Chaplain: The story of Passover is the story of how one man led many people just like himself to freedom. It is an ancient story and a modern one.
Chaplain: Moses was, according to the Hebrew Scriptures, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, is traditionally attributed. Moses is the most important prophet in Judaism, and is also considered an important prophet in Christianity and Islam, as well as a number of other faiths. According to the Book of Exodus, Moses was born in a time when his people, the Children of Israel, were increasing in number and the Egyptian Pharaoh was worried that they might help Egypt's enemies. Moses' mother hid him when the Pharaoh ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed, and Moses is adopted as a foundling by the Egyptian royal family. According to the scriptures, Moses has an encounter with God in a "burning bush." God calls on Moses to be the leader of the Children of Israel. After giving God many reasons why someone else would be better, all of which God rejects, Moses reluctantly agrees to lead the Hebrew people. One day God sends Moses to request the release of the Israelites. After Ten Plagues are released upon Egypt, Pharaoh relents and lets Moses’ people go. Moses leads the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. After that they base themselves at Mount Sinai, where Moses receives the Ten Commandments. Following 40 years of wandering in the desert, Moses died within sight of the Promised Land. In his lifetime, Moses led many people to freedom.
Ensemble & Congregation: ‘Tis A Gift To Be Simple
Reader: Mohandas K. Gandhi was a pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement. His philosophy and leadership inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is often referred to as Mahatma or "Great Soul." Gandhi first employed civil disobedience while an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, during the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he organized protests by peasants, farmers and urban laborers. After assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women's rights, build religious and ethnic friendship, end untouchability and increase economic self-reliance. Above all, he aimed to achieve the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led his followers in the Non-cooperation movement that protested the British-imposed salt tax with the 240 mile Dandi Salt March in 1930. He launched the Quit India Movement in 1942, demanding immediate independence for India. Gandhi spent a number of years in jail, but eventually won India’s independence. In his lifetime, Gandhi led many people to freedom.
Ensemble & Congregation: We Shall Not Be Moved
Reader: Martin Luther King Jr. was an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Gandhi. A Baptist minister, Dr. King led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. Dr. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he expanded American values to include the vision of a colorblind society. In 1964, Dr. King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means. On March 29, 1968, Dr. King went to Memphis, Tennessee, in support of the sanitation workers, who were on strike for higher wages and better treatment. On April 3, Dr. King addressed a rally and delivered his "I've been to the Mountaintop" speech. Dr. King said, “Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. ‘Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.’” In his lifetime, Dr. King led many people to freedom.
Ensemble & Congregation: We Shall Overcome
Chaplain: The story of Easter is the story of how one man was martyred – killed – but lives on, at the very least, in the hearts and minds of his followers. It is an ancient story and a modern story.
Chaplain: Scholars believe Jesus was born about 2,000 years ago. They think he lived about 33 years. Tradition has it that his ministry – he was a Jewish rabbi or teacher – began when he was 30. During those three years, he taught his followers to love their neighbor and their enemy; to house the homeless and feed the hungry; to clothe the naked and care for the sick; to forgive, not 7 times, but 70 times 7 times, to welcome everyone into the beloved community. He taught them how to pray and he taught them how to preach. In his Sermon on the Mount he said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” In his Sermon on the Plain he said, “Blessed are you who are poor…but woe to you who are rich.” He said things like, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.” Because of saying things like that, religious leaders of his day wanted him dead. They got the Roman leaders to crucify him. According to Christian Scriptures, when his followers went to retrieve his body from a tomb, it was gone. The Gospel of Mark reports, “So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Jesus’ death was not measured in terms of the century in which he lived, but in terms of history. Jesus, this child of God, this divine spirit, inspires many people today to live lives of love, compassion, justice and peace.
Ensemble & Congregation: Let There Be Peace On Earth
Reader: On January 30th, 1948, he was walking slowly from his home to attend a prayer meeting when a 39-year-old Hindu, who mistakably thought Gandhi was harming the Hindus by being friendly to Muslims, shot Gandhi after respectfully bowing to him. A few minutes later a man came out to the waiting crowd and announced that the little old man, who sacrificed all that he had for his country, who reshaped the lives of many, who changed the path of the world, who inspired – and still will inspire – humankind till the end of the world, was dead. That night the Indian leader Nehru spoke over the radio to the people and said,” Friends and Comrades, the light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere. I do not know what to tell you and how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we call him, the Father of the Nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that. Nevertheless, we will not see him again as we have seen him for these many years. We will not run to him for advice and seek solace from him, and that is a terrible blow, not to me only but to millions and millions of this country.” After a few days, following the custom of the Hindu religion, Gandhi's body was burned in the presence of a great crowd and the ashes were scattered over the waters of the sacred rivers. Gandhi's death was not measured in terms of the century in which he lived, but in terms of history. Gandhi, this child of God, this divine spirit, inspires many people today to live lives of love, compassion, justice and peace.
Ensemble & Congregation: If I Had A Hammer
Reader: Dr. King was booked in room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He had stayed there many times before with his fellow civil rights leaders. According to biographer Taylor Branch, Dr. King's last words were to musician Ben Branch, who was scheduled to perform that night at an event Dr. King was going to attend: "Ben, make sure you play 'Take My Hand, Precious Lord' in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty." At 6:01 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 1968, while he was standing on the motel's balcony, Dr. King was struck by a single bullet. Rev. Ralph Abernathy heard the shot from inside the motel room and ran to the balcony to find Dr. King on the floor unconscious. According to Taylor Branch, Dr. King's autopsy revealed that though he was only 39 years old, he had the heart of a 60-year-old man, perhaps the result of the stress of thirteen years in the civil rights movement. At his widow's request, Dr. King's last sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church was played at his funeral, a recording of his "Drum Major" sermon, given on February 4, 1968. In that sermon, Dr. King said, “Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major. Say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.” Dr. King made a request that at his funeral no mention of his awards and honors be made, but that it be said that he tried to "feed the hungry", "clothe the naked", "be right on the [Vietnam] war question", and "love and serve humanity." Dr. King’s death was not measured in terms of the century in which he lived, but in terms of history. Dr. King, this child of God, this divine spirit, inspires many people today to live lives of love, compassion, justice and peace.
Ensemble & Congregation: Down By The Riverside
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