Inclusive Advent and Christmas Carols, Sung by Shannon Kincaid and Pullen Memorial Baptist Church

O Holy Darkness, Loving Womb

Recording artist Shannon Kincaid sings “O Holy Darkness, Loving Womb,” with pictures from various artists, to the tune of “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” This song symbolizes darkness as creative bounty and beauty, and connects darkness to the Sacred Feminine, empowering us to end injustice and heal the wounds of Earth. “O Holy Darkness, Loving Womb” contributes to racial justice by changing the traditional symbolism of darkness as evil or ominous to darkness as creative bounty and beauty, affirming the sacred value of people of color through these positive images.

This video is a gift for your Advent meditations.

O Holy Darkness, loving Womb, who nurtures and creates,

sustain us through the longest night with dreams of open gates.

We move inside to mystery that in our center dwells,

where streams of richest beauty flow from sacred, living wells.

 

Creative Darkness, closest Friend, you whisper in the night;

you calm our fears as unknown paths surprise us with new sight.

We marvel at your bounty, your gifts so full and free,

unfolding as you waken us to new reality.

 

O Holy Night of deepest bliss, we celebrate your power;

infuse us with your energy that brings our seeds to flower.

The voice out of the darkness excites our warmest zeal

to bring together dark and light, true holiness reveal.

 

O come to us, Sophia; your image, black and fair,

stirs us to end injustice and the wounds of earth repair.

The treasures of your darkness and riches of your grace

inspire us to fulfill our call, our sacredness embrace.

 

Words  © Jann Aldredge-Clanton, from Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians (Eakin Press, 2006)

Vocal Artist: Shannon Kincaid, http://www.shannonkincaid.com/

Visual Artists:

Stacy Boorn: “Mystery,” “Smokey Sky,” “Mother & Child,” “Dancing after Work at ‘Speak I’m Listening,’” “Streams,” “Sunset,” “Feather Dance,” “Sunrise Crete,” “Holy Night,” “Addis Ababa Market Vendors,” “Seeds to Flower,” and “LightDarkness” © Stacy Boorn. Used with permission http://stacy.awegallery.com/;   http://www.awegallery.com/index.php?page=artists&aid=1

David Clanton: “Garden for Good or Evil” © David M. Clanton. Used with permission.  http://www.davidclanton.com/;  http://david-clanton.artistwebsites.com/

Mirta Toledo: “Sophia” © 2003 Mirta Toledo, http://www.afrolatinart.com/#/mirta-         toledo/4532396991; https://www.jannaldredgeclanton.com/books.php#book3

Shannon Kincaid: “Oprah & Child”

Elizabeth Zedaran: “Flow”

Instrumentalists:

http://www.thecrawfishband.com/

Keyboard: Ron DiIulio

Guitar: Danny Hubbard

Bass & Percussion: Jerry Hancock

Music Producer/Arranger: Ron DiIulio

 Midwife Divine Now Calls Us

Rev. Larry E. Schultz conducts the choir and congregation of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, in singing “Midwife Divine Now Calls Us” to a familiar hymn tune, with pictures from various artists.

One of the Divine Feminine names and images in the Bible is that of Midwife. “Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother’s breast. On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me, you have been my God” (Psalm 22:9-10). In this psalm, the poet expresses feelings of being forsaken and persecuted, and finds reassurance in this picture of God’s tender care beginning at birth. Another image of the Divine Midwife comes in Isaiah 66:9: “’Shall I open the womb and not deliver?’ says God; ‘shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb?’ says your God.” The image of the Divine Midwife joins with the image of the Divine Mother to strengthen the biblical picture of God’s intimate involvement with us.

This song invites us to join with the Divine Midwife in bringing new life to birth within ourselves and throughout the world.

