Page 6, Portland Observer, January 27, 1988 RELIGION Scripture of the Week: II C orinthians —Ch. 5 Daring to Embrace When W e A ren't Sure My Journey by Thomasina A. Yuille I walked one day with Pleasure, We sang a lilting song, But, at our parting, not a measure Remained to help my steps along. I walked one day with Sorrow, The journey sad, and long, But the faith he had for tomorrow Left me with a song! I walked one day the road alone, Or so I thought I did, But soon God's love-light shone: My sadness disappeared, and hid. I know I'll never walk alone, For I can hold His hand. And, when my burden seems a stone, On the Rock of Faith I'll stand! by W.R. Goodman Send notice o f your church activities and events to: Behgion Editor, Portland Observer P O Box 3137 Portland OB 97208 Ricky Callier Visits Portland by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears Ricky Lovell Callier, born in New Orleans, came to Portland almost 22 years ago with his parents, two sis ters and a brother. He attended Vernon, Kennedy, Grant and Adams Schools. He took part in the Upward Bound pre-college program and began his higher education training at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Ricky, one of seven children, is the son of Edward and Olivia Cal lier. His parents, four sisters and one brother still reside in Oregon. One brother continues to reside in New Orleans. When the family came to Port land, they all joined Mount Olivet Ricky Lovell Callier. Baptist Church. Ricky and his Photo by Richard J. B row n family enhanced the music depart ment of the church. The entire to study with Ted Nichols, film family sings or plays an instrument. Thomasina Yuille score composer for the Hanna Bar Frequently, Ricky would play his bera cartoons (Flint Stones, Johnny racize this man. And so he joined trumpet or flute during musical Quest, Jetsons). He also studied our church wearing a wig, black selections by the choir. Many times with Bob O'Donald, the lead trum fishnet stockings, women's shoes he would go to Antioch Missionary pet player working with Ted and a red dress. Baptist Church (Rev. Felton Ho Nichols. Mr. O'Donald also per My seminary training had taught ward, pastor) or St. Paul Church of formed with the Ice Follies for years. me that the Christian community is God in Christ (Bishop Foster, pas After Ricky left Portland, his called to be inclusive, but the tor) and play his horn or the organ musical interests and skills soared. thoughts that raced through my and piano. He composes, arranges, records, mind were all exclusive ones: Look Ricky is very versatile. He is an produces, teaches, conducts and at him. He's so obviously a sinner, accomplished musician, having the broken down. He's going to make performs. His music varies from ability to proficiently play not only everybody uncomfortable. What pop, rock, gospel to classical. one but several instruments, which He has worked with such famous will the rest of the people in the include: all brass horns, piano, or personalities as the Winans; the church think? Who will want to sit gan, flute, guitar, percussion instru group "Commission", where he did beside him in a pew? We might ments. Rickey was tutored by lose members. Maybe if he would the horn arrangement and perform Thara Memory at an early age. He fix himself up first, wear the right ed on the trumbone, flute and trum loved his trumpet. He would go clothes and then come back to the pet on their first album; Grand Ra from church to church playing his pid's Mass Choir, producing their church . . . horn or the organ. For some reason the man would first album and playing keyboard; He began playing the piano in come over to me during the fellow the De Barge Family, as musical New Orleans, strongly influenced by ship hour after the service. I tried director and head musician for El his older sister Mattie Ann. He hard to avoid him, pretending not De Barge; the Penecostal Ambas would follow her to all her concerts to see him even though he stood sadors; Crystal Murden; Edna and recitals at St. Xavier University, Rev. John H. Jackson. Thomasina Yuille is a minister in the United right beside me. And so I kept the Wright and many of the Motown sitting in the front row so he could Photo by Richard J. B row n Church of Christ (US). conversations short and sweet. If artists. take it all in and not miss a note. In 1984, he became the first Black He would talk about the perform Governor Neil Goldschmidt an to conduct the Grand Rapids Sym ances for days and how he, one nounced on January 15, 1988, that phonic Orchestra. He composed day, was going to play one of those Reverend John H. Jackson has and directed his own music. horns — when he got big. been selected to provide Commu While employed as the Minister When Ricky attended Grant and nity Liaison and advise counsel to of Education and Evangelism for the Adams High Schools, he was an the Director of the Department of WASHINGTON, D