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Home , People Get Ready, Redemption Song, Songs of Freedom

Redemption Songs Bob Easter Sunrise Service by Pastor Ken Miller Rieman First used: 20 April 2014 8:00 AM Olympic View Community Church of the Brethren

Note: Scripture and ‘MC’ parts are spoken aloud, often over top of bass and rhythm grooves. No bulletin! Lyrics could be projected to help folks sing along (and catch all the words). 35 - 40 minutes in duration.

Welcome

[Bass and Drums] Lay down Babylon System groove

[MC] To listen to some people, one might think that was just a happy Jamaican who gave the world some super-chill music to help us all feel alright.

I bet most of you know that Bob Marley brought us quite a bit more. Those who know Hebrew and Christian scripture will recognize its influence in most of his music. Those who know much about poverty and what it means to live in a system that is designed to keep some people down will recognize that influence in most of his music.

I believe Bob Marley was a prophet. He was on a sacred mission to help the people make the connection. We’ve been here before. We’ve seen empire before. We’ve been enslaved before. We’ve been in exile before. And we’ve been freed before!

So he used his music to speak the truth. He comforted the afflicted. He afflicted the comfortable. More than 30 years after his death, Bob Marley’s music still rings true and still calls us to take our own place on redemption’s stage.

People have been asking me ‘Why Bob Marley Easter?’ Sure enough, Easter isn’t about Bob Marley. It’s about redemption. It’s about that mysterious thing that happens when we we’ve been trying so hard just to live another day, another week, and we lose our hope and SOMETHING in us dies or lets go and EVERYTHING changes.

Christians celebrate the power of redemption revealed in the life of Jesus. But the Jesus story itself is a story of a man who connects the ancient story of redemption to the lives of his people in his own day.

Redemption is getting another chance. It’s turning from the way we’ve been headed to a new way. It’s lifting our vision beyond ourselves. It’s about being set free, and made whole. It’s about death not having the last word. Friends, Redemption is the Easter story, but it starts in Egypt. It starts in Babylon. It starts right here.

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Babylon System

[Bass, Drums, Guitar] transition Babylon System groove into Exodus groove

Exodus 3.7-8a,10 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey...So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.

[MC] Do you know how to recognize God’s people? They’re on the move!

Exodus

[MC] As Joseph, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery by his brothers, became a counselor to the king of the slaves; As Moses, exiled from his people is called back to free them; God finds ways to pick people up so that they can help to lift up others. But the work once done must be re-done. People do not stay free. Israel, freed from Egypt, delivered to the promised land, only to become again oppressed, the struggle against the system starts with the personal choice to emancipate one’s mind

Romans 12.1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Redemption Song

Matthew 6.25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat? ’ or ‘What will we drink? ’ or ‘What will we wear? ’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your

2 of 18 heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today

Three little birds

[Band starts One Love groove]

Acts 4.32-35 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held . With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need

1 Peter 3.8-9 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing

One love/

[MC] Jesus wants to lead his people into the promised land, but, like Moses, he’s not going to get there with them. So he tries to prepare his disciples to continue his work after he’s gone. They’ll have a choice to make: Fight like their enemies, or find a new way. Jesus says, ‘Don’t let the man tell you what strong is!’

Mt. 26.47-52 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword

Comin’ in from the cold

3 of 18 John 19.16b-18a,25-27 So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him...... Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

John 20.11-16 [The next day] Mary [Magdalene] stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher)

No woman, no cry

[MC] So we see: Death does not have the final word! The Easter story is the story of redemption, the healing and renewing of all creation. It starts in Egypt. It starts in Babylon. It starts again, right here, today!

Jammin’ [during song, give instrumental solos and thank musicians and vocalists]

4 of 18 Babylon System (Survival, 1979)

We refuse to be What you wanted us to be We are what we are That's the way it's going to be, if you don't know You can't educate I For no equal opportunity (Talking about my freedom) Talking about my freedom People freedom and liberty

Yeah, we've been trodding on the winepress (much too long) Rebel, Rebel Yes we've been trodding on the winepress much too long, Rebel, Rebel

Babylon System is the Vampire (Vampire) Sucking the children day by day Me say the Babylon System is the Vampire (Vampire) Sucking the blood of the sufferers Building church and university Deceiving the people continually Me say them graduating thieves and murderers Look out now They sucking the blood of the sufferers (sufferers, sufferers)

Tell the children the truth Tell the children the truth Tell the children the truth right now Come on and tell the children the truth (repeat)

'Cause we've been trodding on the winepress (much too long) Rebel, Rebel And we've been taken for granted much too long, Rebel, rebel (repeat)

(fades out...) From the very day we left the shores Of our father's land We've been trampled on, oh now Now we know everything we got to rebel Somebody got to pay for the work We've done, Rebel

5 of 18 Exodus (Exodus, 1977)

Exodus: Movement of Jah people! Oh-oh-oh, yea-eah! ...... Men and people will fight ya down (Tell me why!) When ya see Jah light. (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!) Let me tell you if you're not wrong; (Then, why?) Everything is all right. So we gonna walk - all right! - through the roads of creation: We the generation (Tell me why!) (Trod through great tribulation) trod through great tribulation.

