Richmond First United Methodist News and Events
Pastor’s Perspective
Walking the Wilderness
Pastor Dan Damon, Richmond 1st UMC, 2-14-16
On July 13, 2010 in Birmingham, Alabama, I presented an address entitled “A Cry for Justice in Hymnody” at the Annual Conference of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. In my presentation, I explored two questions: “What are we already singing about justice?” and “What justice issues have we not yet addressed in our congregational song?” To help answer these questions, my wife, Eileen M. Johnson, and I selected eight broad categories pertaining to justice: for creation, for children, for the elderly, for women, for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, for people living with disabilities, for the poor and oppressed, and for people of other faith traditions. We surveyed twenty current North American hymnals and reviewed the topical indexes in each of them for topics related to our eight categories. During my address, I shared our findings. I also read several texts that addressed these concerns.
It has been over five years since then. When I began to communicate with Donald Anderson about a possible theme for my February 27, 2016 presentation to the Southern Ontario Chapter of the Hymn Society (SOCHS), it did not take us very long to decide that a follow-up to Birmingham was in order. In 2010, the areas with the largest gaps were: the elderly, the LGBT community, people with disabilities, and interfaith respect. Since then, what new texts, if any, have been written on these issues? In Birmingham, I asked “What justice issues have we missed?” New concerns for me in this address include migration, human trafficking, violence, and mental illness.
This morning, I would like to explore two issues with you: migration and human trafficking. In future Lenten sermons I will cover the other justice topics. I will share my own work, as well as texts by several Hymn Society colleagues. Brian Wren taught me the value of reading hymns aloud as poetry. In his Directions for Singing, UMH vii, John Wesley noted, “Attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound.”[i] We may be able to hear the message more clearly when we are not singing. I invite you to listen to these texts that can help us in our work for peace and justice. In our afternoon session we will add the power of the music as we sing many new hymns on these social justice themes.
How do we sing justice? We have often sung the words of Amos, “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” Our hymns can express some of our concerns for the most vulnerable among us. They may not give answers, but we sing because we have a song. We sing, choosing hope over despair. We sing, choosing faith over doubt. We sing with others who are struggling to care for the hurts of this world. Many of my hymns deal with justice issues. But when I write, I don’t necessarily set out to write about a specific issue as an abstraction – rather, my inspiration comes from a specific human condition. For example, after the Hymn Society conference last summer in New Orleans, Eileen and I stayed a week in the French Quarter. We walked past a family each evening sitting on a step singing “Down by the Riverside.” I gave them a small donation each time we passed and thanked them for the music. One evening after midnight we passed a beautiful church on Chartres Street. A homeless person was sleeping on the step, finding some small comfort outside the church. I was struck by the irony of the situation and began work on this hymn:
Beside the great cathedrals
we huddle in the rain,
or underneath the bridges
till busy folks complain.
We seek a little shelter,
a coin to buy some bread,
and Jesus waits here with us.
He shares our stony bed.
He sings on city sidewalks,
he sits on curbs alone,
he holds a sign and listens
for footsteps on the stone.
He sings, down by the river,
a spiritual, a blues
with mothers and with fathers
who pay no union dues.
Friend, have you seen him naked,
in prison, or in pain,
and have you seen him shivering
with us out in the rain?
Friend, have you seen him sleeping
outside cathedral doors,
and have you heard him singing
with those the world ignores?
Sit down with us and listen
to stories we can tell
of death and resurrection,
of heaven and of hell.
Then strive to love the beggars
who gather at your door,
and see in us our Savior,
the rabbi of the poor.
Daniel Charles Damon
Words © 2015 Hope Publishing Company
The elderly, the LGBT community, people with disabilities, and people of other faiths, the immigrant, the victim of violence, child laborers, and people struggling with mental illness all have stories to tell us, if we are willing to listen. These are stories of suffering, but they are also stories of hope and faith. Do you have ears to hear?
Migrants
As a child I loved to sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through.” Traditional hymnody tended to ignore this life and this world in favor of the next life and our home in heaven. The reality of this world is that people are moving across the face of the earth, perhaps as never before, in search of a better life. They are fleeing the ravages of war, crime, and the corruption of governments. Canada has recently welcomed Syrian refugees. My home state, California, has many migrant workers and immigrants, particularly from Mexico and Central America. I use the word “migrant” to include refugees, migrant workers, and immigrants – people who have been displaced from their homes. In recent years, I have become more aware of the concerns and struggles of these people as I have had opportunities to talk to them and hear their stories. The topics of exile and Exodus were present in six of our 2010 hymnals (half of them being Canadian books). One newer hymnal, Lift Up Your Hearts, has the entry “refugees” in its index. Aside from these limited resources, how can we sing about the concerns of migrants? How do we address the injustice that robs people of their homes? In the Gospel of Matthew, we read about the flight into Egypt. Jesus was a refugee. What is transformative about our meeting Christ as refugee? Here is a prayer for displaced people that we will sing this afternoon:
God, help the weary travelers who follow their star,
seeking a refuge, so near, yet so far,
seeking a place of shelter from hatred and war,
seeking the safety of some distant shore.
