Wisdom Comes to Bring New Life to Birth

Whatever happened to Wisdom? In all my years growing up in church I never heard of God as Wisdom. I never heard God referred to as “She,” even though the Bible uses Wisdom as a female personification of God and refers to Wisdom as “She. “Happy are those who find Wisdom. 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 3:13,15,17-18).

More than ever, our country and our world are in deep need of Wisdom. But Wisdom is sadly missing. Instead of Wisdom, we have racism, sexism, misogyny, heterosexism, and other injustices. Instead of Wisdom, we have violence. Instead of Wisdom, we have greed. Instead of inclusive images of Deity that affirm all human beings as created in the divine image, we have exclusive images that devalue more than half of humanity. We need Wisdom and other female divine images so that there will be justice for females and for all human beings. Without Wisdom we all suffer.

In a world of divisions and brokenness, hatred and violence, Wisdom can bring peace, love, and wholeness. We can join Wisdom in labor to bring new life to birth.

Recording artist Shannon Kincaid sings “Sound Forth the News That Wisdom Comes,” with pictures from various artists. This video is a Christmas gift that comes with the hope that Wisdom will guide us 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

Visual Artists:

David Clanton: “Tree of Life” and two dancing children photos © David M. Clanton. Used with permission.

Lucy A. Synk: “Ruach” © Lucy A. Synk. Used with permission.

Alice Heimsoth: seven photos inside Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco, and two photos from “Sisters Stepp’in Pride” events © Alice Heimsoth. Used with permission.

Mirta Toledo: “Sophia” © 2003 Mirta Toledo. Used with permission.

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

Mary Plaster: “Sophia, Divine Wisdom” © 2003 Mary Plaster. Used with permission.

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

Instrumentalists:

Keyboard: Ron DiIulio

Guitar: Danny Hubbard

Bass & Percussion: Jerry Hancock

Music Producer/Arranger: Ron DiIulio