Exodus, all right! Movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah! O-oo, yeah! All right! Exodus: Movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah!

Yeah-yeah-yeah, well! Uh! Open your eyes and look within: Are you satisfied (with the life you're living)? Uh! We know where we're going, uh! We know where we're from. We're leaving Babylon, We're going to our Father land.

2, 3, 4: Exodus: movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah! (Movement of Jah people!) Send us another brother Moses! (Movement of Jah people!) From across the Red Sea! (Movement of Jah people!) Send us another brother Moses! (Movement of Jah people!) From across the Red Sea! Movement of Jah people! --- /Instrumental break/ --- Exodus, all right! Oo-oo-ooh! Oo-ooh! Movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah! Exodus! Exodus! All right! Exodus! Now, now, now, now! Exodus! Exodus! Oh, yea-ea-ea-ea-ea-ea-eah! Exodus! Exodus! All right! Exodus! Uh-uh-uh-uh!

Move! Move! Move! Move! Move! Move! Open your eyes and look within: Are you satisfied with the life you're living? We know where we're going; We know where we're from.

6 of 18 We're leaving Babylon, y'all! We're going to our Father's land.

Exodus, all right! Movement of Jah people! Exodus: movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people!

Move! Move! Move! Move! Move! Move! Move!

Jah come to break downpression, Rule equality, Wipe away transgression, Set the captives free.

Exodus, all right, all right! Movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah! Exodus: movement of Jah people! Oh, now, now, now, now! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people!

Move! Move! Move! Move! Move! Move! Uh-uh-uh-uh! Move(ment of Jah people)! Move(ment of Jah people)! Move(ment of Jah people)! Move(ment of Jah people)! Movement of Jah people! Move(ment of Jah people)! Move(ment of Jah people)! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people! Movement of Jah people!

7 of 18 (Uprising, 1980)

Old pirates, yes, they rob I; Sold I to the merchant ships, Minutes after they took I From the bottomless pit. But my hand was made strong By the 'and of the Almighty. We forward in this generation Triumphantly. Won't you help to sing These ? - 'Cause all I ever have: Redemption songs; Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds. Have no fear for atomic energy, 'Cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? Ooh! Some say it's just a part of it: We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing These songs of freedom? - 'Cause all I ever have: Redemption songs; Redemption songs; Redemption songs. --- /Guitar break/ --- Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our mind. Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy, 'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? Yes, some say it's just a part of it: We've got to fulfil de book. Won't you help to sing Dese songs of freedom? - 'Cause all I ever had: Redemption songs - All I ever had: Redemption songs: These songs of freedom, Songs of freedom.

8 of 18 (Exodus, 1977)

"Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin', Smiled with the risin' sun, Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin' sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right." Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin', Smiled with the risin' sun, Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin' sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh! Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!" Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" - I won't worry! "'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right" - I won't worry! Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right." Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, oh no! 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!

9 of 18 One love / people get ready (Exodus 1977)

One Love! One Heart! Let's get together and feel all right. Hear the children cryin' (One Love!); Hear the children cryin' (One Heart!), Sayin': give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right; Sayin': let's get together and feel all right. Wo wo-wo wo-wo!

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One Love!); There is one question I'd really love to ask (One Heart!): Is there a place for the hopeless sinner, Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?

One Love! What about the one heart? One Heart! What about - ? Let's get together and feel all right As it was in the beginning (One Love!); So shall it be in the end (One Heart!), All right! Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right; Let's get together and feel all right. One more thing!

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armagiddyon (One Love!), So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One Song!). Have pity on those whose chances grows t'inner; There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation.

Sayin': One Love! What about the One Heart? (One Heart!) What about the - ? Let's get together and feel all right. I'm pleadin' to mankind! (One Love!); Oh, Lord! (One Heart) Wo-ooh!

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right; Let's get together and feel all right. Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right; Let's get together and feel all right.

10 of 18 Comin’ in from the cold (Uprising, 1980)

In this life, in this life, in this life, In this, oh sweet life: We're (we're coming in from the cold); We're coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in), Coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in), Coming in from the cold.

