on January 10, 1997. It is included on Ms. Graves’ CD Angels Watching Over Me.
Denise Sheffey Powell sang this solo during the 11:00 worship service on 16 March 2014, with Dr. Edward Alan Moore at the organ. Listen to it here:
The Scripture
The Reflection
Week Two – Women’s Cry
The psalm and the spiritual remind us of the power of crying out to God – in lament, in times of fear, in times of agony, in times of hope, in times of longing. Although we often feel that we need to bring our best selves to God, we often forget that there is no need to try to hide our struggles, our pains or our imperfections from God.
Reflect:
- Have you ever felt that God had forsaken you? What were the circumstances that led to this feeling?
- In the face of desolation, what brought you back to God?
- Are there people or Bible passages or moments of your life that reminded you of God’s steadfast love?
Act:
- As an individual and as a family, write additional verses to the Spiritual, “Give me Jesus,” following the format of the song. (For example: “God heard me when I cried; God heard me when I cried; God heard me when I cried: Give me Jesus.”)
- Pray or sing these verses – alone or with a loved one.