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Lincoln’s Birthday Worship Celebration

Sunday, February 12, 2012
~ Breakfast and Program | 8:30 a.m. | in Cook Lounge
~ Morning Worship | 10:30 a.m. | in the Sanctuary

Our featured guest speaker in 2011 was Dr. Stewart Winger. As Associate Professor of History at Illinois State University, Dr. Winger specializes in American intellectual, cultural, and religious history of the Antebellum Period. At the Sunday morning continental breakfast, Dr. Winger offered a program entitled, Niagara, Gettysburg, and Lincoln’s Poetic Reclamation of the Bible and Christian Thought.
 
Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and Historian Mark Noll both claimed, at different times, that of all the religious voices who attempted to come to terms with the cataclysmic American Civil War, Lincoln was by far the deepest, the most theologically profound. And this in spite of the fact that Lincoln was not, by the standards of the day, an orthodox, conventional, “technical” Christian. Why? Both Niebuhr and Noll struggled to explain this paradox. But could it be that the two are connected? Could it be that BECAUSE Lincoln did not read the Bible literally that he was for that very reason more open to its power? A close look at Lincoln’s words about Niagara Falls and at the Gettysburg Address reveals important clues.  Lincoln rejected what Noll has termed the “American,” literal way of reading the Bible. Instead he approached the Bible in the spirit of the Romantic Poets he loved so well. Perhaps we can learn from Lincoln. As Christians, we should consider whether our literal-mindedness just might block for us a richer and deeper involvement with our tradition. 

Dr. Winger proclaimed the Word, joining the Rev. Dr. Clifford Hayes in leading the morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. The title of the Proclamation was Sin and Confession in Lincoln. See Dr. Hayes if you would like to read the text.

Lincoln's famous words from his Second Inaugural Address, "with malice toward none," reflect the qualities of kindness and mercy that we seek to nurture in ourselves. Remembering the ravages of war and allowing compassion to guide us, we collected the One Great Hour of Sharing offering during this worship service. One Great Hour of Sharing gives us an opportunity to help people around the world who are afflicted by war, hunger, and other disasters, which provides our mission focus on this day.

The Vintage Brass Band Quartet, the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir and Rudolf Zuiderveld, organist, provided special music, and a reception followed the service.

Lincoln's Birthday Worship Celebration at First Presbyterian Church
Influenced by the stories of Abraham Lincoln, who, with his family, occupied a pew in our congregation, we are thoughtful about spiritual journeys — where they may lead, the courage required, the love of family and children that inspire, despair that may break through, joy that revives, conviction that is necessary. And so we see the need to step into the circle of justice, kindness, and mercy . . . and know that, in the act of stepping in, we are not simply adding one more ingredient to our lives — we are choosing to put feet to our prayers, working to bring down the barriers between individuals, the barriers between God and people, and the barriers between societal expectations and people. We are an emerging people, always working to become what God wants us to be.

First Presbyterian Church traditionally devotes the morning worship service on the Sunday that is closest to Lincoln's birthday to commemorating the inspirational aspects of his life, faith, and spirit, and remembering the Lincoln family’s relationship to First Presbyterian Church during the years 1850-1861. The annual event has featured many inspiring guest speakers, including Allen C. Guelzo (Abraham Lincoln, Redeemer President), Wayne C. Temple (Abraham Lincoln: From Skeptic to Prophet), Ronald C. White Jr. (A. Lincoln, A Biography), and James D. Smith, III (author of several journal articles about Abraham Lincoln and on the editorial board of Christian History magazine).

Influenced by the stories of Abraham Lincoln, who, with his family, occupied a pew in our congregation, we are thoughtful about spiritual journeys.