Iconic Singer of Equality-Pete Seeger Dies at 94-Revs. Chava and Judy Reflect

I cried when Pete Seeger died this past weekend, I thought he might live forever, and I think he will. I am happy to present Rev. Chava’s reflections here and echo them. Pete Seeger’s simple melodious strumming and singing moved my soul as a teen and young adult living through the Civil Rights Era and  Human Rights era. I applauded him for his courage-to be blacklisted and still sing. I still remember his song parodying the fear of “a red under the bed” and his description of suburbia as “houses made of ticky tacky-and they all looked just the same”. As a city kid I thought exactly that when I visited the suburbs. Pete Seeger sang about equality and individuality not blanket conformity. His music was a fuel to give me the courage to be different as I was and would be in so many ways. But most of all, like Chava, I remembering singing Pete Singer songs, many of which were old favorite folk songs, in a small circle with my beloved Pastor, Rev. David Ver Nooy and my group of friends.  I’ll admit that I wanted to sound more like Joan Baez than Pete Seeger, but his songs were the basis for all other folk singing for us. It is not one of his famous songs, but I remember this Quaker ballad as it is associated with the spirituality of Rev. Dave and Pete Seeger for me ” It’s a gift to be simple, it’s a gift to be free, it’s a gift to come down where we ought to be… and by turning, turning we come back home….” Pastor David lived in Beacon, New York in his last several years. He loved attending Pete Seeger’s concerts in the area and the ship Clearwater.  Pastor Dave went home to our loving God a year ago December, now that Pete Seeger is there too, I can hear them jamming-Pete on the banjo or guitar and David on the trumpet,or maybe they are just singing together in that heavenly chorus that I hear singing all the time in my head-the songs of the community of saints that live on in our hearts forever.

The Sunday Morning Show featured highlights of Pete Seeger’s life. The commentator said that Pete Seeger was deeply upset when Bob Dylan started playing the electric guitar, not because it was Rock music and the dawning of an age that would end the folk song revival era, but because the musician stood on a stage blaring music out way above the people. Pete Seeger was a prophet of equality-he wanted everyone to sing together, on the same level, standing side by side and even locked arm in arm, as we did and still do in our churches when we are singing We Shall Overcome, since there is much to be overcome. Pete Seeger did not preside over he sang with. Chava, wouldn’t you agree that that is exactly what we are trying to achieve in the women’s priest movement? That the renewal of the Church is symbolized by the circle where we all link arms and sing together with no rock star towering above us-pastor and priest, man and woman, young and old, documented or not documented, and all colors of the rainbow- united in equality and freedom together?  

We are so blessed,Chava, to be shaped by Pete Seeger, his music and that beautiful era in time. We shall indeed carry it on! The Sunday Morning Commentator said “Pete Seeger carried that music a long way, now the music will carry him”.

Amen! 

Rev. Judy Lee, ARCWP

Rev Chava Redonnet’s Reflections on Pete Seeger 

Oscar Romero Inclusive Catholic Church
Bulletin for Sunday, February 2, 2014
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Oscar Romero Church
An Inclusive Community of Liberation, Justice and Joy