Refrain:
God, help the weary travelers, the lost and the found,
all of us travelers on this holy ground.
God, help the weary travelers, those just passing through,
all of us travelers with love’s work to do.
God, help the gifted people who come seeking gold,
far from their homelands, their lives bought and sold.
God, free us from the judgments that turn us to stone,
show us the river that flows from your throne.
God, lift new generations from muck and from mire,
baptized with water and Spirit and fire.
God, raise new generations with hearts set ablaze,
singing and dancing their Maker’s high praise.
Daniel Charles Damon
Words © 2013 Hope Publishing Company
In spite of its title, my hymn “Speak to a tattooed man” is not about tattoos, but about migrant workers trying to help their families. Listen to the text:
Speak to a tattooed man
and find he is a friend,
admit that he brings something new
to help the church unbend.
The ink that stains his arm
is dark and hard to read,
Psalm twenty-three is printed there,
and so he has his creed.
He comes from far away
and seeks a better life;
he hopes to earn enough to help
his children and his wife.
This man is made by God.
On city streets he stands.
Love does not lightly pass him by,
but takes his tattooed hands.
Daniel Charles Damon
Words © 2011 Hope Publishing Company
Human trafficking
In 2009, the United Nations Global Report on Trafficking in Persons presented some sobering facts. Although slavery is legally abolished worldwide, it still widely exists in a new form: human trafficking. This is a modern form of slavery in which “humans prey upon humans for money.” According to the Report, the most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation. The victims of sexual exploitation are predominantly women and girls. The second most common form is forced labor. Worldwide, almost 20% of all trafficking victims are children[ii]. Part of what makes human trafficking so insidious is that it is often hidden and goes unnoticed.
There are very few hymns on the topic of human trafficking. It is something we don’t like to look at. It is hard to imagine singing about it. Our hymnals may offer some texts about the general theme of captivity, but those texts fail to address the economic exploitation which is at the heart of human trafficking.
Shirley Murray is one writer who tries to address this injustice. With brutal clarity, she rails against those who seek money at the cost of human life in her text “Who would steal a life?” as she prays for God’s help to “wipe away this evil trade.”
Who Would Steal a Life (Who Would Hurt a Child)
A hymn to address human trafficking,
exploitation of children, and the relevance of the Gospel
Who would steal a life to satisfy a greed?
Who would buy a life, despairing and in need?
God, help us wipe away this evil trade,
make it now your people’s passionate crusade!
Who would hurt a child, lead innocents astray?
Who would do this thing and bear the light of day?
God, help us wipe away this evil trade,
make it now your people’s passionate crusade!
Who would taint the young who look for love and care,
slake a lust for lucre, harm the unaware?
God, help us wipe away this evil trade,
make it now your people’s passionate crusade!
Where the poor are punished, nothing left to sell
but their very bodies in a human hell,
**let us hear the Gospel, heed its urgent pleas:
as you would for Jesus, do for the least of these!
Interfaith version:
**God, help us wipe away this evil trade!
Every faith and culture join in this crusade!
Shirley Erena Murray
Words © 2015 Hope Publishing Company
Although I have been thinking about human trafficking for a few years, I too found it hard to know what to say. My text “When human life is bought and sold” is a corporate confession of our shared responsibility in this problem. In what ways are we part of the problem of human trafficking? How can we sing toward justice for the many people who suffer in this way?
When human life is bought and sold
as we stand idly by,
the Savior we would have and hold
is left alone to die.
As lives are wasted in this way
creation turns to dust,
good soil becomes a miry clay,
and greed consumes our trust.
The love that blessed the earth with life
has set us free to choose
a path that leads to hurt and strife,
a license to abuse.
Until we change our wanton ways
the world is hurt by sin.
Unless we stop and free these slaves,
we crucify again.
When any life is bought and sold
in service to some greed,
when life is measured out in gold,
the church must intercede
in prayer that cries for something more
with strength and tenderness,
until we find love’s open door,
and lives of righteousness.
Daniel Charles Damon
Words © 2015 Hope Publishing Company
Shortly after I wrote this text, I received some very thoughtful comments from Dr. Yvonne Zimmerman, a professor of Christian ethics. She noted that humans are no longer literally bought and sold at the auction block and technically we no longer have “slaves.” She was concerned that people who sing my hymn might not realize or understand the economic exploitation inherent in human trafficking. Questions like these help us open a conversation about an important topic.