C. — Violence stem Bethel Penecostal Church of Grand active memeber of a band called Human Resources. ming from bigotry is increasing Rapids, Michigan, Ricky wrote and "Ebony Express". There was an Reverend Jackson, retired pastor steadily in the United States, accor Saint Mark Baptist Church, 103 directed many original works, in other band that was also active of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in ding to a comprehensive study un N.E. Morris Street, Portland, OR. cluding his own wedding musical during the same time, called "A m e Portland, will concentrate on mak veiled Jan. 13 in Washington, D.C., The objective of the school is to score. rican Ingenuity” , with Donald Hep ing known the potential benefit to and law enforcement officials, cler train men and women for Christian Last year, he was asked to be burn at the keyboard. The members Oregon of the "One Church, One gy, teachers and other community service, the imparting of know come the Minister of Music for the were Marlin McClain, guitar; Jackie Child" program which has evolved leaders are called on to recognize ledge, and the development of stu Unity Christian Ministries, Unity Gilbert, drums; Donald and Michael in Chicago and elsewhere. The pro the scope of the problem and to dents to the fullest extent of their Church of Jesus Christ at State. Hepburn, keyboard; Bruce Carter, gram works through Black church seek to stem the tide. capabilities. College, Pennsylvania. He accept drums; Nathaniel Phillips, bass gui congregations who adopt Black "N ot a day has passed in the last You may earn the following de ed the position. tar; Brad Gilbert, trumpet; Leslie youngsters otherwise destined to seven years without someone in the grees: The Diploma of Theology, His wife Sybrena, his four child White, organ/lead vocalist, and remain without an adoptive family United States being victimized by The Bachelors of Theology, The ren, the dog and very tired Ricky Ricky. When Ricky left the Port in long-term custody of state Child hate violence," says an introduction Bachelors of Religious Education, packed up and moved to Pennsyl-; land area to further his studies and Welfare agencies. In Oregon, there to the report released at a news con the Masters of Religious Education. vania, moving a recording studio, fulfill his commitment to God's call, are approximately sixty Black child ference by the National Council of Expenses include: registration, music school, musical instruments the two groups united and became ren in the custody of the Children's Churches in cooperation with the $25.00; monthly fee, $20.00; tuition and many memories. "Pleasure". Services Division who would be Center for Democratic Renewal in fee, ministers-monthly, $25.00; tui Ricky travels extensively, pro Ricky moved to Grand Rapids, available for adoption in the future. Atlanta. "This violence is a largely tion fee, laymen-monthly, $25.00. ducing records, arranging sections Michigan, where he attended Calvin "I am delighted someone of unrecognized cancer eating away For more information, contact the and voices, etc, for whomever em College and Seminary. Reverend Jackson's stature and his Rev. Joe S. Hardie our communities and social institu Portland Extension, (503 ) 287-7457 ploys his skills and services; and While pursuing his music and tory as a community leader as well tions," the statement asserts. attending many recording sessions Rev. Joe S. Hardie is happy to or 249-2050. academics, he met and married as a religious figure in the Black A typical example cited in "They Classes will be offered Thursday for well-known musical groups. announce that United Theological Sybrena Robinson. They are the Don't All Wear Sheets" occurred in community will be providing this God bless Ricky in his ministry Seminary, Portland Extension, will and Friday of each week, from 6:30 proud parents of four children: two liaison work with us,” stated Kevin Salem, OR, in 1986 when an African and may his visit be productive and be offering classes for the Spring p.m. to 9:30 p.m. boys and two girls. Concannco, Director of the Depart Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Come and become a part of long-remembered. semester beginning January 28, In 1972, he had an opportunity ment of Human Resources. "He was vandalized twice in one month. 