f / f Portland Observer Thursday, February 8, 197« Page 7 The Black spirituals Part I A Testament ol Hope (or Our T im e. The Hlark spirituals grew out of the Blark experience with human enslave rnent in America. The spirituals are unique in the modern world in terms of their insights or perceptions regarding God's relationship to the world and to all who are God's creatures. In thia regard, the Black spirituals are strikingly similar to much of the spirit of the Old Testament literature. Indeed, in the minds of many, the literature of the spirituals is seen as a kind of Third Testament. It js said to add a new dimension of hope to the "God Eneount ers" in the present Old and New Testaments. In our present exploitative or colonial iat minded world, the images of God are presented largely in concepts or symbols which either make God into an idea which is subscribed to by a statement ol faith or they make God into a controllable companion. The spirituals portray or reveal a vastly different God, To the Black men. women and children locked in the iron bonds of enslavement, God could not be experienced as an idea or a kind of tamed domestic pet or business partner and have validity. To the Black situation in American bondage, the God met and known by Daniel in the lions den had meaning This was the God of Rescue and Salvation. What the enslaved Black community needed was divine or total salvation from a sub human and dehumanizing system ol captivity. Being devoured by a lion was Benedict College president visits UF similar although perhaps leaser peril than the perpetual or lifelong endurance of the indignities of human enslavement. Almost instinctively, in the collective experience of the Black enslaved com munity, the Old Testament God of Rescue and Salvation came to be encountered and experienced in daily reality. We shall see God liberating later. But initially God came to the enslaved community under standing the depraved condition which had been imposed upon it. The community sang, using the pronoun “I" for “we" as an expression of absolute or ultimate communal identity. There arose from their lips the words: Nobody knows de trouble I see, Nobody knows but Jesus: Nobody knows de trouble I see, Glory, hallelujah! ••• The sense of "glory" in the midst of suffering was the glory of encountering and being with the God of Rescue who came proclaiming salvation even while the chains were still unlocked. This note of confident joy on the part of demeaned Black people is still evident today. It served as a sign ol victory over what others would want to be death or diminution in the past. And it serves that same purpose today. We can never afford, especially as well educated Black people, to pretend such superficial sophistication as to deny the supremely saving elements in our priceless inheritance. Our threatened and guilt ridden detractors win out each time (Part II will deal with "Joy in the Struggle") M a r tin Luther King, Jr. Additional Biographical Information Martin Luther King. Jr. helped revolutionize the status of the American black through a decade of nonviolent demonstrations. It began with the bus boycott of 1955-1956‘in Montgomery, Alabama and continued through the Selma March of 1965. King was born in Atlanta where his mother had been a school teacher before her marriage King’s father served as pastor of the Ebcnezcr Baptist Church in Atlanta, beginning in 1932. King's heritage was m ilita nt. His grandfather, Reverend Williams, was a founder and member of the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP. King was exposed to further militancy when his father was called "boy" by a local policeman. Reverend King, pointing to his son, responded angrily, “ That's a boy. I’m a man’’ Young King attended the public schools of Atlanta and skipped the ninth and twelfth grades, lie was only 15 years of age when he entered his