Words  © Jann Aldredge-Clanton, from Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians (Eakin Press, 2006). For permissions, contact: www.jannaldredgeclanton.com. For additional inclusive music for all ages, see: https://www.jannaldredgeclanton.com/music.php

Performed by: Chancel Choir of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina (http://www.pullen.org/). Conductor: Rev. Larry E. Schultz

Visual Artists:

Stacy Boorn: “Her-Galaxy” © Stacy Boorn. Used with permission. http://stacy.awegallery.com/;  http://www.awegallery.com/index.php?page=artists&aid=1

Mary Plaster: “Sophia, Divine Wisdom” © 2003 Mary Plaster. Used with permission.  http://www.maryplaster.com/mary.html

Alice Heimsoth: photo of drummers and dancers, Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco (http://www.herchurch.org/) © Alice Heimsoth. Used with permission. http://www.aliceheimsoth.com/Other/Faith-and-Feminisn-Conference/20163387_3JtgVM#%21i=1593178442&k=ZFmSvRF

David Clanton: photo of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church Choir, Orchestra, & Congregation © David M. Clanton. Used with permission.  http://www.davidclanton.com/;  http://david-clanton.artistwebsites.com/

Recorded by: Ward Productions, Pinehurst, North Carolina

Sound Forth the News That Wisdom Comes

Recording artist Shannon Kincaid sings “Sound Forth the News That Wisdom Comes,” with pictures from various artists, to the tune of “Joy to the World.” The book of Proverbs depicts Wisdom as a female image of the Divine: “She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with Her. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all Her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of Her; those who hold Her fast are called happy” (Proverbs 3: 15, 17-18). “Sound Forth the News That Wisdom Comes” calls us to co-create with Wisdom a world of peace, justice, equality, love, freedom, and joy.

This video is a Christmas gift that comes with the hope that Wisdom will guide us to change our violent culture and to co-create with Her a peaceful world.

Sound forth the news that Wisdom comes

to bring new life to birth.

Arise with hope, Her labor join,

and peace shall fill the earth,

and peace shall fill the earth,

and peace, and peace shall fill the earth.

 

No more let fear and custom hide

the path of Wisdom fair.

She leads the way to life and joy,

with gifts for all to share,

with gifts for all to share,

with gifts, with gifts for all to share.

 

Joyful are we who heed the call

of Wisdom in our souls.

With Her we break oppression’s wall,

so love may freely flow,

so love may freely flow,

so love, so love may freely flow.

 

Crown Wisdom Queen of heaven and earth.

Her reign will set us free.

Fling wide the gates that all may come

join hands and dance with glee,

join hands and dance with glee,

join hands, join hands and dance with glee.

 

Words  © Jann Aldredge-Clanton, from Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians (Eakin Press, 2006).

Vocal Artist: Shannon Kincaid, http://www.shannonkincaid.com/

Visual Artists:

David Clanton: “Tree of Life” and two dancing children photos © David M. Clanton. Used with permission.  http://www.davidclanton.com/; http://david-clanton.artistwebsites.com/

Lucy A. Synk: “Ruach” © Lucy A. Synk. Used with permission. http://lucysynkfantasyart.com/print_gallery

Alice Heimsoth: seven photos inside Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco (http://www.herchurch.org/) and two photos from “Sisters Stepp’in Pride” events © Alice Heimsoth. Used with permission. http://www.aliceheimsoth.com/gallery/258290; http://www.aliceheimsoth.com/Other/herchurch-Easter-2012/22366832_Whhj3j#%21i=1792348850&k=DT4MQbt; http://www.aliceheimsoth.com/Other/Faith-and-Feminisn-Conference/20163387_3JtgVM#%21i=1593178442&k=ZFmSvRF; http://www.aliceheimsoth.com/Events/2006/Sisters-Steppin-Pride/1832109_NXQqNT#!i=91664484&k=s9sTA

Mirta Toledo: “Sophia” © 2003 Mirta Toledo. Used with permission.  http://www.afrolatinart.com/#/mirta-         toledo/4532396991; https://www.jannaldredgeclanton.com/books.php#book3

Shannon Kincaid: “Oprah & Child” and “Queen Maeve” paintings © Shannon Kincaid. Used with permission.

Mary Plaster: “Sophia, Divine Wisdom” © 2003 Mary Plaster. Used with permission. http://www.maryplaster.com/mary.html

Elizabeth Zedaran: “Flow” © Elizabeth Zedaran. Used with permission.

Instrumentalists:

http://www.thecrawfishband.com/

Keyboard: Ron DiIulio

Guitar: Danny Hubbard

Bass & Percussion: Jerry Hancock

Music Producer/Arranger: Ron DiIulio