In recognition that human trafficking is a major social justice issue, the current President of the Hymn Society, Jacque Jones, is seeking funding to hold a collaborative hymn writing retreat on human trafficking. The retreat “has the goal of producing hymns and congregational songs that raise awareness of, and sensitivity to, the plight of those who are trafficked.” Jones answers the question “How can we sing toward justice for victims of human trafficking?” with a powerful statement: “We strongly believe that songs fostered in a retreat like this can reach across boundaries and can ultimately have a very direct impact on the lives of the ‘needy and isolated individuals’ who are the victims of human trafficking by motivating and mobilizing those who have the power and resources to make a difference.”[iii]
Writing in that spirit, Jones shares a vision of hope and transformation for victims of human trafficking:
In the kingdom God envisions
everyone is free.
People formed in God’s own image
live with dignity.
All are safe and all have voices,
all have hope and all have choices.
When we pray “your kingdom come” this
is the world we see.
Darkened corners harbor victims
hidden from our sight,
fragile people held as objects
lives devoid of light;
robbed of freedom, robbed of voices,
robbed of hope and robbed of choices,
trust betrayed and lives exploited,
in this human blight.
Holy Spirit, guide your church to
action and rebirth;
help us work for those forgotten—
show their lives have worth.
We have freedom, we have voices,
we have hope and we have choices.
We are called to work for justice
as your hands on earth.
Copyright © 2013, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Our communities of faith birth and bathe us in an atmosphere of hope and faith. They nourish us with thanks and praise for the work we are doing for peace and justice in our time, and give us the strength to go on without becoming discouraged. Together we praise a God who includes and transcends gender. We give thanks to God and are blessed in our worship of that which we sense, but do not understand. We are finite creatures with infinite longings, and God is at work in us.
Let us be in prayer.
[i] John Wesley, “Directions for Singing, “ United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville: United Methodist Publishing House, 1989) p vii.
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/global-report-on-trafficking-in-persons.html
An Exercise in Creative Collaboration to Create New Congregational Songs
That Address the Topic of Human Trafficking,” January 2015, pp.7,8.
Joys and Concerns
Susan Wickesser, Doris Swope’s niece, has been cancer free for two years and living life to the fullest. She has just sent a message that new tumors have been found on her lungs. She has started chemotherapy. Please remember her in prayer for healing.
Our dear church friend, Pat King, Update: Pat had her surgery and her daughter is returning home this weekend. Pat cannot lift more than 10# for 2-3 weeks so she needs our help. Someone to take her grocery shopping and to carry in the bags. Help taking out garbage and lifting her laundry. If you can help please contact her at 375 1688 or kingp1@earthlink.net.
Kathe Kiehn is asking for healing prayers for her daughter, Karen Gagnier. Karen has survived breast cancer once and is now facing treatment for a new aggressive cancer in her other breast. Karen is currently undergoing a 5-6 week course of chemo and once that is completed she’ll have a second round with different drugs. She is trying to live her life as normally as possible and your prayers are welcome.
Please keep Katherine Parker, our missionary, and the people of Nepal in your prayers.
Deby McFadyen is requesting prayers for two young friends who are battling cancer. Please remember Sarah Talkington and Jimmy Lowe in your prayers.
News
Pastor Dan will be away February 22-29 teaching music in Toronto.
Saturday, February 13, the floor in Friendship Hall was stripped and washed and waxed with thanks to Fran Smith and Bill Thompson for coordinating it.
Barbara Haley visited the new Family Justice Center in Richmond which provides services for abused women. The center has social workers, police and attorneys all present to assist the victims. The center often has to send mothers with children to a safe home or shelter and they like to give them a soft, cuddly toy to take with them. Missions would like to be able to take some new stuffed toys with the tag still on them, to donate to the center. If you would like to donate a stuffed toy, we will be collecting them on Easter Sunday.
Volunteer needed: Pat Dornan will decorate the church for Easter, but will be out of town Easter weekend, so she will not be able to pick up lilies for Easter Sunday. We need someone to coordinate the sign-up and collection of money for people who want to get lilies in memory of loved ones and to buy the lilies and place them near the altar. Contact Alice Thompson (Worship Comm.) if you are able to do this. Alice: abthompson2@comcast.net.
Our friends at Saffron Strand wish to prepare and donate a lunch for our church family once a month in gratitude for the work Pastor Dan has been doing with them. They will be doing this the second Sunday of the month, beginning March 13.
Katherine Parker, missionary in Nepal: Update: Katherine will be here to speak with us on June 5, 6-9 pm.
