On New Year’s Eve 1862, African Americans gathered in secret to celebrate Watch Night, a tradition of prayer and reflection, as they awaited the Emancipation Proclamation and the promise of freedom.
Category: Religion
Posted inReligion
7 Christmas carols that bear a touch of soul
African American artists have contributed to the repertoire of Christmas carols with songs such as “Mary’s Boychild”, “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow”, “This Christmas”, “Go Tell it On The Mountain”, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy”, and “Jesus. Jesus. Oh, What a Wonderful Child”, which have been recorded and re-arranged numerous times since their inception.
Posted inWord In Black
Seven creative ways to teach students about Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa offers a vibrant celebration of African culture and Black pride, and educators can teach its seven principles by assigning projects that foster unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Posted inReligion
Meet the Baltimore pastor bridging the gap between old and new
Rev. Terrence Rogers is bridging the gap between preparation and practice as senior pastor of West Baltimore’s Gethsemane Baptist Church, engaging younger generations through voter education programs and digital ministry.
Posted inReligion
A celebration of love: Pastor Jamal Bryant and Dr. Karri Bryant host regal wedding reception
by Dana Peck, Digital Solutions Director danapeck@afro.com On Thursday December 12th in an atmosphere filled with joy, gratitude and divine inspiration, Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and Dr. Karri Bryant celebrated their union with a spirited reception that united friends, family and faith leaders. Pastor Bryant, who served as […]
Posted inReligion
Old traditions, new paths: The priesthood of Merrick Moses
Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware profiles Baltimore-based priest Father Merrick Moses, who is a cradle Roman Catholic, Benedictine monk, and LGBTQ+ advocate, and who uses his personal and spiritual journey to inspire others to walk out their faith.
Posted inWord In Black
Advent: A preview of the reason for the Christmas season
Advent is a season of waiting, preparation, and meditation, marked by an advent wreath and the lighting of candles, and is a time for Christians to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ and his second coming.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: On the wrong side of theology: Why it’s time to say goodbye to the Catholic Church
After 72 years as a Roman Catholic, Ralph Moore has decided to leave the Church due to its lack of progress on issues such as ordaining women, racial discrimination, sexism, and sexual abuse, and its refusal to allow women or married persons to become priests.
Posted inReligion
From Bach to Beyonce, why a church orchestra aims to lift up young musicians of color
New Hope Presbyterian Church in Anaheim, California has started a string orchestra for students of color, led by a Black female pastor and mentored by professionals who look like the young musicians they help guide, with the goal of promoting equity in classical music.
Posted inBaltimore Community
‘Black Nativity’ opens at Baltimore Center Stage
ArtsCentric’s production of “Black Nativity” is set to run from Nov. 30 – Dec. 22 at Baltimore Center Stage, featuring a Black lens on the Christmas story with jazz, blues, spirituals, and gospel music, as well as special events such as HBCU Night and an ASL performance.
Posted in#FaithWorks
Would Jesus go shopping on Black Friday?
In a consumerist age, 10 members of the “Unfit Christian” congregation share whether the Messiah would hit up the sales. By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Every major religion has its holy days. But for some folks, maybe Black Friday — the annual ritualistic shopping day on the Friday following Thanksgiving — should be added to […]
Posted inReligion
Faith and charity merge in Baltimore nonprofit
Associated Black Charities of Maryland is sponsoring a spiritual revival at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church to honor the roots of the organization and renew the collective dedication to faith and the community.
