sanguine lilies by Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson
marching on rays of sunshine
imperial theologies of grace
Empire plotting to kill a man
a story sanctified
a context sanitized
lines of history erased
walk the road to Jerusalem
smell betrayal in the air
hear the shouts
the Hosannas
wave your palms
your innocence declare
put the lilies on the altar
no bread, no wine
this new symbol of sacrifice
lost in fields of white
enter the temple
open your eyes
in God we trust?
where is your truth?
calling for redemption
hurrying toward the resurrection
skipping over the terrorized
labeling them brutes
the garden
weeping and praying
the religious
corrupt and unjust
the shame
hunger and poverty
the occupation
torture and loss
put the lilies on the altar
their smiling beauty a sign of spring
singing songs of resurrection
no blood, no death we hear
into the holy of holies
the violence erupts
no bread to eat
no place to sleep
the prophet speaks
truth renamed seditionist rhetoric
chasing rainbows
on a dark Friday
crosses touching a dusky sky
named a threat to Empire
expendable
criminal
watch the bullets fly
put the lilies on the altar
in their Easter Sunday whites
hurry to the empty tomb
no blood, no death in sight
abusive power suppressing the people
controlling with fear and brutality
inciting hatred
standing in the way of the neighbor
poor communities militarized
Mothers weeping for their children
crucified by the system
for daring to heal and feed the masses
for feeding hopeless souls
for naming a just God
for saying: we are the image of God
put the lilies on the altar
see their glorified whiteness
hiding the blood
of the lost
put the lilies on the altar
surround them with this story
of sacrifice, freedom, hope
5:41 KGAT 13 April 2019 Cleveland, OH
©️Copyright 2019. Used with permission.
The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson serves as the Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for the United Church of Christ. She is an inspiring preacher and teacher, sharing her skills and gifts in a variety of settings nationally and internationally. She is a published writer and poet.
As the Ecumenical Officer for the UCC she is responsible for nurturing and coordinating the ecumenical work of the UCC through involvement in the UCC’s relationships, partnerships, councils of churches, theological dialogues and ecumenical initiatives. She represents the UCC in all ecumenical settings and advises the General Minister and President as well as other UCC leadership on ecumenical policy. Her ministry is informed by her passion for racial justice and the elimination of racism. She is a strong proponent of human rights and provides leadership for the joint United Church of Canada and United Church of Christ committee working on the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent.
Prior to accepting the role as Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Rev. Thompson was the Minister for Racial Justice with Justice and Witness Ministries for the UCC. Before joining the national staff, Karen Georgia served in the Florida Conference United Church of Christ as a Pastor and on the Conference staff.
Karen Georgia earned a BA from Brooklyn College in New York, a Masters in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York. She also studied Public Policy at Duke University and earned her Doctorate in Ministry at Seattle University.