Black History Month: Created to Create

Readings: Exodus 35:30–35 and Ephesians 2:10

Let’s begin with a trivia and see how well you know your black history: Who was the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature? (Toni Morrison). Who was the first Black bishop of the Church of England – The Right Reverend Wilfred Wood Bishop of Croydon. Which British Jamaican nurse cared for soldiers during the Crimean War and is often called the “Black Florence Nightingale”? (Mary Seacole). Who was the first Black woman to travel into space? (Dr. Mae Jemison). Who is the British actor and producer famous for roles in the show Luther and acted as Mandela in the Long Walk to Freedom? (Idris Elba). Who is the most famous black British architect in the UK-Sir David Frank Adjaye.

Let me say, that it’s my joy and privilege to speak today in the presence of God, as we mark Black History Month- a time to celebrate, remember, and give thanks for the rich contributions of Black people, not only worldwide, but right here in our own congregation. Christ the Cornerstone is a church where many cultures, languages, and stories weave together into a living tapestry of God’s grace. Today, we focus on a theme that speaks deeply to our context: Black artistic gifts and their enduring impact on the world and the Church. Let’s begin with Exodus. Here, Moses tells the Israelites that God has chosen Bezalel and Oholiab and “filled them with the Spirit, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.” These artisans were entrusted to design, craft, and beautify the Tabernacle, the very place where God’s presence would dwell among the people. Notice what’s happening here: God doesn’t just call prophets and priests. God calls artists, craftspeople, and designers. Their creativity is not a side note, oh no: it’s central to God’s plan. The text says, “He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work…” The Tabernacle, the centrepiece of Israel’s worship, was shaped by divine inspiration expressed through human hands, minds, and imagination.

This is a powerful reminder that creativity is a calling. Artistic work is spiritual work. Whether you paint, sing, write poems like our own Maureen Onwuali, solve problems, teach, heal, or build, your gifts matter in God’s Kingdom. Throughout history, Black communities have embodied this truth. In the face of adversity, discrimination, and struggle, Black artists, musicians, writers, and professionals have transformed pain into poetry, sorrow into song, struggle into strength. Think about the songs our ancestors sang in the fields while picking cotton, those spirituals weren’t just melodies, they were prayers. They were coded messages, lifelines, and declarations of faith in a God who delivers captives. When Mahalia Jackson raised her voice in gospel songs, or when young people today put their stories to beats and rhymes, they are carrying on that tradition. The same Spirit that inspired David to write psalms is alive in every Black poet, painter, dancer, and dreamer. These are not just cultural achievements, they are acts of faith, hope, and resistance.

Turning to Paul’s words in Ephesians, we read: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. The Greek word for handiwork used here is poiema which is the root of our English word poem. In other words, you are God’s poem. God’s masterpiece. Every person in this congregation, whatever your background, profession, or talent, is a unique expression of God’s creativity. This means our diversity is not an accident. The different cultures, histories, and gifts represented in this church: doctors, nurses, carers, teachers, accountants, artists, parents, students, are all part of God’s design. When we share our gifts, when we encourage one another, when we honour each other’s heritage, we reflect the fullness of God’s beauty.

So, as we celebrate Black History Month, let’s remember: Black artistry has shaped not only culture, but also faith. From the spirituals that sustained hope, to the visual arts that told stories when words were forbidden, to the leadership and scholarship that continue to bless our church today, these are gifts from God to the world. But let’s not stop at celebration. Let’s also commit to creating space where every gift can flourish. Let’s listen to each other’s stories. Let’s support the artists, musicians, and thinkers among us. Let’s make room for the next generation to create, dream, and lead. To those in our midst who are professionals and those training, your work is also creative. When you solve a problem, teach a child, heal a patient, or manage a business, you are reflecting the image of a creative God. Your excellence honours your ancestors, breaks barriers for those who come after you, and brings glory to God.

Remember this, we are God’s handiwork, created to create, fashioned to do good, called to build a church and a world where everyone’s gifts shine. Let’s carry this calling with humility, joy, and courage, honouring the Black artists and professionals among us, learning from one another, and building together. May our church be a living masterpiece, where every colour, every voice, every story is seen, heard, and cherished in Jesus mighty name-Amen.