It's you - it's you - it's you I'm talkin' to - Well, you (it's you) - you (it's you) - you I'm talking to now. Why do you look so sad and forsaken? When one door is closed, don't you know other is open?

Would you let the system make you kill your brotherman? No, no, no, no, no, no! No, Dread, no! Would you make the system make you kill your brotherman? (No, Dread, no!) Would you make the system get on top of your head again? (No, Dread, no!) Well, the biggest man you ever did see was - was just a baby.

In this life (in this life), In this (in this life, oh sweet life): Coming in from the cold; We're coming in (coming in), coming in-a (coming in), Coming in (coming in), ooh! (coming in) Coming in from the cold!

It's life (it's life), it's life (it's life), it's life (it's life): It's - wa - well! - coming in from the cold! We're coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in) - Ooh (coming in), hey! (coming in), Coming in from the cold!

It's you - you - you I'm talking - Well, yes, you, bilyabong! (it's you); Ew! - you I'm talking to now. We-e-ell, why do you look so - look so - look so sad - Look so sad and forsaken? Don't you know: When one door is closed - when one door is closed, Many more is open?

We-e-e-ell, would you let the system get on top of your head again?

11 of 18 No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Dread, no! Would you let the system make you kill your brotherman? No, Dread, no! We-e-e-ell, would you make the system get on top of your head again? (No, Dread, no!) No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Well, the biggest - biggest man you ever - ever Did-a see was-a - was-a once a baby.

In this life, in this life, in this life, In this, oh, sweet life, We're (coming in from the cold) from the cold! We're coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in), Coming in (coming in), wo-o! Yea-ea-eah! Coming in from the cold

We're coming in-a, coming in-a, coming in-a, coming in-a! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yea-ea-ea-eah! Coming in from the cold Coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in) - (coming in) (coming in) (coming in) from the - from the cold! - /fadeout/

12 of 18 No woman no cry (, 1974)

No, woman, no cry; No, woman, no cry; No, woman, no cry; No, woman, no cry.

'Cause - 'cause - 'cause I remember when a we used to sit In a government yard in Trenchtown, Oba - obaserving the 'ypocrites - yeah! - Mingle with the good people we meet, yeah! Good friends we have, oh, good friends we have lost Along the way, yeah! In this great future, you can't forget your past; So dry your tears, I seh. Yeah!

No, woman, no cry; No, woman, no cry. Eh, yeah! A little darlin', don't shed no tears: No, woman, no cry. Eh!

Said - said - said I remember when we used to sit In the government yard in Trenchtown, yeah! And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I seh, logwood burnin' through the nights, yeah! Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, say, Of which I'll share with you, yeah! My feet is my only carriage And so I've got to push on through. Oh, while I'm gone, Everything's gonna be all right! Everything's gonna be all right! Everything's gonna be all right, yeah! Everything's gonna be all right! Everything's gonna be all right-a! Everything's gonna be all right! Everything's gonna be all right, yeah! Everything's gonna be all right!

So no, woman, no cry; No, woman, no cry. I seh, O little - O little darlin', don't shed no tears; No, woman, no cry, eh.

No, woman - no, woman - no, woman, no cry; No, woman, no cry. One more time I got to say: O little - little darlin', please don't shed no tears; No, woman, no cry.

13 of 18 Jamming (Exodus 1977)

Ooh, yeah! All right! We're jammin': I wanna jam it wid you. We're jammin', jammin', And I hope you like jammin', too. Ain't no rules, ain't no vow, we can do it anyhow: I'n'I will see you through, 'Cos everyday we pay the price with a little sacrifice, Jammin' till the jam is through.

We're jammin' - To think that jammin' was a thing of the past; We're jammin', And I hope this jam is gonna last. No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won't bow; Neither can be bought nor sold. We all defend the right; Jah - Jah children must unite: Your life is worth much more than gold.

We're jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin') And we're jammin' in the name of the Lord; We're jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin'), We're jammin' right straight from Yah. Yeh! Holy Mount Zion; Holy Mount Zion: Jah sitteth in Mount Zion And rules all creation. Yeah, we're - we're jammin' (wotcha-wa), Wotcha-wa-wa-wa, we're jammin' (wotcha-wa), See, I wanna jam it wid you

We're jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin') I'm jammed: I hope you're jammin', too. Jam's about my pride and truth I cannot hide To keep you satisfied. True love that now exist is the love I can't resist, So jam by my side.