father's Alma Mater, Morehouse College, in Atlanta. He had planned to be a dk F air to display and sell recent inspirational works from many publishing firms: Jewish, Catholic. Protestant, Interfaith. There will be times to sing and dance together, times to seek the solitude of spiritual retreat, times to receive the Good News of the Gospel from invited lecturers. A "Lenten Film Fare on Religious Themes" has been announced, Scripture Study continues, a Seminar on “Current Religious Writing" is in progress, another on the Spirituality of Teilhard de Chardin is being planned. America's Bicentennial is a time to look back from where we started to where we are now. Over two hundred years ago the citizens' first freedom, freedom of religion, led groups to escape persecution by their fellow Christians of other denominations for isolated settlement in the welcoming new land. Congrega- tionalists sought for their freedom in New England. Catholics found theirs in Maryland, Quakers theirs in Pennsyl­ vania. Koinoni House represents an evolution of religion in America. Chris­ tians are coming together, finding the commonalities that make them one as they live by the same Word of God, revealed in Christ. The forward thrust, the progress that Koinonia House re­ flects, was first spoken by the Word: "That they may all be one as Thou, Father, in Me and I in Thee, that they may be One in Us." Wc invite you to be one with us. Come to Koinonia House. OBITUARIES William "Buddy” Frazier. 4206 N.E. 6th Avenue, died at the University of Oregon Medical School Hospital on February 1st, 1976. He was born in Magnolia. Arkansas on February 29th, 1916. Frazier worked for eighteen years as a laborer for the Pacific Marine Service Company in Portland and was a member of laborers Union No. 296. He retired in August of 1974. Survivors are: Children - Bobbie. Billie. Pattie Williams, Gloria Harold, and Vernell Carter. Brothers Joe Frazier and John McCall, Sister Roana Douglas; fourteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and eight neices and nephews. The funeral will be held on February 6th at 12:00 noon at Caldwell's Colonial Mortuary, with entombment at Rose City Mausoleum. Reverend Rernard Devers will officiate. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Bethel AME Church 5826 N.E. 8th - 288 5429 Portland 97211 Rev. A. Lee Henderson Hm. 282 0067. BAPTIST CHURCHES CHRISTIAN CHURCHES Christian Churches in Ore. 0245 S.W. Bancroft Portland 97201 Regional Minister, Russell Hensley Irving Park Christian 831 N.E. Fremont St. Phone 281 0608 Portland 97212 Pastor Webster B. Turner Hm. 281 1342 Mallory Avenue Christian 126 N.E. Alberta St. Portland 97211 Rev. Dale Stitt Hm 281 9554 Antioch Missionary Baptist 5935 N. Minnesota Phone 289 2364 Portland 97211 Rev. Felton Howard Berean Baptist Church 4822 N. Vancouver Portland 97212 Rev. WiUie Peterson Phone 281 5672 Ebenezer Baptist 3707 N. Williams Portland 97227 Rev. Percy Manuel Phone 284 2864 Highland Baptist 607 N.E. Alberta St. Phone 288 1115 Portland 97211 Rev, George Dick St. Mark Baptist 119 N.E. Morris Phone 287 7457 Portland 97212 Rev. E.C. Wilder Morning Star Baptist 106 N.E. Ivy Phone 281 4925 Portland 97212 Rev. Sylvester McCulumn Hm. 287 5036 New Hope Baptist 3725 N. Gantenbein Phone 281-6746 Portland 97227 Rev. A. Bernard Devers Hm. 288-1946 New Light Baptist 75 N.E. Wygant St. Phone 282 7880 Portland 97211 Rev. John Malone Hm. 284 6302 Mt. Olivet Baptist 116 N.E. Schuyler Phone 281 4925 Portland 97212 Rev. John Jackson St. Paul Baptist 8101 N. Fiske St. Phone 2X9^0,47 Portland 97227 Rev. Cannot] Providence Baptist 313 N.E. Failing St. Portland 97212 Rev. Eugene Boyd, Jr. Hm. 281 4110 CHURCHES OF CHRIST Albina Church of Christ 3908 Mallory Phone 288 1092 Portland 97212 Rev. Richmond UNITED CHURCHES O F C H R IST Highland United 4635 N.E. 9th Portland 97212 Rev. Samuel Johnson Ph. 287 