Cross, Crucifixion, Celebration At Berean
This Sabbath’s celebration of the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, was a seamless production that integrated speech and music for the edification and enlightenment of all who either attended in person, watched on the internet, or (this may be you) intend to watch on the internet. It would represent only the smallest touch of hyperbole to refer this service as an example of Gesamkunstwerk, the German expression for a “total work of art.” Here, as usual, is a link to the ENTIRE SERVICE.
Music was provided by noted Gospel singer/songwriter Maurette Brown-Clark, and also by the singers and musicians that are regularly featured in services at Berean. The two forces operated independently until the close of today’s program, at which time they joined forces in a rendition of Maurette Brown-Clark’s most recognizable composition, “I Just Want to Praise You.” The choir was under the direction of David Trofort (also a songwriter). His wife Terra (a singer like Maurette Brown-Clark) offered support and encouragment to the musicians from her position in the pews. Luther Washington manned the organ, and just to his left Natalie Raggins (whom I have christened “The Dexterous”) operated the electric piano. The last two musicians are so seasoned, they can hold a conversation with each other while they are also playing their instruments. They could be swapping recipes, for all I know. David Trofort welcomes Maurette Brown-Clark to the podium at time marker 1:03:18. She closes the service with her “showstopper” beginning at time marker 1:44:35.
Words were provided by Pastor Danielle Pilgrim, Lead Pastor Fredrick Russell, and a pair of special guests. Emphasis upon the redemptive power of the Blood that Jesus shed for us at Calvary is a continuing theme at Berean Church, but given the season, a special emphasis upon this marked today’s worship. The service was relatively short (less than two hours) by Berean standards. Introductory notes and a prayer are proffered by Pastor Pilgrim, beginning at time marker 17:19. She informed the worshippers that the intent of this Sabbath’s service was to “magnify the name of Jesus.” We were free to do this in whatever manner we may choose. Pastor Russell interviews his two guests, and offers some brief, but cogent remarks starting at time marker 1:15:25.
Born in Long Island, New York, Maurette Brown-Clark has been singing most all of her life. She launched her solo career in 1998 with the release of the Gospel album “How I Feel” on Verity Records (part of the Sony universe, and also Richard Smallwood’s label). She puts out a new album about every four years. For her second release, “By His Grace,” she switched from Verity Records to a now obseletely named enterprise called Atlanta International Records, also known as “AIR Gospel” (the link is to a BlogSpot page associated with legendary Malaco Records, of Jackson, Mississippi. I will assume that AIR has been purchased by Malaco, as all searches lead to the latter operation). The next two albums to be released by Ms. Brown-Clark were “The Dream” (kind of a short one; it may be what is called an “EP”) and “The Sound of Victory.” Atlanta International Records was owned, until 2005, by Alan Freeman. He is current president of Dottie People’s DP Music Group, located in Fayetteville, GA. According to his Linked-In profile, he also buys cars at auction, and then sells them AutoTrader. AutoTrader is an Atlanta company, and owned by Cox Enterprises, another Atlanta company, and one that makes Billions. But I don’t think Atlanta International Records has much to do with Atlanta these days, and I am also pretty confident that Alan Freeman is not, himself, a billionaire.
Pastor Fredrick Russell prefaced his portion of the service by stating that he liked Maurette Brown-Clark not only because she is a “singer,” but also because she is a “worshipper.”
Pastor Russell and his wife, Brenda, are in the process of attempting to acquire some “black” art for their house (here is a LINK about black artist Romare Bearden, a household name). They already own a few pieces. He mentioned artist Cecil Jackson (who paints under the name of Cecil Bernard). Pastor Russell was in school with Mr. Jackson’s wife. The pastor was with Mr. Jackson, and was admiring the artist’s use of color. All of a sudden, Mr. Jackson revealed a picture that Pastor Russell said just “blew me away.” It is the image replicated above, one of Jesus on his way to the Cross. “What was he thinking as he created this work?” the pastor mused. Cecil Jackson would reveal this, in his own words, as he happened to be present at today’s “Celebration.”
