What do you think?
Rate this book
Rise Up, Shepherd!: Advent Reflections on the Spirituals
Valuable not only for their sublime musical expression, the African American spirituals give us profound insights into the human condition and the Christian life. Many focus on an essential scene of the Christian drama: the coming of God as the child in Bethlehem and as the hope of the world and the liberator of God's oppressed people.
In these devotions for the season of Advent, Luke Powery leads the reader through the spirituals as they confront the mystery of incarnation and redemption. In Rise Up, Shepherd! each devotion features the lyrics of the spiritual, a reflection on the spiritual's meaning, a Scripture verse, and a brief prayer.
In these devotions for the season of Advent, Luke Powery leads the reader through the spirituals as they confront the mystery of incarnation and redemption. In Rise Up, Shepherd! each devotion features the lyrics of the spiritual, a reflection on the spiritual's meaning, a Scripture verse, and a brief prayer.
104 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2017
43 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 12, 2017
I had the opportunity to hear Luke Powery preach. He is a powerful preacher. He is thoughtful and thought-provoking, He brings those qualities to this set of Advent reflections. This set of reflections/devotions is somewhat unique in that Powery uses spirituals as his starting point. Powery writes that the spirituals are apropos for this time of division within our society. That is because spiriturals are "songs sung by weary throats, created in a brutal historical setting of slavery by the enslaved, yet resonating with hope through all the sinister splinters of social sin" (p. ix).
Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of the Christ. Living this side of Easter and Pentecost, that hoped for coming is a second coming. The spirituals have a sense of hope and expectation for a future coming that will bring justice and peace. The turn to the spirituals during Advent also serves to be build a bridge between the cultural literature of the black church with "high liturgical sensibility of the church calendar" (p. x).
The book is set up with four weeks of daily devotions. Scriptures are assigned for each day -- a reading from the Psalms, a reading from the Old Testament, and a reading from the New Testament. Then the words of a spiritual are presented, followed by a devotional reading by Powery. This is followed by an excerpt from one of the scripture readings, and then a prayer. Some of the choices will be very familiar to all readers, songs like "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "Go Tell It on the Mountain." Others will be less well-known. Many of them look forward to being carried off into a new world, but as we know even those songs can be subversive.
If you are looking for a unique way of approaching the season of Advent, this is a devotional for you.
Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of the Christ. Living this side of Easter and Pentecost, that hoped for coming is a second coming. The spirituals have a sense of hope and expectation for a future coming that will bring justice and peace. The turn to the spirituals during Advent also serves to be build a bridge between the cultural literature of the black church with "high liturgical sensibility of the church calendar" (p. x).
The book is set up with four weeks of daily devotions. Scriptures are assigned for each day -- a reading from the Psalms, a reading from the Old Testament, and a reading from the New Testament. Then the words of a spiritual are presented, followed by a devotional reading by Powery. This is followed by an excerpt from one of the scripture readings, and then a prayer. Some of the choices will be very familiar to all readers, songs like "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "Go Tell It on the Mountain." Others will be less well-known. Many of them look forward to being carried off into a new world, but as we know even those songs can be subversive.
If you are looking for a unique way of approaching the season of Advent, this is a devotional for you.
December 20, 2021
The African American spirituals were songs of hope. Hope that they would be free from physical slavery. But there is also spiritual slavery that people need to be free from. That is why Jesus came. That is why we celebrate Advent. To anticipate the coming of Christ, the coming of freedom. There are no better songs to sing during Advent than the African American spirituals that Luke Powery has presented in this book. These are songs of hope. These are songs we need to hear.
**I was able to find almost all of the songs (or similar versions) on youtube. I feel listening to the songs greatly enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the spirituals presented.
**I was able to find almost all of the songs (or similar versions) on youtube. I feel listening to the songs greatly enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the spirituals presented.
November 11, 2017
This book is a blessing. It brings together scripture, a devotional and a spiritual song. I love spirituals so I was very happy to receive this book and it did not disappoint. I will be purchasing this book for people that love spirituals as I do. I will be looking to read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this wonderfully blessed book in return for my honest review.
December 29, 2017
This book of daily devotions centered on Scripture and Spirituals was very helpful during my 2017 Advent journey. The short (2-3 page) reflections both challenged and inspired me, and I enjoyed listening to recordings of the Spirituals on YouTube, especially the less familiar ones. I also had fruitful weekly group discussions on the book with a Sunday School class and a neighborhood ministry. Many thanks to Luke Powery and Westminster John Knox for this book!
December 30, 2020
My Sunday school class used this for Advent this year - this is a wonderful devotional and powerful - it was different and well worth using in a group - we zoomed and uploaded authentic music to correspond with the devotionals - we also had to improvise and use 2/3 devotionals for each Sunday in Advent
December 28, 2021
This is such a wonderful gift to look at spirituals in the context of the church calendar. I am so thankful for the reminders here and was refreshed. Beyond that I saw advent through eyes I had never seen it before and that deepens my own walk with Jesus.
December 24, 2020
Advent devotional
Based on the songs of what is known as negro spirituals, there is discussion on meanings of songs in light of slavery and discrimination.
Based on the songs of what is known as negro spirituals, there is discussion on meanings of songs in light of slavery and discrimination.
March 11, 2018
African-American Spirituals are a cornerstone of the Christian faith in so many traditions. Luke Powery uses these spirituals in devotions to explore the Advent season with readers. Ideal for personal devotion, this collection could also be used in a Bible study setting. The leader should consider using audio recordings of the spirituals Pwery ponders to enhance the experience.
December 8, 2017
My favourite Christian guide for Advent to Christmas this year.
The book has several short readings from scripture, usually a portion from the old testament, the new testament, a psalm and a gospel each day. This is followed by an American Nero Spiritual. These lead into the thought for that day.
This is an especially good read to have on a Kindle as it is possible to find a choir singing the spiritual to enhance your experience.
I highly recommend this reader as a guide to the season.
I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
The book has several short readings from scripture, usually a portion from the old testament, the new testament, a psalm and a gospel each day. This is followed by an American Nero Spiritual. These lead into the thought for that day.
This is an especially good read to have on a Kindle as it is possible to find a choir singing the spiritual to enhance your experience.
I highly recommend this reader as a guide to the season.
I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews