Was treated today to two wonderful examples of Christian thought in action and a third in movement. First a socko sermon by Mother Liz at Holy Apostles (I'll post a link when it's available). Then the pastoral letter Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori sent out in response to the Archbishop of Canterbury's Pentecost message. It's called "Pentecost continues!" and argues for the continued value of the founding Anglican willingness to live in tension with a variety of efforts to discern the biddings of the Spirit, and the related conviction that the Body of Christ is only found when such diversity is welcomed with abundant and radical hospitality. Schori illuminates the larger context of disagreements over "human sexuality" with extraordinary theological seriousness and intelligence. It makes me proud to be part of the Episcopal Church, and grateful for its continuing witness.
And then this afternoon I went to a performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at BAM, which included its eponymous signature piece, "Revelations," which marries black church traditions and music with modern dance. (Above is a video of its opening scene, filmed in 1982; more's on Youtube, including the wondrous "Fix me.") It must have been the fourth or fifth time I've seen it, but it's fresh and moving each time. Yet somehow it only clicked for me today that it was premiered in 1960 - the year of the Greensboro lunch counter sit-in, when civil rights was only just getting started. How far we've come. And how recently.
And then this afternoon I went to a performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at BAM, which included its eponymous signature piece, "Revelations," which marries black church traditions and music with modern dance. (Above is a video of its opening scene, filmed in 1982; more's on Youtube, including the wondrous "Fix me.") It must have been the fourth or fifth time I've seen it, but it's fresh and moving each time. Yet somehow it only clicked for me today that it was premiered in 1960 - the year of the Greensboro lunch counter sit-in, when civil rights was only just getting started. How far we've come. And how recently.