1988, through May 6, 1988, at the U.T.S.! The volume underscores a resolu and others in the minority commu - - Tuesday nity can make an important differ 7 3 0 p m tion adopted by the 1984 United YOU ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT Bible Band Methodist General Conference cit ence for the respective members of Thursday 84 N E K illin g sw o rth • 281 0499 Choir Rehearsal 7 0 0 p m their community for whom we have ing specifically the Ku Klux Kian and The program begins at 4:00 p.m. In Sunday, January 31, 1988, Sunday "A warm spirit of fellowship always" a mutual responsibility and obliga calling generally upon "federal, stae The theme is: A Mission to Accom Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Sunday School 9 1 5 a m tion," Concannon added. "I'm very and local governments to exercise plish. The mission director is Mrs. ' Mornmq jrch is having a Mission Day tA e o f if o c l 11 15a m pleased that we will be beginning Worship the utmost vigilance and bring to Veronica Easter. gram. The program will be fea- 6 30pm Y P W W with the 'One Church, One Child' justice perpetrators of racial and reli Come one! Come all! Enjoy a ng a guest speaker: Viola Brazil, Evangelistic effort,” he concluded. 8 00pm gious violence and intimidation." spiritual renewal. Worship :ellowship Church of God. Noon Day Grace Osborne is the pastor of Tuesday Friday f h itl& fQ hot P t i x Bishop U t UC /bp.* • h- 'he church is located at 7015 Prayer Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church. =. 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR people saw me talking to him, they might start whispering about me too. I'm not defiled. I don't want to be identified with the untouch ables. I look and act like the rest of the people in my church. I don't want to be uncomfortable, not w ith in a Christian community. I belong to the club — I mean the body of Christ. He's the outsider, not me. "As you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me. What a mockery I was making of the body of Christ. OK. I Struggled with it. All of us seem to have dual iden tities: part inclusive, part exclusive; sometimes rejecting, sometimes be ing rejected; moving from being the oppressor to being the oppressed — all in the name of Christ. In the name of being Christian we de humanize each other. Even if our arms are open, our hearts are closed. Never truly embracing any body, we are unable to heal those who are hurting, mainly ourselves. That man's story has been my story within the church. I am a wo man and a part of the clergy. Many people find my presence within the church hard to accept. I am con tinually reminded — in subtle and not-so-subtle ways — that I am less honourable than a man, not worthy to touch the sacraments. My place is in the kitchen, it is said; in church I ought to remain silent. There are no human criteria for being a part of the body of Christ except the desire to know God, to be transformed, to be God's child. It is the time to embrace, to recon cile ourselves one to another. May God grant us the strength and the courage to do s o . _______ "A n d a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well (Matthew 9:20-21). Everyone needs to belong. No one likes to be excluded, to feel left out, to be considered a social outcast. Most of us will do prac tically anything to avoid the pain of not being part of the mainstream, the crowd, the community. Yet each of us does sometimes experience the feeling of being ex cluded — whether for the colour of our skin, our sex, our marital status, our sexual orientation, our theo logical views . . . the list goes on and on. Any one of these things could push you out on the fringes of society. Any one of these things could make you feel like an out sider to the Christian community. There are many people like this woman in our world, badly broken, bleeding, searching for healing. They want to be included, and for many of them the Christian commu nity, the visible sign of the body of Christ, Jesus among us, is the last resort. So it was for a person in my church, a man on the margins of society. He was a transvestite, a man who wore the clothes of a pro stitute. He did his work on a street corner, sometimes being paid for it, always getting beaten for it, but on the corner regardless, he came to our church door like someone on his last chance, pressed from all sides, silently declared untouchable. My pastor firmly asserts that everyone is a part of the body of Christ. We have neither the right nor the privilege, he said, to ost- United Theological Seminary Portland Extension Rev. Jackson Selected as Community Liaison to Dept. of Human Resources Study Chronicles Rise in Bigoted Violence Mission Day Program The Ark of Safety Church of God in Christ Why do more families call 511. (Phone:(503)282-8071.) Cox 'A - thk* B i W x 4C.l|4- folloW pCQCf With all m cn.fr holiness w ithout which no man shall sec the Cord «IMfWS * time of need? A lbina M inisterial A llian ce A P ublic S ervice o f th e Portland Observer Jesus Loves You.' Cox Funeral Home has a sta ff dedicated to the fam ilies in the ir hour o f need w ith lo w cost funerals. Allen Temple CME Church 4236 N.E. Eighth Avenue (comer o f 8th & Skidmore) Shipping Portland, Oregon 97211 Cremation • Burial 2736 N.E Rodney • (503)281 4891 Portland. Oregon 97212 (503) 287-0261 Phillip S. Nelson. Pastor • Psalm 34:3 ¿«M*« Ci ' ' •*. Saturday M orning Prayer 9 00am . S**wWv ,’ <*Twry MUJO A M S W n r * AAR ’ «SU*M CM 285 0493 <=>! Friday The Pastor Speaks 7 30 p m. !