Hi UUSS friends!

Back by popular demand — music jokes! ( see below ) But first, my spiritual moment:

I was thinking recently about Biden’s immigration plan, the path to citizenship for millions. I also had just watched two new, excellent PBS shows, “The Black Church” and “Driving While Black.” In both those TV programs, the Underground Railroad was mentioned. This led me to wonder how far I’d go and what personal risks I’d take to provide help and protection. I recalled the sanctuary movement in the 1980’s. Rev. John Fife of Tucson Presbyterian Church — and his church board — were indicted on felony charges for harboring asylum seekers who came across the desert. (I was a Presbyterian church choir director at the time, and much later met Fife at a big PSR event in Berkeley) I remember being shown a basement room in an early 1800’s inn that Jean booked for our New Hampshire vacation; fleeing slaves were hidden there, the owner claimed.

Ysaye Barnwell wrote a song that addresses this thought. I almost bought the choral version for us, but a certain virus intervened. Here are the lyrics:

Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you?

Would you harbor a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew, a heretic, convict or spy?

Would you harbor a runaway woman, or child, a poet, a prophet, a king?

Would you harbor an exile, or a refugee, a person living with AIDS?

Would you harbor a Tubman, a Garrett, a Truth, a fugitive or a slave?

Would you harbor a Haitian Korean or Czech, a lesbian or a gay?

Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you?

Some of you may have attended our Sac Master Singers concert where we premiered a Harriet Tubman cantata. I hope that as one with privilege and security I can still find ways to help, comfort, and advocate those in need of protection. Barnwell provides a thought-provoking list.

Tonight’s two music selections reflect this: Woody Guthrie’s classic and much-covered song ” Plane Wreck at Los Gatos –the Deportees” and the slave spiritual “Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” Both versions here are wonderful performances by a representatives of a new generation of talented singers:

Guthrie song perfomred by Ken Pomeroy:

Spiritual performed by Robert Robinson