Fire in My Bones: Transcendence and the Holy Spirit in African American Gospel

419 Pages·2000·31.69 MB·English

by  Glenn Hinson

FireinMvBones
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ContemporEatrhynographv
SeriesEditors
Dan Rose
Paul Stoller
Acomplete list ofbooks in the series
isavailable from the publisher.

FireinMvBones
Transcendence and the Holy Spirit
in African American Gospel
Glenn Hinson
In collaboration with saints
from a host of churches
Photographs by Roland L. Freeman
PENN
University ofPennsylvania
Philadelphia
All royalties from this book will go to church projects designated
bythe saints who have served asthis work's
consultants and co-authors.
Copyright ©2000University ofPennsylvania Press
Allrights reserved
Printed intheUnited StatesofAmerica onacid-freepaper
10987654321
Published by
University ofPennsylvania Press
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4011
Theauthor wishestothank thefollowingforpermission toreprint lyrics:
Thelabelcopyfor"lustRehearsal."Written byFrankWilliams;published byMalacoMusicCo.
International copyright secured pc1985.
Thelabelcopyfor"I'd Sho'Shout It."Written byLemuelC.Jones/JohnWesLewis.MalacoMusic
Co.BM!.International copyright secured pc1987.
"StopThat Putting On" ©1969and ((IWonder IsEverybodyHappy That Shouts?" ©1946,by
WilliamWalker.Usedbypermission ofMirdisWalker.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in- Publication Data
Hinson, Glenn.
Fireinmybones: transcendence andtheHolySpiritinAfrican
American gospel/Glenn Hinson.
p. cm.- (Contemporary ethnography)
Includes bibliographical referencesandindex.
ISBN0-8122-3528-2 (hardcover: alk.paper).
ISBN0-8122-1717-9 (pbk. :alk.paper)
1.Afro-American publicworship. 2.Experience (Religion)
3.Afro-Americans-Religion. 1.Title. II.Series.
BR563.N4H56 1999
306.6'64'008996073-dc21 99-36613
CIP
FrontispieceT:heperformed poweroftheWord.TheBranchettes-Lena MaePerryandEthelElliott
atthegroup's twenty-third anniversary atLongBranch DiscipleChurch, Newton Grove,North
Carolina, March 10,1996.(Photo byRoland 1.Freeman.)
Contents
ListofIllustrations ix
1.SeekingUnderstanding: "YouGottoBeinIttoFeelIt" 1
2.Belief,Knowledge,and Experience: "The Lord Can BeMysterious" 9
3.Experiencing the Holy:"JustLikeFireShut Up inMyBones" 14
4.AConversation: "You'veGot to Open the Door" 25
5.Beginnings: "Happy to Beinthe House ofWorship" 30
6.Scripture: "It'sAbout BeingSincereinYourHeart" 43
7.Prayer:"The Vibrations ofthe HolySpirit GoOut There" 53
8.AConversation: "It'sthe Words ofHim That's SpeakingThrough Me" 74
9.Song:"SingTillthe Powerofthe LordComes Down" 84
10.Praise:"UpAboveMyHead, IHear Singinginthe Air" 110
11.Welcome:"Not fortheAppointment, but forthe Anointment" 125
12.Response:"God Ain't Coming into No Dead Heart" 149
13.The Emcee:"IfYouHaveaDryEmcee,YouHaveaDryAnniversary" 163
14.Format: "Let'sGivethe LordaPraise" 189
15.Purpose: "The Anointing ofGod Breaksthe Yokes" 203
16.FalsePurpose: "WeDidn't Come forNo Form or Fashion" 230
17.Elevation:"Go Slow,RiseHigh, Catch onFire,and SitDown" 264
18.Invitation: «TheSoulsofManyAreYetLost" 308
19.Benediction: «Maythe GraceofGod Rest,Rule,and Abide" 314
Appendix: Stepping Around Experience and the Supernatural 327
Notes 335
Bibliography 377
Acknowledgments 391
Index 397
viii Contents
Illustrations
Frontispiece: Theperformed power oftheWord. iv
1.The Branchettes singing attheir twenty-third anniversary. 6
2.The LongBranch DiscipleChurch inrural Johnston County,
North Carolina. 31
3.SisterEthelElliottopens the servicewith quiet words ofinvitation. 35
4.Mother EuniceNixonleadsthe congregation inthe service's
opening song. 37
5.Mother Edna Lofton readsthe Twenty-third Psalm. 44
6.Allheadsbow asthe saints extend the thanks and entreaty ofprayer. 57
7.DeaconWillieEldridge attributes hisgiftforprayer entirely tothe Spirit. 76
8.The raisedvoicesofthe congregation push the singingto a
passionate peak. 86
9.The rolesofsingerand congregation dissolveasBrother Kenneth
Nichols pressesinto hissecond song. 114
10.SisterLenaMaePerrywelcomesthe congregation tothe
Branchettes' anniversary. 128
11.Caught up inthe Spirit, SisterPerry's sonand mother join inthe
rapture ofholydance. 158
12.William Coley,singerand guitarist with theWilliam ColeyTrio,
playsguitar forthe EbenezerGospelChoir. 186
13.The director ofthe St.Amanda GospelChoir testifiestoher experience
asshesings«Something gota-hold ofme!" 195
14.The Clouds ofHarmony drawtheir setto apowerful close. 197