The Blockade by Nepali dissidents near the Indian border is causing severe shortage of supplies, mainly fuel and medicines in Nepal. Many businesses have been shut down and hospitals will soon be running out of fuel to run their generators which means that surgeries and life saving incubators for babies will not be operational. The violence at the border has increased. Katherine is safe but electricity is dicey and life is harder. She is having to bathe in cold water and the team she is with are sharply curtailing driving. Hundreds of cars without fuel clog the streets of Katmandu. Winter is causing a crisis as is the loss of fuel for heating. Negotiations between the government and the dissidents is bogged down.
Generosity
Parsonage and Church Sewer Line: The parsonage sewer line, which is a shared line with the church sewer line, is leaking and needs replacement. It’s a long line that connects to the main sewer below the Catholic Church. Estimated cost is $7,100. We are also asking our congregation for donations to help fund this project. City of Richmond has a grant program for installing sewer laterals. We are in the process of applying for the grant. Grants may be given for $3000. Kim Butt is applying for us. Our thanks to Kim and Bill Thompson for the work they have done on this project.
We are continuing to move ahead with plans for the long-term financing of our church for generations to come through an Endowment program. The California-Nevada United Methodist Foundation has a planned giving website for your information. The site is: plannedgiving@canvumf.gift legacy.com. See what your options for giving are.
Imagine No Malaria continues to need your donations.
Events
Sunday, February 14 thru Sunday, March 13: Annual Heifer International collection of your pennies in memory of Helen Valentine. Hope you have been saving your change for this. Of course we take bills and checks as well. Heifer International provides animals, bees, trees and more to help those in need to start a business to improve their quality of life. Please donate generously.
Today, Saturday, February 20, Sweetheart Dinner. Russ and Kristi Johnson are our sweethearts for this year. Come and honor them for their years of dedicated service and love of our church and church community. Pt. San Pablo Yacht Club, 700 Cutting Blvd., Richmond, 6-9 pm. Tickets $50; make checks payable to Richmond First United Methodist Church and send to Fran Smith, 2149 Beaujolais Ct., Fairfield, CA 94533. Questions? contact Fran: junosmith @aol.com.
Sunday, February 21, 6 pm, San Francisco Munich Trio presents ” Salut d’Amour” with works from Beethoven, Elgar, Glinka and Tingley. Come enjoy an evening of classical music with Rebecca Rust, cello, Friedrich Edelmann, bassoon and Chris Salocks, piano. Donations: $15. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond.
Wednesday, February 24, 4 pm, in the kitchen! The Trustees, UMW and Paul Garnett will meet with Kim Butt to begin planning for the Kitchen Renewal Project.
Friday, February 26, 7:30 pm, Point Richmond Jazz presents “Five Play” and the PRJazz String Quartet. first United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond. Tickets in advance $18 (prjazz.org) at door $25.
Veteran Bay Area jazz Quintet, Five Play with guitarist Tony Corman, pianist Laura Klein, Dave Tidal on reeds, Alan Hall drums and Paul Smith bass, will be joined by the newly formed PR Jazz String Quartet with Anthony Blea and Kit Eakle on violins, Emily Onderdonk, viola, and Lewis Patzner, ‘cello, in an evening of original music by members of the 2 groups, including Tony Corman, Kit Eakle, Laura Klein, and Emily Onderdonk.
Saturday, March 5, 9:30 am-4 pm, Journey Farthest Out Spring Retreat is being held at our church. This is a great way to strengthen our spiritual connections through meditation, singing, speaker, rhythms, creative expression & sharing. Free event. Contact Jean Reynolds if you would like to attend: 510 734-3942 or sweetheart05@mac.com. Light breakfast provided, bring a lunch. See attachment.
Sunday, March 6, Special Sunday Offering for One Great Hour of Sharing. The donations made on this special Sunday provide the money for the administrative work for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) so that all your contributions designated for specific programs can go to those programs 100%.
Friday, March 11, 7:30 pm Point Richmond Acoustic presents John Reischman and The Jaybirds with Special guest Megan McLaughlin. This a top-flight bluegrass band. John Reischman has been described as one of the world’s undisputed masters of the mandolin. John, mandolin; Jim Nunally, guitar; Trisha Gagnon, bass; Nick Hornbuckle, banjo and Greg Spatz, fiddle. Megan McLaughlin, singer songwriter awarded by West Coast Songwriters best song in January 2016. Tickets $15 and more info at pointacoustic.org, $20 at the door. First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina St., Point Richmond.
Saturday, March 12, United Methodist Women’s Retreat. 8:30 am-3:45 pm the Napa Methodist Church. Open to all women. Retreat leader Rev. Holly Hillman, “Courage to Grow”. Please see brochure. Napa Methodist Church, 625 Randolph, Napa. Cost $18, includes continental breakfast and lunch.
Good Friday Services, 7:30 pm, March 25: Pinole United Methodist Church, 2000 San Pablo Ave., Pinole.
