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Africana Worship Book Series Helps "Redeemed of the Lord to Say So!"

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://photos.gbod.org

The Rev. Marilyn Thornton preaches during a dedication service in Upper Room Chapel, October 29.

"How can African Americans tell the story of God's deliverance without knowing or referring to Africana heritage, without knowing about or celebrating the saints that went on before in the path of deliverance?" asked Thornton, a contributor to each volume in the series.

Africana is the term used to describe those persons, regardless of where they live, who can trace their ancestry back to Africa.

The Africana Worship Book series display

"We've got to tell the whole story about Jarena Lee and Julia Foote, who preached even though black men who clamored for their own freedom refused them freedom.

"We must tell the story of Leontine T. C. Kelly, the first black female bishop in any denomination," says Thornton.

"More than thirty writers of African descent have answered our call to articulate the common faith through the lens of African experience," said the Rev. George Donigian, editorial director of Discipleship Resources.

The Rev. Safiyah Fosua, director of invitational preaching, and the Rev. George Donigian, editorial director, Discipleship Resources

"The results have overwhelmed us and the worldwide community of faith has been given an opportunity to 'overhear' the sacred conversation through the publication of four distinct volumes: three books of liturgy written to support the use of the Revised Common Lectionary for years A, B and C, and a fourth volume with essays on worship in the black church," he said.

Drawing on Psalm 107:1-3 as her text, Thornton said the text admonishes that the redeemed of the Lord should say so.

"The story of God's deliverance is peculiar and particular to the heritage of the people." she said. "The redeemed of the Lord cannot say so unless they know."

"We honor God when we tell the story. Africana liturgy teaches us to honor the lives of the saints. To tell the story of the saints is honoring an ancient art that engages the hearts and minds and of all the senses," Thornton said.

Following the pattern of the two earlier Africana volumes, this book offers calls to worship, litanies, choral readings, confessions, creeds, benedictions, and many special prayers. Africana Year C includes resources for special days, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Juneteenth Day, World Communion Sunday, and All Saints Day.

Contributor Tony Peterson signs Africana Worship Book: Year C for Anne Trudel, editor for Upper Room Books.

This hardcover book includes a bound-in CD that includes interviews and comments on the series from Bishop Linda Lee, Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Eric H.F. Law, Rudy Rasmus, Tyrone Gordon, and others. As with the earlier editions, users may cut and paste materials from the CD for use in congregational worship.

The Africana Worship Book: Year C
General Editor: Valerie Bridgeman Davis
Associate Editor: Safiyah Fosua
7 5/16" x 9 1/4"
280 pages, hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-88177-545-7
Price: $32.00
Order from Discipleship Resources

The General Board of Discipleship's mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD (www.gbod.org) is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at 877-899-2780, ext. 7017.