Celebrating the Soul of Justice

A service of worship

The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm  33:5

When: September 17, 2013 7:00 pm

Where: First Congregational UCC

945 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001

Sign language interpretation and large print bulletins will be available.

A participant said: Many Voices convened this beautiful sea of brown faces…of minister, scholars, and artists…lovers of God and lovers of people, and we had church on a Tuesday night!

Featured speaker:   The Reverend Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas

Dr. Douglas is the Elizabeth Conolly Todd Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Goucher College and a leading voice and pioneering figure in the development of a womanist theology. Essence magazine counts Douglas “among this country’s most distinguished religious thinkers, teachers, ministers, and counselors.” In addition to numerous articles, her published books include Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection, Testifying to the Blues: Sexuality and the Black Church, and Sexuality and the Black Church: A Womanist Perspective

A participant said: Womanist legend Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas of Goucher College perfectly embodied the prophetic and the pastoral as she taught us how to keep the faith to enact God’s justice for all bodies everywhere.

and another: I learned so much from the speaker… a new perspective on faith.

Organist: Everett P. Williams, Jr.

Director of Music and Liturgical Arts at Asbury United Methodist Church, Washington DC, Mr. Everett holds degrees in piano performance and teaching from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. A church musician for more than 50 years, he is a free lance pianist/organist, and choral clinician for schools and churches, has composed an opera entitled Martin Luther King, Jr, and founded a fine arts chorale, The E P Williams Ensemble. Mr. Williams particularly enjoys doing improvisations on the great hymns of the church at the piano and organ consoles.

Spoken word artist: Reverend Yorri Berry

Educator, ordained minister, scholar, motivational speaker and an activist for social justice – Reverend Berry’s  literary projects include The Backpack Monologues, a socially-conscious youth production in which all proceeds benefit a mentoring program for teen girls. She is also the writer of In Development; a theatre piece on identity created in collaboration with award-winning actress Suzzanne Douglas. She is a graduate of Loyola University, Howard University School of Divinity, and Howard University Graduate School of Education.

Dancer: Minister Brian K. Harris II

Minister Harris is Dean of the Fine Arts Department at William E. Doar Public Charter School for the Performing Arts and Founder and Artistic Director of the Sons of Freedom Dance Institute, a company designed to teach boys ages 7-12 self -awareness, life skills and character through technique in ballet jazz and cultural dance styles. A graduate of Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Union University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology.

Soloist: Tami Hayes

Tami Hayes is a well rounded vocalist and pianist who is sold out for Christ, and her number one mission is to spread the love of God to all.

Guest Choirs: Covenant Baptist UCC & All Souls Jubilee Singers