CONGREGATION + COMMUNITY NEWS
PEOPLES PRESS
Joyfully Defiant for the Sake of a Just World
a congregation of the United Church of Christ, the Alliance of Baptists & the American Baptist Churches
WORSHIP AT PEOPLES CHURCH
OR UCC PROCESS
I wanted to be a speech writer after I worked on a project in high school speech class. The assignment was to analyze a president or presidential candidate’s speech. That was 1985 and I chose a speech delivered by Geraldine Ferraro. My parents were “Reagan Democrats” and they weren’t pleased with my choice. They tried to encourage me to choose a speech by “Ronnie” but I refused because everyone was choosing his speeches. I was the only one that chose Ferraro, which still stuns me that no one else in my class chose her.
I can’t remember the particular words or topic of Ferraro’s speech but it was a “stump speech” she repeated on the campaign trail. It really changed my view of the speeches politicians deliver. In my analysis I learned that words matter. In my speech analysis I was forced to ask, “Why didn’t she say it this way?” “I think this word would be better.” Or, “Wow, I really see why she said that word instead of this word.”
Ever since then I’ve wanted to be a speech writer or a comedy writer on Saturday Night Live. I haven’t achieved that (yet). I have always listened to speeches (and sermons) with a watchful and analytical ear. I am intrigued by the words people choose. I’m always more impressed with a speech or an article when I have to use a dictionary to look up a word I hadn’t heard before. My nose is always in the dictionary (actually I used dictionary.com).
Choosing music for worship at Peoples Church each week is largely based on words and word choice. The process can become messy and overwhelming. The bevy of music that is available to choose from is ample. But not all of the music suits Peoples Church.
Some songs are immediately eliminated because of inconsistent theological reasons with our church’s belief, inappropriate words or their “unsingability” (yes, I know that isn’t a real word, I just made it up.). After eliminating so many songs for those reasons or because they’re not the right topic or the right feel for the worship, still, there are so many songs to choose from.
Other reasons for not using a song can be that I don’t have access to a song or I don’t have the time to play through the song or learn the song. At Peoples Church we use seven to eight music books and hymnals to choose music including, the African-American Hymnal, The Lutheran Book of Worship, The New Century Hymnal and others.
When Deb was our pastor we would meet weekly to discuss the upcoming worship. We would sit and hash out the song choices
together and talk theology, pets, Flint, social justice and why I wasn’t vegan (Deb would just glare at me). I meet with our many guest preachers we’re having over the next few weeks to discuss song choices and readings. In our weekly meetings Deb would commonly tell me, “Tom, just pick something, I trust you.” That was no help, but I appreciated the trust.
There is a sense of comfort in choosing songs that are familiar. We always sing in a more robust way to a song that we are more accustomed to with a tune and familiar lyrics. Sometimes the melody or text of a song take us back to memories of singing that song in another time and another place. Those memories aren’t necessarily ones we want to revisit.
So I guess one could question, why do we sing at all? Not all people of different religions or faiths sing during worship. Some hum, some sing and don’t use instruments (apparently they believe Satan invented instruments for evil), some South American peoples whistle to the gods, some dance and sing, some meditate with their eyes closed as music plays... a verified array of ways to musically engage with our fellow worshipers and with the divine.
At Peoples Church we attempt to connect to the divine, ourselves and others through our singing. The music clears the cobwebs from our mind. It’s a place where we sing songs we don’t sing anywhere else in our lives, they’re unique and special to help us focus and pay attention to our spiritual selves.
Each week when I’m seeking copyright permissions from various publishers for our readings and music selections I use this phrase in my correspondence with publishers: Peoples Church is a progressive and multi-racial congregation in Flint, Michigan, where we strive to broaden our understanding of scripture by broadening our repertoire of readings and music. Over the past couple of years, we have developed the habit of reading a modern prophet alongside scripture.
By our church intentionally choosing to construct our worship experiences with music and readings from these “modern prophets” we enhance our experience of dancing with the divine with their words and sounds.
I’d ask all of you to sing a little bit louder. I love hearing you all sing with me on Sunday. The masks muffle our sounds. You’re all such good singers. Belt it out! I love serving Peoples Church and I love all of you.
Happy Pride month!
Tom Travis, Music Leader
SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE
Thank you to those who have already responded to our survey question. Your feedback is important and essential in guiding us as we assemble our Peoples Church profile. If you have not had an opportunity or you forgot or you thought your input was not relevant, let me assure you that your time, perspective, and hopes for Peoples Church are incredibly valuable to us. We would love to hear from all of you. You can find the survey here. You have a few days left to let us know what you think, the survey deadline is Monday, June 6.
Thanks so much!
Carla Pierik, Chair, Search Committee
TRANSITION UPDATES
Hello Peoples People!
Welcome to summer! We are easing into our new routines. Pastor Dave Sickelka will be joining us as our interim pastor, beginning July 18th, with his first sermon July 31st. Until then, we continue to rely on wonderful guest pastors. As noted in the Search Update, this team is moving forward, with weekly meetings and setting goals. We are in good hands. If you need any help, information, or just want to talk, please feel free to reach out to anyone on the board.
As always, for weekly sermon information, please refer to the calendar on our website
Jamie Schmidt, Moderator
natesmamajamie@gmail.com; 810-287-8308
IN THE CONGREGATION
Links are on the church calendar. Need more info? Just ask!
Adult Forum, 9:30 am Sundays, is reading Heather McGee's, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. Join in by zoom or in person at church. And let us know if you need a book.
Thursday Evening Study Group is reading A People’s History of Christianity by Diana Butler Bass. Books will be on the welcome table at church. Need one shipped? Call the church office at 810-767-4911!
Vigil for Racial Justice is still gathering 1-2 pm Thursdays on the Genesee Courthouse lawn.
New Text Alert System. We have shifted to a new text messaging service. If you're in our church directory, you're all set. If you're not, go here to sign up!