9567 Hm. 287 5341 CHURCH OFGOD PENTECOSTAL Good Samaritan COGIC 4801 N.E. 9th Phone 282 8875 Portland 97211 Rev. F.J. Crear Hm 287 0165 Sellwood COGIC 8051 S.E. 16th Phone 236 1073 Portland 97202 Rev B.T. Wells Mt. Sinai COGIC 801 N.E. Failing Phone 284 0854 Portland 97211 Rev. W.G. Hardy Solid Rock COGIC 4237 N. Mississippi Phone 289 4595 Portland 97227 Rev. A.R. Hopkins Williams Temple 241 N.E. Hancock Phone 282 1396 Rev. Earnest W. Rand Hm. 2882691 EPISCOPAL CHURCHES St. Phillips Episcopal Church 120 N.E. Knott Phone 281 5802 Portland 97212 Father Bill Wetzel A rk of Safety .84 N.E. Pentecostal Phone 288 9418 Portland 97211 Bishop U.V. Peterson Hm. 285 9418 LUTHERAN CHURCHES Augustana Lutheran — 2710 N.E. 14th Phone 2886174 Community Church of God Pastor Kindschuh 202 N.E. Skidmore Peace Lutheran Phone 281 5678 2201 N. Portland Blvd. Portland 97211 Phone 289 1070 Pastor V. Brown Portlnad 97217 Pastor Dewayne Bey Redeemer Lutheran 5431 N.E. 20th CHURCHES OF GOD Phone 287 7553 IN CHRIST Portland 97217 Evangelistic Center Rev. Dennis D. Marttala 522 N. Albina Hm. 287 3015 Phone 285-1156 Rev. Samuel M. Irving UNITED METHODIST Gethsemane COGIC CHURCHES 801 N.E. Failing Patton Central Phone 287 3463 5023 N. Michigan Portland 97211 Phone 281 7328 Rev. R.L. Menefeehlm Portland 97217 Hm. 284 8480 Rev. Bob Dowrey Greater Mt. Calvary COGIC Woodlawn 1234 N.E. Killingsworth 1425 N.E. Dekum St. Phone 284 3721 Phone 289-0284 Portland 97211 Portland 97211 Bishop H.B. Daniels Hm. 774-1294 — «•» St. Luke COGIC 2700 N.E. Sumner Phone 287 8345 Portland 97212 Rev. Roosevelt Thomas New Hope COGIC 5125 N.E. 24th M t. Sinai Baptist Phone 281 4587 602 N.E. Prescott Portland 97221 Phone 282 6773 Rev. B.E. Johnson Portland 97211 McKinney Temple COGIC Rev. L.L. Ransom 1737 N.E. Alberta Vancouver Ave. 1st Baptist Phone 282 8522 3132 N. Vancouver Bishop W.L. McKinney Phone 282 9496 Hm. 285 7606 Portland 97227 Mt. Nebo COGIC Dr. O.B. Williams 4077 N.E. 9th Hm. 289 7417 Phone 282 3633 Rev. Jonah Taylor CATHOLIC CHURCHES Overstreet Powerhouse St. Andrews Temple COGIC 806 N.E. Alberta St. 4525 Williams Phone 281 4429 Phone 282 6880 Portland 97211 Portland 97212 Father Griffin Burt Rev. Overstreet Immaculate Heart St. Paul COGIC 2926 N. Williams Ave. 2859 N.E. Rodney Phone 287 3724 Phone 287 7998 Portland 97227 Portland 97212 Father Bill Curtin Bishop J.C. Foster Father Bernard Rinehart Hm. 282 8474 Rev. Watcht Oyanagt Hughes Memorial 111 N.E. Failing Portland 97217 Rev. Waichi Oyanagi NONDENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES Albina Ministerial Alliance 126 N.E. Alberta St. Portland 97211 Rev. John Jackson Hm 288 3603 Director NNEA 3905 N. Vancouver Ave. Portland 97227 Rev. Williams Emanuel Hospital Chaplain 2801 N. Gantenbien Portland 97227 Rev. William F. Adix Hm. 284 0773 Faith Tabernacle 5926 N.E. 26th Phone 282 8071 Portland 97211 Bishop L.W. Osborne Maranatha 1222 N.E. Skidmore Phone 288 7241 Portland 97211 Pastor John Parker attend church this week ALLEN TEMPLE CME CHURCH Corner of 8th and Skidmore Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00a.m. Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p.m. (Second nd Fourth Sundays) Reverend Thomas L. Strayhand. Minister A. Lee Henderson, Minister 5828 N.E. 8th 2 8 8 -5 4 2 9 -, IZ" Q. Church School Morning Worship Wed. Noon - The Hour of Power Wed. Prayer A Class Meeting Nnraery Care Provided 9:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 Noun 7:30 p.m. “WE ARE MAKING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD A BROTHERHOOD" ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH 806 N .E . Alberta Street Reverend Bertram Griffin, Pastor 2814429 5:0» p.m. Vigil - Saturday 10:00 i n . Choir - Sunday 12:00 p.m. Falk - Sunday ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY SCHOOL 491» N .E . 9th Ave. Nerita Kelly, Principal Phone: 284-102» Grades 1 through 8<(