Christians from around the world have entered into an intense 40-day period of prayer, repentance, meditation, almsgiving, and reflections on Jesus’ journey in the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. The first day of this period is known as Ash Wednesday, and it ends the day before Easter Sunday, Holy Saturday.
As usual, I have questions regarding the Lenten liturgy and its connection to our identity in post-colonial Jamaica. I am a firm believer in the liturgy as the work of the people, and, as such, I strongly advocate the belief that the liturgy, and the worship experience as a whole, ought to reflect (the culture of) its creators. Worship that doesn’t reflect who we are culturally raises questions about the authenticity of the sacrifice being offered to God. Using our culture and heritage to inform how we worship strengthens our connection with our faith and enriches our spiritual experience. It cannot be the case that Caribbean people have nothing to bring to the Lenten table.
"the liturgy, and the worship experience as a whole, ought to reflect (the culture of) its creators."
So, a question to be asked, for example, is: “how do Jamaicans express grief/sorrow/sadness for the wrongs we commit, and subsequently, how can this inform our Lenten liturgies?” What words do we use, what posture do we adopt, what emotions do we appeal to/evoke, what songs do we sing...? I believe we have enough people around with the requisite knowledge, creativity, and competency required to guide us in developing liturgies that align with this way of expressing ourselves.
There is only one dege-dege black hymn in our CPWI in the section with hymns specific to the Lenten season (#130). It’s an Afro-American spiritual entitled, “Ride on, King Jesus.” It’s only appropriate for Palm Sunday, the final Sunday of the Season. I have compiled a list of fitting black songs, which can be found below.
Some of these were not written specifically for Lent. They do, however, convey Lenten motifs - prayer, repentance, Jesus' temptation and passion, etc.
1. Ride on King Jesus (CPWI #130)
2. I Come to the Cross (CPWI #523)
6. You Creator God Have Searched Me (by George Mulrain)
7. Make God Your Choice (by Pearl Mulrain)
8. Forgiveness (by Peter Ashbourne)
10. Were You There
12. Medley
a. Walk Holy, Walk Holy, Mount Zion Children, Walk Holy
b. Yu Beta Get Right Wid God
c. Wash Mi Jesus, Wash Mi
Other songs can be found in the Sing a New Song series. This was a hymn-writing project that began in the 1970s and was spearheaded by the Caribbean Conference of Churches. One may also consider two methods of localizing traditional Lenten hymns from the North Atlantic. Congregations can: 1) sing them to local tunes such as reggae and mento, and 2) follow the lead of Revival practitioners in doing what they refer to as changing “the air” of the hymns, i.e. to do a complete overhaul using harmonic and melodic improvisions, as is exemplified here and here.
Much work remains in terms of building a repertoire of lenten hymns. Only a few are available, however, it's enough for at least one to be sung for each service in the season.
There are only a few black lenten hymns currently available. Much work needs to be done in order to create a much larger collection. Nonetheless, the existing repertoire is sufficient to ensure that at least one hymn can be sung during each service throughout the Lenten season.
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