One Pilgrim's Journey: Journal for Jordan

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Journal for Jordan

Dear Friends:

You may recall that tragic summer when we lost three young adults in three days in West LA.

Many of you were there when Baby Jordan was baptized at Palms Westminster.

Jordan's Mom, Dana Canedy has written a book about Jordan's father, Charles, who wrote a journal for his son while he served in Iraq.

Charles was killed by an IED in Iraq just a few months after we baptized his son.

In the book, A Journal for Jordan, pp 161-165, Dana reflects on the baptism and the ministry of reconciliation that took place that Sunday.

Indeed, Baby Jordan was a blessing to Anna and Julio's family in the midst of their grief.

Let us pray that the baptismal font continues to bring peace, healing and reconciliation for our brothers and sisters in Los Angeles and around the world.

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Canticle of the Turning

Canticle of the Turning

My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on the servant's plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

Antiphon:

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of you justice burn. Wipe away all the tears,
For the dawn draw near, And the world is about to turn.

Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last
from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.

Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn.

Antiphon

From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware
for your justice tears ev'ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
These are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn.

Antiphon

Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us from
the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
'Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around.

This Is My Song

This is my song, Oh God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

Oh hear my song, oh God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.
May truth and freedom come to every nation;
may peace abound where strife has raged so long;
that each may seek to love and build together,
a world united, righting every wrong;
a world united in its love for freedom,
proclaiming peace together in one song.

Tune: Finlandia
Lyrics: Lloyd Stone (1934)

PC(USA) Multicultural Church Essay

2007 Multicultural Church story contest winner
Palms Westminster Presbyterian Los Angeles, Calif.

Palms Westminster has been a multicultural church for over 20 years. We will celebrate our 70th anniversary on Oct. 7, 2007. We currently have 78 active members. In two years we have increased our membership by forty percent and have maintained our racial-ethnic and cultural diversity. Many of our new elders and deacons are leaders in our local West African community.
Demographics of our active membership 27% African American 35% Asian American32% Euro American6% Native American and Latino
Demographics of our nine-member session 60% Female30% African American30% Asian American30% Euro American
We often sing Who is "My Mother, Who is My Brother" from the Sing The Faith Hymnal. The second verse captures our mission as an inclusive and reconciling faith community.
Differently abled, differently labeledWiden the circle round Jesus ChristCrutches and stigmas, cultures’ enigmasAll come together round Jesus ChristMission Statement
We define our church as being on the edge of different economic, social, age and ethnic groups. We address the pain of our members, non-members, the community, the country and the world with prayers. We share each other’s understanding and needs through ideas, friendship and concern for one another. We help people when they are in distress and are aware of the anxieties that surround us in this "inner city" portion of Los Angeles.Example of Multicultural Urban Ministry
One warm July afternoon, our community was traumatized by gang violence. Three of our Latino youth were killed in three days. Many people jumped to the conclusion that this was a conflict between Black and Latino gang members. Palms Westminster reached out to the grieving families and supported our community efforts to respond with grace and hope.
The Sunday following the shootings, two of the grieving families attended our worship service so some of our elected officials could offer words of comfort. It just so happened that this was the same Sunday we had planned to baptize baby Jordan whose family is African American. After Pastor Howard anointed Jordan in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, Jordan’s mother placed him in the hands of the grieving families. This sacramental moment was very transformative. There were very few dry eyes in the sanctuary. Our fellowship hall has become a hub for various stakeholders to come together to reach out to our at risk youth and to work to transform a tragedy into hope.
Alexander Hamilton High School is right across the street from our campus. The vast majority of the students are African American and Latino. As part of our multicultural evangelism outreach, we cosponsor a tutoring program offering multiple subjects. About 20 students a week come together to receive tutoring and mentoring from recent UCLA college graduates.
This article was featured in our local paper, the Westside Chronicle.
West L.A. Reverend Honored for Community Service with At-Risk Youth
South Robertson (SoRo) community leaders honored Rev. Howard Dotson for outstanding service to the community Jan. 20. Dotson, pastor of Palms Westminster Presbyterian Church, was presented with a proclamation/commendation from the Los Angeles City Council for his extraordinary work in the SoRo community in initiating interfaith cooperation to develop educational and safety programs to recruit and assist at-risk youth.
In addition, Dotson was commended for his work with other vulnerable populations, including the mentally ill and disadvantaged. He led the way promoting and coordinating successful efforts for students, teachers, LAPD, school police, City Council offices, parks and recreation, UCLA outreach programs and the SoRo Neighborhoods Council to prevent gang violence and promote involvement of at-risk youth in a fully subsidized winter camp, hip hop events, school safety programs for parents and students, community vigils and community celebrations.
The City Council proclamation was presented by Elizabeth Carlin, field deputy for Councilmember Herb Wesson and Katherine Hennigan, field deputy for Councilmember Jack Weiss to Dotson. Also in attendance were members of the Board of Directors of SoRo Neighborhoods Council; Nicole Griffin, director of the Robertson Recreation Center; Beth Ryan, president of the Crestview Neighborhood Association; Stephanie Marquez and Christel Wilson, local philanthropists and owners of Many Paws; and Senior Lead Officer for the LAPD, Rashad Shareef.

One Pilgrim's Journey

Howard's Sermons and Article Clippings.

Blog Archive

About Me

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Journal for Jordan

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Canticle of the Turning

This Is My Song

Funeral for Baby Luis Garcia

Vigil for Flora Sanchez

Raising our Voices for Peace

PC(USA) Multicultural Church Essay

One Pilgrim's Journey

Howard's Sermons and Article Clippings.

Blog Archive

About Me

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Journal for Jordan

0 comments:

Canticle of the Turning

This Is My Song

Subscribe To One Pilgrims Journey

Funeral for Baby Luis Garcia

Vigil for Flora Sanchez

Raising our Voices for Peace

PC(USA) Multicultural Church Essay