As Cecil Jackson mounted the podium, Pastor Russell noted the “crown of thorns” and the “drops of blood” that are discernable in the work, albeit in a most abstract manner. The pastor noted the artist’s deft use of color as well. The pastor now had an opportunity to get an answer to his question, “what were you thinking, and what was in your heart when you created this?”
Jesus takes all of our sins upon Himself. “Those sins come in lots of colors,” the artist stated. A little audio trouble temporarily compromises the video at this point (Berean is working hard to rectify these glitches), but an undistorted message from Pastor Russell comes across. He views the artist’s efforts as “an act of devotion.” Mr. Jackson provided an analogy between an emotional response to anointed music, and the feelings he experiences while creating his art (the glitch has now resolved itself, praise God). The artist referred to the process of creating the work that was being discussed as being one that would be impossible to duplicate. This is what compelled him to replicate the painting in a series of lithographs (available, as noted earlier, at this LINK).
Pastor Russell provided a bridge between his first and second guests by stating that the work of art created by his first guest depicted the moments before Jesus died. The next guest had just experienced a “resurrection” of sorts. Jolie Alexander was present at the March 19 Sabbath service. Pastor Russell brought her before the congregation. Jolie had taken a stand for her Christian faith during a graduate studies course she was attending at the University of Florida [editorial note: the hapless writer of these sentences spent the two most miserable years of his life as an undergraduate at God-forsaken University of Florida, Gainesville. I thought I had thoroughly purged my memory of this time, but Ms. Alexander’s adventures have “resurrected” them, but not in a good way at all]. The students were unsupportive, and the professor changed Ms. Alexander’s “A” average to an “D.” She attributes some of this abuse to the fact that she was the only black in the class {editorial note: animosity can also be strongly exhibited without regard to race at all at the mysteriously “prestigious” U of F]. Here, just for laughs, is a LINK to the University of Florida non-discrimination policy. Bereans prayed hard for Ms. Alexander. This Sabbath featured a positive report of her triumph over adversity. Were the “demonic forces of Hell” that the pastor referred to last week utterly vanquished? The situation is much improved, and God is to be praised for this upturn in Ms. Alexander’s fortunes {editorial note: a metaphorical “National Guard” escorts Ms. Alexander to her classes. There is now slightly less slack in Satan’s chain].
A final transition by the pastor is provided. “I’m not sure where you are this morning. I’m not sure whether you are facing your Cross, or in a resurrection season.” If you keep trusting God, “there will be a resurrection.” At this point (time marker 1:26:30) Maurette Brown-Clark regained the podium to sing a song that she wrote herself, “Awesome God” (here I will replicate the word “Gesamkunstwerk“).
Pastor Russell resumed the “recitative” segments of this day’s Grand Opera at time marker1:32:25. It was an Appeal. “Some of you this morning need a resurrection in your life.” He informed us that, despite having died for our sins, had Jesus stayed in the grave, it would not have been enough. The pastor alluded to (I am 85% certain) First Corinthians 15:9-10: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Any moribund state that you may be trapped in can be overcome by Christ. “There is nothing as moving in your life as when Jesus becomes real and alive,” Pastor Russell asserted. The congregation was invited to stand and to join hands, and were now directly participating in the unfolding drama as everyone sang the chorus from Donnie McClurkin’s “Just For Me.”
Pastor Russell repeated, for the Easter crowd, a thought that he had previously related to the Berean congregation. The solution to our problems is not “Jesus, plus another thing.” The solution is “Jesus, plus nothing.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The pastor offered profuse thanks for many things to God on our behalf, and (doubtlessly) on his own behalf as well. Pastor Russell concluded by thanking Him for being present for today’s “Celebration.” “Just For Me” was briefly reprised for a third time. Here is one last paste job. It is about Maurette Brown-Clark, and it comes from the second paragraph of this post: ” She closes the service with her “showstopper” beginning at time marker 1:44:35.” This “showstopper” was, of course, “I Just Want to Praise You,” and has been a traditional terminus for more than a few other services at Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, Atlanta.
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