Longing for Jesus: Worship at a Black Holiness Church in Mississippi, 1895–1913

by Lester Ruth

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2013

Overview

The Church at Worship series presents case studies of worshiping communities around the world and throughout Christian history, designed to inform and enrich worship practices today. Rather than survey historical developments of worship, this series closely examines worship practices of particular times and places. Each volume includes a map, a timeline, a summary of noteworthy aspects of worship in the relevant time period and region, an anthology of primary sources, and questions for congregational and student study groups.

In this third volume, Longing for Jesus, Lester Ruth vividly portrays a prominent African-American holiness church in Jackson, Mississippi, in the early twentieth century. Ruth’s rich selection of primary documents presents readers with a vibrant snapshot of this dynamic church and its pastor, Charles Price Jones, caught between factors that threatened the existence of the congregation itself: Jim Crow racism, conflicting visions for the church, appropriate Christian piety, and social aspirations. In the midst of conflicts inside and outside, the church fought to create a space where it could worship Jesus as it saw fit.

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Key Features

• Portrays a prominent African-American holiness church in Jackson, Mississippi
• Presents readers with a vibrant snapshot of this dynamic church and its pastor
• Includes a map, a timeline, a summary of noteworthy aspects of worship

Contents

Top Highlights

“as I said, there is more connected with the resurrection of Jesus than merely the physical” (Page 128)

“Blacks also worshiped with predominantly white congregations” (Page 3)

Praise for the Print Edition

Masterfully knitting new strands of research into a rich tapestry of religious history, Lester Ruth brings to life the long-hidden story of the nation’s first African-American Holiness church. . . . By turns narrative history, exegesis, and study of Christian practice, Ruth’s book brims with insight and wisdom about how a small church in the deep South sparked a movement that would sweep the country and start a revolution in worship and preaching.

—John Giggie, associate professor, University of Alabama

Lester Ruth’s Longing for Jesus takes the reader inside Christ Temple of Jackson, Mississippi, and the ministry of Charles Price Jones, a central figure in the Black Holiness movement. . . . We can experience the richness of worship in that place and imagine enriched worship practices for ourselves. This accessible and innovative introduction to a critical but underappreciated figure in the history of American Protestant worship is a great gift indeed.

—W. Scott Haldeman, associate professor of worship, Chicago Theological Seminary

This richly rewarding book takes the reader into Christ Temple under the leadership of Charles Price Jones a century ago in order to discover a host of fresh insights into hymnody, preaching, and the encounter with God that takes place in worship. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the study and practice of worship.

—Dale T. Irvin, professor of world Christianity, New York Theological Seminary

Longing for Jesus invites us into a significant form of African-American communal worship at a significant time in American history. This Holiness congregation at worship is no doubt reflective of other nascent African-American churches struggling to find meaning and freedom in a confused religious environment. . . . I highly commend this scholarly research series to all who take worship seriously!

—Melva Costen, visiting professor of liturgical studies, Yale Institute of Sacred Music

Product Details

• Title: Longing for Jesus: Worship at a Black Holiness Church in Mississippi, 1895–1913
• Author: Lester Ruth
• Series: The Church at Worship
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2013
• Pages: 187
• Resource Type: Topical
• Topic: Worship

About Lester Ruth

Dr. Lester Ruth is the Lily May Jarvis Professor of Christian Worship. He began teaching at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2000. He received a B.B.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University, 1981; a M.Div. from Asbury Seminary, 1985; a Th.M. from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 1988; and a M.A (1994) and a Ph.D. (1996) from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to teaching at Asbury Seminary, Dr. Ruth was assistant professor of Liturgical Studies at Yale University Divinity School and Institute of Sacred Music. He has been an adjunct at Tyndale Theological Seminary (Toronto), Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Chicago) and the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (Jacksonville, Fla.). He is a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy. Dr. Ruth is a member of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was ordained as a deacon in 1984 and as an elder in 1987. He has served three appointments. His book, A Little Heaven Below: Worship at Early Methodist Quarterly Meetings (Nashville: Kingswood Books, 2000) was awarded the Jesse Lee Prize by the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History. He has also received three teaching awards at Asbury Seminary , two for use of media and one for extended learning. He was on the advisory board for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship liturgical renewal grants program from 1999 to 2004. He was also a John Wesley Fellow, funded by A Foundation for Theological Education during graduate school. Dr. Ruth is currently editing a multi-volume set of worship case studies from church history as well as continuing research into the theology of contemporary worship music. Dr. Ruth and his wife, Carmen have two daughters. (particularly ) with the