Will you, too, rise and sing?
By, Rev. Sarah Henkel
I love to sing. As a pastor’s kid and as a pastor myself in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I relished that moment in worship when we are asked to rise and sing. Singing together in church is where I have found so much joy and connection to one another and to God. Lately, that joy has been strained. How can we sing these songs of peace when our congregational prayers leave out the people of Gaza and our liturgies carefully avoid mention of the genocide of Palestinians? I felt the hymns choking in my throat.
And so when the call came from Christians for a Free Palestine to join the Interfaith Action in D.C. at the end of July, we packed up our little kiddos, two beloved community members, and a stellar playlist of songs of justice and hit the road. We arrived in time for choir rehearsal for the Interfaith Free Palestine Choir. The plan was that this pick-up choir of over 100 people from distinct faith traditions would join in song together the following day at the entrance of the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Summit. As CUFI professed a warped theology hell-bent on the destruction of Palestinian lives, we would sing a different world of our Creator’s abundant life into reality.
And that we did. Standing shoulder to shoulder in the hotel atrium, the Interfaith Free Palestine Choir sounded more like 1,000 voices than 100. We sang with full-throated grief over every life lost. We sang from the depths of conviction that Palestine will be free. We sang in unison of purpose and the harmonies of a broad coalition.
🎵Rise, fighting for our friends in Gaza! Rise with our spirits in this place! Rise in power, rise in love, rise in grace! 🎶
As we sang these reimagined lyrics to a tune I learned years ago at Christian family camp, I felt my heart be filled for the work ahead. I felt my faith restored by the community who welcomed me into the choir and invited me to sing my part for the liberation of Palestine. Will you, too, rise and sing?
A group of Presbyterians are raising funds to support the work of Christians for a Free Palestine.