Yesterday, at Yankee Stadium, NYC hosted a multi-denominational healing/prayer service for its citizens. I don’t know if it was carried across the country, but it was all over the dial here in NYC. The participants consisted of a nice mix of celebities/performers (Oprah hosted), officials and religious leaders.
Now before I go any further, let’s flashback to the religious service they had at the National Cathedral in Washington DC a day or two after 9/11. I found it very disappointing. Dull, droning and uninspired; and poor, infirm Billy Graham earned a C- at best.
I shook my head as I described it to a friend. “They missed a real opportunity while they had the country’s attention,” I said. “The solemn, somber speakers were all well and good, but what they really needed was at least one black, fire-&-brimstone, ol’-time-religion preacherman to shake the rafters a little. Maybe even with a gospel chior thown in for good measure. Something to inspire the people a little.”
Back to Yankee Stadium. It began much like the DC service – nothing really extraordinary, especially the religious speakers. Then, toward the end, they introduced Rev. Calvin Butts. Starting slow but climbing, he took command of the stadium like none of the others had. He brought the house down with his rhymin’ verses and unflinching confidence. Everyone was on their feet, huggin’, weepin’ and clappin’!
Various media outlets carried yesterday’s service – specially cable TV channels. Here in San Juan I caught it on CSPAN, FOX-News, CNN, the WPIX cable feed and the local PBS.
I for one do agree Calvin Butts was the high point of the religious speakers on Sunday. But I sort of expected that – he is a great preacher. (*And *I also liked that they did allow for something of a cool-down afterwards)
OTOH, I was not disappointed by the National Cathedral service, I expected it to be very subdued – maybe there’s the difference between one being 3 days later and the other almost 2 weeks later. Time to get over the shell-shock, to wrap our minds around it all, to think what we should be saying. That first “National Prayer & Remembrance”'s format was what I’d expect of a “standard” inter-denominational memorial service at a High Church Episcopalian venue. Graham would have come up with a good rousing sermon were he his old self, but in reality his mere presence was more valued as a symbol, than for any vestigial pulpit prowess (kind of like the very visibly infirm Pope flying all over Central Asia this same week).
Back to Sunday, Butts also had another advantage: the setting was one in which he was speaking to a large crowd of the People right then and there, on their own turf and terms – quite different from a select audience in a structured, ceremonial setting. Preacher and congregation both need to have that feedback vibe going. The clergy at the National Cathedral (and most of those at Yankee Stadium) seemed too self-conscious at times – not Butts.
Another religious participation I liked was the Muslim Chaplain from NY (“these [the terrorists] are not believers in God!”). From the artistic participation side, Ms. Midler was outstanding, of course – moving and then some. Very good also the BGCH, and hometown boy Mark Anthony at the closing was an excellent choice (though I am biased in the later case).
A minor nitpick is that some of the speakers did seem to be a bit rushed, as if someone were hurrying them on to be finished on time.
jrd
[sub]For the ocassion I won’t even begrudge that much the participation of he who shall not be named with the song that shall not be mentioned
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