Dear friends and members of University UMC:
I returned yesterday from a quick trip to Baton Rouge with my husband, Paul. It was a spontaneous decision when we discovered some of our favorite musicians would be playing a concert there - the jazz fusion band The Yellowjackets and jazz vocalist Kurt Elling. They are all phenomenally gifted and the concert was electrifying. Music has always been a part of our world. Paul grew up with a father who was not only a United Methodist pastor but also played organ. My father was a band director and both my parents played in the Corpus Christi symphony. Knowing the powerful gift of music and being cheerleaders for young musicians, we were crushed to hear the news earlier this year that the executive order regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion resulted in the cancellation of the U.S. Marine Band’s concert featuring young musicians of color. In preparation for the concert, young people across the country submitted audition tapes and were selected for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play alongside the U.S. Marine Band. This collaboration would capture the very best of the human spirit, but it was canceled when the executive order ended DEI initiatives and the Marine Band members were instructed to stand down.
I thought this story ended there. But there was more to the story. One evening recently my father texted my brother, my sister, and me letting us know that 60 Minutes covered this story. The concert happened–not as originally planned, but it still happened. The cost of the young musician’s travel arrangements was covered by the generosity of others. Retired U.S. Marine Band musicians also traveled to play with the gifted young people. Rodney Dorsey, a Florida State University music professor and conductor, had originally been asked to conduct the concert and he still conducted. My father shared how this story conjured up a wide range of intense feelings for him. Anger at the devastating effects of canceling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Heartache for the young people caught up in this decision. And also, joy through tears to see people rising to meet this situation with healing and hope. If you haven’t already seen this story, I encourage you to do so. I share it in the spirit of offering some good news. The concert that would have been played in front of an audience of hundreds has now been seen by over a million people and is growing by the day.
Below you can find the link to this story and an inspiring quote by one of the young musicians, percussionist Rishab Jain. This Sunday in worship we continue the sermon series “Everything [in] Between” and we’ll look at the story from Luke’s Gospel of Mary and Martha. In the past, I’ve often asked, “Are you a Mary? Or are you a Martha?” But I’m learning there are better questions to ask. What if we are both? What if we can find peace living our lives in between? You’ll also find below a writing by Rev. Sarah Speed about Mary and Martha and here is a prayer at the start of your weekend:
