“free at last” - A SERMON FOR PASSION SUNDAY
200th anniversary of the
abolition
of the transatlantic slave trade
|
|
200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic
Slave Trade with music
from Durufle’s Requiem Reading: Luke
4:16-21 |
|
|
|
He has
sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners …..
……to release the oppressed, (Luke 4:18)
Today
marks the 200th Anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in
the British Empire.
In 1781 the slave ship “Zong” owned by a former Mayor of Liverpool
set sail from West Africa bound for the West Indies with a cargo of
slaves.
Water ran short towards the end of the journey,
and the decision was made to jettison part of the cargo –
and so it was that 133 slaves were thrown over the side and drowned.
Two years later, the
matter came to court.
But the Attorney General said that the ship’s captain, Collingwood,
should not be tried for murder.
There was no impropriety here, let alone any criminality, he said.
The Captain had not killed 133 human beings – he had simply jettisoned
cargo.
The relevant case law concerned occasions when ships’ captains
had been forced to throw horses overboard in a storm.
All the courts were interested in was the financial implications -
was the insurance company liable to underwrite the loss?
Slaves were not people – just property
Such
was the attitude of the British establishment to slaves 225 yrs ago.
As a nation we may sing
“Land of hope and glory” and
“Rule Britannia….Britons never shall be slaves”.
But as a nation
remembering the abolition of the slave trade 200 years ago,
we must also remember our history of shame not glory
during the centuries when we treated men and women
as mere commercial property
and not as God’s children made in his own image.
In our
Gospel reading today Jesus speaks of God’s promise of
“release for the captive”. This is of
course in part a spiritual release –
Christ releases us from the bondage of sin –
but there is a terrible heresy
which is happy to rejoice is the eternal liberation of the soul in heaven
whilst binding the shackles of earthly slavery all the tighter.
But when slave captain
John Newton converted to Christianity
and wrote his famous hymn Amazing Grace,
he came eventually to see that there was no distinction
between freeing body and soul.
Yes, Christ had saved and liberated him from the slavery of sin –
but it was also necessary not only to renounce his former life
including his slave trading
but also to work for the physical and spiritual liberation of those in chains.
Today
our Communion liturgy is set
to the beautiful music of Durufle’s Requiem Mass –
in which God’s blessing and grace is sought for those who have died.
We rejoice in the promise of eternal life –
But we
also remember our calling
to bring a foretaste of the Heavenly Kingdom in this life –
thy Kingdom come on earth as in heaven….
This is
not just an academic historical issue.
The Atlantic slave trade may have been abolished 200 yrs ago today,
but slavery is still with us.
We are rightful
concerned and anxious for the 15 British crew
currently abducted and imprisoned by the Iranians
and we pray for their safe release –
But our prayers are also needed for 12 to 15 Million people
who are estimated still to be slaves around the world today.
Recent news had
highlighted the police raid on a Birmingham Brothel
and the release of sex workers trafficked as commodities from Eastern Europe –
an illegal slave trade still operates in this country.
200
years ago the Plantation Chaplains read the bits of Scripture
which supported the status quo – they never read Exodus or the Magnificat –
which might imply that God was on the side of the slaves not the masters.
I
wonder in 200 years time how future societies will judge us?
Will we be found guilty – like the old Plantation Chaplains –
of a selective theology which ignored God’s promises to poor and the
marginalised?
There is a Traidcraft stall at the back of the Church today –
a chance to make small but significant statement
about an unjust world trading system which effectively
enslaves farmers of the developing world –
men and women caught in the trap of a trade system
designed for the benefit of the rich north
as much as ever the transatlantic slave trade was designed
for the wellbeing of the sheep farmers of Devon and the merchants of Bristol.
Towards the end of the
Slave Trade era many Cornish Methodists
stopped taking sugar in their tea – Why? –
Because they refused to support the pernicious sugar trade
based on the brutal slavery of the Caribbean sugar plantations.
Can we
commit ourselves in like manner
to fight for justice and for our sisters and brothers in need?
