Many Many

Last evening, after a solid first day of work here at the folk life center, we headed into downtown Princeton to meet with our mission partners at the RiffRaff Arts Collective and Stages Music School  It was such a joy to be able to see how things continue to change and improve with each visit.  Our work, your work, all coming together to help an entire town and community push forward towards a future that is more tolerant, more inclusive and more hopeful is a joy to behold.

As part of the evening, our friends Lori McKinney and Robert Blankenship invited me to join them onstage to perform what is one of my favorite songs that they have written.  It's called "Many Many".  It speaks to the mission of striving for peace and equality, even though there are so many different perspectives, cultural histories, living conditions, working conditions and opinions among us... 

• many many voices,
• many many songs,
• many many journeys,
• many many walks,
• many many cry out
• many many vistas,
• many many views,
• many many pathways,
• many many truths,
• many many colors make up a rainbow,
• not one more important than the other,
• can we sing with one voice?

This song lives at the heart of everything the RiffRaff team stands for - all of their community development efforts, all of their concerts, all of the outreach programs they run.  I also think it speaks to one of our own mission cornerstones as a church -- Welcome all.

Thanks to everyone at home for your support.  We are holding you all in our hearts everyday. We - the Many Many of First Church of Christ Congregational in Bedford are speaking with one voice.  The voice of God and fulfilling his mission here on earth - and this week, in Mercer County, West Virginia.

Time to get crackin'  There's work to be done.  Peace.

Rick B