Invocation Given at the 50th Anniversary of Integration in Warren County, VA

"God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land."

Lord, we thank you for giving courage and strength

• to those who marched and were martyred to bring us to this day
  
• to those who suffered at the hands of the angry, the ignorant, and the fearful
  
• to those who were accused, abused, attacked, and assaulted
  
• to those who stood alongside, supported, and interceded
  
• to all those who worked together to loose the chains of injustice and oppression
  

Lord, we have come so far and yet we have so far still to go

Give us, we pray, our daily bread

• the same measure of courage and strength you gave those who have gone before us and forgive us even as we forgive others
• give us love, mercy, and compassion for those still filled with hate and fear

and lead us not into temptation

• but give us the strength, faith, and steadfastness needed to march on
  

and deliver us from evil, for evil abounds

• give us patience and perseverance when the day is long
• give us encouragement and hope when the night never ends

for yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever

• give us humility, we pray, for the battle belongs to You, O Lord
• our yesterdays, our todays, and our tomorrows are in your hands

In the prayerful words of Mary McLeod Bethune,

Father, we call Thee Father because we love Thee. We are glad to be called Thy children, and to dedicate our lives to the service that extends through willing hearts and hands to the betterment of all mankind. We send a cry of Thanksgiving for people of all races, creeds, classes, and colors the world over, and pray that through the instrumentality of our lives the spirit of peace, joy, fellowship, and brotherhood shall circle the world. We know that this world is filled with discordant notes, but help us, Father, to so unite our efforts that we may all join in one harmonious symphony for peace and brotherhood, justice, and equality of opportunity for all men (and women). The tasks performed today with forgiveness for all our errors, we dedicate, dear Lord, to Thee. Grant us strength and courage and faith and humility sufficient for the tasks assigned to us.

I ask Lord, that your blessing be upon each person gathered here today.  And that you will bless this time of remembrance and celebration.

Amen

Where were our churches!?

I felt very honored to be asked to give the invocation a few days ago at the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of School Integration in Warren County, VA.  I'll post the invocation I gave as a separate blog as a number of people have requested a copy.

The 2-plus hour service was absolutely wonderful.  It was held in the state-of-the-art auditorium at Skyline High School.  There were only 350 people in attendance.  I say "only" because given the importance of the occassion and the incredible program that was put together, it should have been standing room only.  But the 350 people that were there had a chance to experience a moment or racial reconciliation and healing that is still so needed in our county.

It also turned out to be the most amazing worship service I have been to in recent memory.  The choir of Warren County Middle School, the combined choirs of Warren County High School and Skyline High School, the Annointed Voices community choir, and a particulary moving solo by Bo Flynn contained so much Gospel -- Good News -- that I could but worship as I listened.

A local Sociologist/Historian gave a restrospective of the events that took place 50 years ago and gave a hopefull mesage for the future.  And the keynote speaker, Mr. Jack Gravely, spoke Truth to all who were there to listen.  He didn't preach but he preached!  I pray for the day that I might have an ounce of his ability to communicate Truth.

A number of the first 23 African American children to be integrated into Warren County High School were also present.  Rev. James Kilby, the organizer of the event and the son of the late James Kilby, Sr. -- who led the efforts to bring integration to Warren County, at great personal sacrifice -- was accompanied by his sister, Betty Kilby, who also was one of the first 23.  They each shared some of their personal experiences and reflects.  They and the others that marched up the hill to Warren County High School fifty years ago are true heroes.

It was a wonderful afternoon.  But there was one thing that saddened me greatly.  There were very few churches in our area that participated in the service and even fewer pastors.  It struck me that this would have been a perfect opportunity for churches to come together in the sort of unity that Jesus himself prayed that we would have (John 17).  But where were the pastors and churches that decry that God, prayer, and the Bible are being excluded from our Public Schools? And where were the pastors and churches that decry that those other churches and pastors aren't doing enough to impact the world around them?

God's Word was proclaimed in word, in prayer, in song, and in deed this last Saturday afternoon at Skyline High School.  It was Church, but where were our churches and pastors!?