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Presentation of Skinner Award-Winning Social Justice Sermon Moderator, UUA |
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Presentation of Skinner Award-Winning Social Justice Sermon Moderator, UUA |
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"Believing in Fairies", Rev. Dr. Mykel Johnson
In the context of a rousing and cheerful worship service, the Rev. Dr. Mykel Johnson presented the sermon that was awarded the 2000 Skinner Award. Lenard Starks, director of the All Souls Jubilee Singers of All Souls Unitarian, Washington, DC, began the service with Scott Joplin's familiar "Solace" on the piano. Myke then had a few opening words and lit the chalice, after which we sang the traditional African American folk song "I'm On My Way."
The Rev. Meg Riley introduced the occasion, saying, "This is the first lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgendered sermon ever to win the Skinner Award," and then introduced Myke. She led the congregation in Daniel Berrigan's "Psalm 126" as a responsive reading. Then, Robert Murray delivered a wonderful performance of Rodgers' and Hammerstein's "You've Got to be Carefully Taught."
Myke then delivered her sermon, which can be read in its entirety here. She said, "Rather than trying to get everyone to see how ordinary we are, rather than trying to make sure we fit in, what might happen if we believed in the power of our deviance?"
The congregation sang the Hays and Seeger classic, "If I Had a Hammer," after which Myke offered the benediction.
Reported for the Web by Dwight Ernest
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