Crown us with many Crowns

This Sunday is the Last Sunday of the Season after Pentecost, which is also referred to as “Christ the King” Sunday.  It is the Church’s opportunity to celebrate the triumphant Christ enthroned in heaven, reigning over the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.  All has been accomplished and is even now coming to fruition, if we choose to see it.  And before the Church begins to tell our story all over again starting with the season of Advent, we take a moment to commemorate what has been accomplished, and, perhaps more importantly, find our place in the midst it.

For those of us who attended the 10:30 service last Sunday, we were blessed with the opportunity to say “Farewell” to a longtime member of the congregation, Eugenia Turkson, who is headed back home to Ghana.  She wore a beautiful traditional head wrap in brilliant gold, and it reminded me of a crown.  That reminded me of a photographic study I saw called Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats by Michael Cunningham.  In the book, Cunningham captures the beauty, dignity and empowering aura of women wearing their amazing hats – um, make that crowns – in church.

A few years ago, the world’s imagination was captured by the royal wedding of William and Kate, and the fashionistas of the world were agog by the “fascinators” - small stylist head adornments - that many of the women wore to the ceremony.  To me, this is as close as most Anglo women get to the innate dignity that our sisters, especially from the African and Southern Baptist traditions, have when they wear their “crowns.” 

There are some who dislike these crowns for their size, which may obstruct the view of the altar or preacher, or assume it is an overt sign of vanity of the wearer.  I will freely admit that when women wear apparel or accessories that make us feel good, we are more confident and dignified, with a cautionary amount of pride as well (as long as it doesn’t impede our worship or divert giving God the glory, I see no problem with it). And in a very real way, we are remembering who we are, God’s chosen people, when we wear our crowns.  If we believe we are inheritors of the kingdom of God just like Jesus Christ, then we, too, reign in God’s heavenly kingdom.

However, most of the time we forget our crowns, and, even worse, we forget the crowns of others.  We don’t see or acknowledge our inherent dignity or that of others.  We don’t treat each other as we would treat royalty.  Not that I (or anyone) should expect bows and curtsies, but kindness, patience and respect are things we are all worthy of receiving.

If we are willing to put on a great show for earthly royalty, what do we offer heavenly royalty?  And are we willing and able to not withhold that generosity until some unspecified time in the future, but live into that reality now.  Are we bold enough to wear our crowns (actually or imagined) in solidarity with our King?  Are we willing to bear both the honor and responsibility that crown signifies? 

I am, with God’s help.  And while I may never have the same innate dignity that Mrs. Turkson has, she has reminded me of who Christ calls me to be.  Thank you.  We will miss you.

In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

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