We're Jammin' (jammin', jammin', jammin'), yeah-eah-eah! I wanna jam it wid you. We're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin', We're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin', we're jammin';

14 of 18 Hope you like jammin', too. We're jammin', we're jammin' (jammin'), We're jammin', we're jammin' (jammin'). I wanna (I wanna jam it wid you) - I wanna - I wanna jam wid you now. Jammin', jammin' (hope you like jammin' too). Eh-eh! I hope you like jammin', I hope you like jammin', 'Cause (I wanna jam it wid you). I wanna ... wid you. I like - I hope you - I hope you like jammin', too. I wanna jam it; I wanna jam it.

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Bob Marley Easter Sunrise Service

Redemption Songs 4/20 8 AM

Far more than being an international music superstar, Bob Marley was a Prophet. He saw, in the struggle of his people against poverty and oppression, an ancient struggle. Even as he named the beastly dimensions of empire in the modern age, he believed that the redemption of the world requires learning to see the spiritual reality beneath the trappings of wealth and might. His music stands as an eternal call to join with God in the pursuit of justice and love for all of creation.

Bob Marley’s redemption songs tell the Easter story. Death does not get the final word!

Come as you are. Sing along. Wake up and Live!

Olympic View Community Church 425 NE 95th St. Seattle WA olympicchurch.org

16 of 18 Publicity: Plain Text

Bob Marley Easter Sunrise Service

Redemption Songs

Far more than being an international reggae music superstar, Bob Marley was a Prophet. He saw, in the struggle of his people against poverty and oppression, an ancient struggle. Even as he named the beastly dimensions of empire in the modern age, he believed that redeeming the world takes recognizing and engaging the spiritual reality beneath the trappings of wealth and might. His music stands as an eternal call to join with God in the pursuit of justice and love for all of creation. Bob Marley’s redemption songs tell the Easter story. Death does not get the final word.

Come as you are. Sing along. Wake up and Live!

Additional text about the servcie I shared with my congregation in a bulletin insert:

Bob Marley Easter Sunrise Service by Ken Miller Rieman

Many of you are aware that we are hosting a special Easter Sunrise Service this year but may still have questions about it. That’s understandable. Hopefully, this sheet will help.

Who is Bob Marley?

Born in 1945 in rural Jamaica, Bob Marley became one of the world’s most popular singer--guitarist-performers. He was most active from the mid-60’s through 1980 and died of cancer in 1981.

Marley was a remarkably charismatic performer, but more than that, his lyrics addressed the social, political, and spiritual struggles facing the world in that particularly tumultuous time. His message was prophetic. He saw in the struggle of his people against poverty and oppression, an ancient struggle. Just as the prophets of Hebrew Scripture and Jesus himself named the beastly dimensions of empire in their day, Marley believed that God’s work to redeem the world takes people recognizing and engaging the spiritual reality beneath the glamour of wealth and might. That’s why MOST of his music encourages listeners to join with God in the pursuit of justice and love for all of creation. He believed the struggle was both

17 of 18 personal and social, and that his highly danceable music could simultaneously express pain and hope and help to heal the world.

So why call the service Bob Marley Easter Sunrise? Isn’t Easter about Jesus?

Members of our church know that Easter is a celebration of what God did through Jesus, and continues to do through Jesus’ followers, his church. Jesus came to heal and redeem a broken world.

I am continually amazed at the number of people I encounter whose hopes for the healing of the world are Christ-like, but want nothing to do with a church that they’ve not experienced to be concerned with these same things. I am also amazed by the number of Christians who speak about non-Christians and non churchgoers as though they don’t care about the same things. I think the healing of the world requires a bridging of this divide. I think that open minded Christians like those in our congregation can help by building connections with folks who share our hopes, even if they don’t share our cultural taste in worship.

I’ve planned this service to welcome folks who LOVE the music of Bob Marley. Many of them see a strong connection between his music and the Good News of Easter. Many of them are surprised to learn of a pastor and a church that see that connection enough to host such a service. I’m using Bob Marley’s name in the service to let them know that his music and message will help us to tell the Easter story.

To be sure, Bob Marley’s commercial success has meant that much of his faith and message get less attention than his good looks and his super-star lifestyle. Some of the folks drawn to the service are likely to be pretty different from most of our members. Indeed, I hope that is the case.

At any rate, I thank you for your openness and understanding. I’ve planned this service to celebrate Easter in a different way, a way that will hopefully make a deeply spiritual connection for people who know and love Bob Marley’s music. I don’t expect all of our members to like the music or even want to come to the service. That’s why we’re still having our traditional service at our normal time.

But if you’re curious and can keep an open mind, you are all most welcome.

Yours, Ken

18 of 18