Today
is Passion Sunday – we have placed nails & whip at the foot of the cross –
so reminiscent of the shackles & cat o nine tails of the slave ships.
As we reflect on the cross, let us
¨ thank
God for our redemption from sin and death
¨ confess
those times when we have wielded the whip
or at very least connived at the slavery of others
¨ commend
the souls of departed victims to God’s eternal loving care
¨ strive in this world, that through God’s power
all his children may indeed be free in this world
as well as the world to come.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Sunday 25 March 2007 1st Sunday of the Passion
Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade
10.30 am Holy
Communion
led by Rev Andrew Sails with the Mint Choir
Choir Music
for this service is from Duruflé’s Requiem.
Hymn 180 “When I survey the wondrous cross”
[Each week during Lent we add symbols of
the Passion before the Lenten Cross.
During this hymn, we add the Nails - see Acts 2:23]
Prayer
Choir: Introitus and Kyrie
Requiem aeternam
dona eis,
Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi
reddetur votum in
Jerusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam; ad te
omnis caro veniet
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.
[Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let
perpetual light shine on them. To thee
praise is due, O God, in Zion, & to thee vows are recited in
Jerusalem. Hear my prayer; unto thee
all flesh shall come. Lord, have
mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.]
Reading: Luke 4:16-21
Hymn 298 “Come thou everlasting Spirit”
Sermon “Free at Last”
Choir:
Pie Jesu
Pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis
requiem, requiem sempiternam
[Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them rest, rest everlasting].
Prayers
of Intercession and Lord’s Prayer
Peace (stand):
|
Leader: |
The peace of the Lord be always
with you |
|
People: |
And
also with you. |
[We offer one
another a handshake or other sign of peace]
Hymn 164 “Ah Holy Jesu”
[During
this hymn the collection will be taken and brought forward]
The Thanksgiving (remain standing)
|
Minister |
The Lord be with you |
|
People |
And also with you. |
|
Minister |
Lift up your hearts |
|
People |
We lift them to the Lord |
|
Minister |
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God |
|
People |
It is right to give our thanks and praise |
|
Minister |
All glory be given to
you, O Father, who sent your only Son into the world for us, to share our
human life, to redeem us from the captivity of sin and death, and to bring us
into the glorious freedom of the children of God. |
|
Choir |
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. [Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. The
heavens and |
|
|
Benedictus qui venit
in nominee Domini. |
|
Minister |
On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took
bread, |
|
People |
Dying, you destroyed our death. |
|
Minister |
Come, Spirit of God, move over these signs of life
and celebration, this bread and wine, that we may take them |
|
People |
Come, risen
Lord, live in us that we may live in you. |
|
Minister: |
Look, the Body of Christ is broken for the life of
the world. |
|
|
[congregations sits] |
|
Choir: |
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem, |
Sharing
of Bread and Wine
|
Minister |
Come to this sacred table, not because you must but because you may;
come, not to declare that you are righteous, but that you desire to be true
disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ: come, not because you are strong, but
because you are weak; not because you have any claim on heaven's rewards, but
because in your frailty and sin you stand in constant need of heaven's mercy
and help. |
[Please
come forward when indicated by the stewards and form a line around three sides
of the table beginning at the centre and working out to each side. When you have received bread and wine,
please where possible return to your seats via the side aisles.]
“Lux aeterna” will be sung during the distribution:
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine,
cum sanctis
tuis in aeternam; quia pius es
[Let
eternal light shine upon them, O Lord,
with your saints forever; for
you are merciful.]
|
People |
We thank you, Lord, that you have fed us in
this sacrament, united us with Christ, |
Hymn 266 “Let all mortal flesh”
Korean
Blessing and English Blessing
[Please
be seated]
Choir:In Paradisum
In paradisum
deducant te
angeli, in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem.
[May
the angels lead you into paradise, may the martyrs receive you in your coming,
and may they guide you into the holy city, Jerusalem.
May the chorus of angels receive you and with Lazarus once poor may you have
eternal rest.]