On Saturday May 16th, musicians from many faith organizations (including Glide Memorial Church, City of Refuge UCC, and Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir) joined together for a day of teaching, fellowship, and artistic exchange, funded by the generous gift of the Haas Foundation.
Teachers included Mark Montgomery French and Zoë Ellis from Glide Memorial Church, Eric Gilbert from the First Covenant Church of Oakland, artist Nona Brown, Derrick Hall the Music Minister at Allen Temple, Dr. Rusty Watson, the Minister of Music at City of Refuge and Love Center Ministries, and Linda Tillery, from the Cultural Heritage Choir, among others. In this post we’d like to share a few gems from this amazing event. The famed UCC Bishop Yvette Flunder opened with a welcome and blessed the event.
Bishop Flunder encouraged the gathered musicians by telling them: “Songs and singings are at the forefront of every great social movement– both in Biblical times and today! Movements stay moving in large part due to MUSIC.” Bishop Flunder then sang, “I Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round,” (coincidentally, the very song Zoë Ellis had planned for Glide Memorial Church’s Celebration the next day!)
Then the participants received joyful, energy-filled lessons from musicians Nona and Rusty. When asked why they chose music ministry, they both replied, “I didn’t choose it– it chose me.”
Rusty told an inspirational story to encourage the participants present. When he first entered music leadership as a young man, he had anxiety about winning attention and acknowledgement for his work. After all, this is a world where most young artists are told they have the obligation to self-promote!
But Rusty’s mentor at the time gave him a wonderful piece of advice: “Stop worrying about YOU and start worrying about God and the work you’re doing. The rest will come.” After Rusty released his anxiety and just let it go, that’s when his reputation and fame began to grow organically. The lesson: our creativity is able to spread its wings when we are given permission to release our egos.
Lunch was catered by Rico Pabon from CaliRican Catering, a Puerto Rican catering company owned by a musician and a social justice activist! The participants enjoyed a spectacular fellowship lunch where they formed new friendships across many different music ministries in the Bay Area.
After lunch, Mark Montgomery French interviewed musician Tammy Hall, Eric Gilbert (Worship Director First Covenant Church of Oakland), and Derrick Hall (The Worship Arts Director at Allen Temple in Oakland) about the role of music in inspiring personal and social change. You can watch the panel here.
The grand finale of the day was a stunning lesson in music and music history from Linda Tillery, who taught the musicians field hollers, prison work songs, and old spirituals, educating them on the roots of Black music history in America. A moment when the workshop participants perfectly blended together three different spirituals into one glorious melody was absolutely magical.
One of the best moments for Glide Memorial Church’s Director of Music Ministries came the next day, when she spoke to Jay, a new alto in the choir, about how they enjoyed Roots and Resonance. Jay reflected on the role that music ministry played in personal transformation. “Bishop Yvette talked to us today about how the battle is often fought with music,” they said. “For me, the battle is often fought inside, and I feel alone. But my spirit felt less alone after this event.”
“It doesn’t get much better for me as a Director than that,” said Zoë Ellis, reflecting with satisfaction on Jay’s remark. “Community was built that day.” Special thanks to the City of Refuge audiovisual team whose help was instrumental for producing this event.
Special thanks to Marilyn Fowler, a lay minister at City of Refuge who was instrumental in organizing this event.
