“Midwife Divine Now Calls Us” Video

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.

Midwife Divine now calls us forth from our safest place,

beckoning always forward out into unknown space.

She sings a birthing song

to calm our fears and help us

through days so hard and long.

 

Midwife Divine inspires us through holy darkness deep,

moving through realms of mystery to wake all dreams that sleep.

Her loving plan unfolds

as tenderly She guides us

through pathways new and bold.

 

O may we join Her labor to bring new life to birth;

crowned in Her ancient splendor, we claim our sacred worth.

Our Midwife shows the way

to worlds of love and beauty,

more than our words can say.

 

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