Exploring the complexities of First Church’s involvement in both abolition and segregation, and the recognition of the story of the land upon which it was built, members of the community imagine and move to re-member those whose hands built the city of Washington DC. Tales of actions taken in solidarity with escaping slaves and collaborative art performances also provide an entry point for considering the connections between faith, history and the spiritual practices of antiracism aimed at healing our communities and our world.
Featuring
Rev. Amanda Hendler-Voss
Senior Minister First Congregational UCC Washington, DC
Dr. Renee K. Harrison
Associate Professor of African American & U.S. Religious History at Howard University
and author of Black Hands, White House: Slave Labor and the Making of America
Questions for Reflection
- What hidden histories exist in your community and how might you go about excavating them?
- How do you imagine historical exploration creating openings for healing as a spiritual practice of antiracism?
- What do you think is the most significant historical event or fact in your life or the life of your community? What are creative ways you could envision to remember that historical event or fact?
Prayer
O God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, we thank you for being a refuge from one generation to another. We can trace the contours of your steadfast love throughout all times, even as we acknowledge those times where your vision of wholeness and flourishing has been broken and dishonored. Teach us to uncover what has been hidden and to lean into our discomfort, so that whether in lament or celebration, we will find the courage and persistence to tell the truth about our histories and allow those truths to point us toward healing justice and transforming love. In the name of the One whose love endures forever, we pray. Amen.
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