“Praise Ruah, Spirit Who Gives Birth” Video
“Ruah” by Stacy Boorn
This video calls us to give thanks and to conserve the world of beauty, peace, and justice created by Ruah.
This video is a gift for your Thanksgiving!
Rev. Larry E. Schultz conducts the Chancel Choir of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, in singing “Praise Ruah, Spirit Who Gives Birth,” with pictures from various artists, to the tune of “All Creatures of Our God and King.”
Ruah, the Hebrew word for “Spirit,” comes at the beginning of the Genesis account of creation. “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit (Ruah) was moving over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). The Hebrew word for “Spirit” (Ruah) is feminine in form. Ruah moved over the waters to bring forth all life. The word Ruah also means “breath.” Ruah is the Breath of Life. Ruah breathes Her life into all, giving birth to the universe.
This central picture at the beginning and throughout the video is Lucy A. Synk’s “Ruah” painting.
© Lucy A. Synk. Used with permission. http://lucysynkfantasyart.com/print_gallery.
This photograph in the video is of Rev. Sheila Sholes-Ross, co-chair of the national, ecumenical, multicultural Equity for Women in the Church Community. The purpose of this Community is to advocate and network for clergywomen across denominations and cultures to facilitate access and congregational receptivity so that they find clergy positions in order to transform church and society.
Praise Ruah,* Spirit who gives birth to worlds unknown and life on earth. O praise Her! Hallelujah!Stars dancing mystery through the nightshow forth Her joy and endless light.Praise Ruah! Hallelujah!Praise the great Creative Spirit!Come and praise Her! Day dawns at sound of Ruah’s voice;wake all creation to rejoice:O praise Her! Hallelujah!Sun gleams like diamonds on the dew;birds join to sing the hymn anew:Praise Ruah! Hallelujah!Praise the great Creative Spirit!Come and praise Her! Tall trees in red and golden dressand ripened fruits their Maker bless:O praise Her! Hallelujah!Come now and gather harvest home;all beings feel a deep shalom.Praise Ruah! Hallelujah!Praise the great Creative Spirit!Come and praise Her! Cold winds and drifts of icy snowpart us from all that we would know.O praise Her! Hallelujah!Each soul awaits in slumber deepHer warming love to wake from sleep.Praise Ruah! Hallelujah!Praise the great Creative Spirit!Come and praise Her! Fresh tulips lift their crimson cups;hope newborn in the heart leaps up; O praise Her! Hallelujah!Wildflowers rising into viewclothe fertile fields in rainbow hue;Praise Ruah! Hallelujah!Praise the great Creative Spirit!Come and praise Her!Words © Jann Aldredge-Clanton; Stanza 4, Karen Ivy; Music Arrangement © Larry E. Schultz; from Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians (Eakin Press, 2006)
Recording © Jann Aldredge-Clanton & Larry E. Schultz; from Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians CD (Eakin Press, 2007)
Music: Chancel Choir of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina (http://www.pullen.org/). Conductor Rev. Larry E. Schultz
Visual Artists:
Lucy A. Synk: “Ruach” painting © Lucy A. Synk. Used with permission. http://lucysynkfantasyart.com/print_gallery
Stacy Boorn: “Urban Taxi” photo © Stacy Boorn. Used with permission. http://stacy.awegallery.com/; http://www.awegallery.com/index.php?page=artists&aid=1
Alice Heimsoth: photo of Rev. Stacy Boorn and some members of Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco (http://www.herchurch.org/) © Alice Heimsoth. Used with permission. http://www.aliceheimsoth.com/Other/herchurch-Easter-2012/22366832_Whhj3j#%21i=1792348850&k=DT4MQbt
David Clanton: photos of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church Choir, Orchestra, & Congregation, and tulip blooming in the snow © David M. Clanton. Used with permission. http://www.davidclanton.com/
Recording by: Ward Productions, Pinehurst, North Carolina