By Audrey McNally
Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 18th this year), is a period of forty days preceding Easter, and excluding Sundays. Lent is often observed as a time of repentance, penitence, and abstinence, depending upon the teachings of a particular church body or one’s personal beliefs. Some faith practices advocate ”giving up” earthly pleasures such as foods, alcoholic beverages, or indulgent activities. Other traditions encourage “taking on” spiritual or humanitarian endeavors, such as Bible study, giving to worthy causes, or working for social justice.
At Westminster Presbyterian Church, our members seek to approach the Lenten season with a balance of both sacrifice (giving up) and spiritual formation (taking on) with our annual “Soup & Study” tradition. Each Wednesday night meeting of this five-week series consists of a simple soup supper followed by a period of study or devotions. For over twenty years, Soup & Study has had an enthusiastic following and has explored such varied subjects as Bible study, sacred music styles, creative arts, journaling, and alternative worship formats.
This year’s Soup & Study will once again feature a musical theme with a Lenten devotional book titled Were You There? Lenten Reflections on the Spirituals by Luke A. Powery (Westminster John Know Press, 2019). Intended as a daily devotional with forty separate entries, each one consists of several scripture readings, the lyrics of a selected spiritual, reflections on the song, and a closing prayer.
Spirituals, also known as Negro spirituals, merged African cultural experiences with the realities of being held in bondage. Therefore, the story of their development is closely aligned to African American history and changed according to the era in which they were sung, gradually evolving into the derivative musical genres of the blues and gospel songs of the 20th century. Before the abolition of slavery in 1863, spirituals were sung as work songs or after the regular worship services (which at the time featured mainly hymns and psalms). In rural meetings, spirituals enabled people to share joys, pains, and hopes, exchange coded messages, unite people, and keep their culture alive throughout the generations.
Spirituals were often rooted in Biblical stories of both the Old and New Testaments, referencing themes of deliverance and liberation, and were also inspired by the message of Jesus Christ and the “Good News” of salvation. As the author Luke Powery states, spirituals “can be a sign of hope and the presence of God in the midst of agony. This is why they are called the ‘Spirituals’ because they are the Spirit’s song and the Spirit will not be stopped and will blow through every season of life, even liturgical seasons like Lent”.
“Were You There?” is a well-known, beloved African American spiritual and a fitting title for a Lenten devotional because its theme deals with Christ’s crucifixion.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (were you there?)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh!
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
This spiritual is an especially meaningful and emotive one for me (and many long-time Westminster worshippers) because for years it was reverently offered as a Holy Week solo by a beautiful man and soul, Charles Hardy, in a powerful baritone voice. His singing of “Were You There? would bring tears to one’s eyes and chills to the spine. Charles Hardy passed away on his 80th birthday on January 15, 1995. I remarked to his son Jack that I would give anything to have a recording of his Dad singing “Were You There?”.
All are welcome to join us for the 2026 Soup & Study series held each Wednesday evening (following Ash Wednesday) on February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 5:30-7:00 PM in the church’s Social Room (church building). Soup is served at 5:30 PM with devotions commencing at 6:15 PM, led by Pastor Adam Demetros, Elder Linda MacKay, Elder Susan Marteney, Dr. Amanda Demetros, or Elder Paul Dungey. Deacon Donna Riester will provide piano accompaniment. A copy of the book is not required. For anyone seeking quiet meditation or prayer, the Memorial Chapel will also be open to visitors during those times. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Westminster Church office at (315)253-3331. Will you be there for “Were You There?”
Audrey McNally is an elder, member of the Worship Committee and Westminster Choir, and moderator of the Christian Education Committee of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday (February 18th this year), is a period of forty days preceding Easter, and excluding Sundays. Lent is often observed as a time of repentance, penitence, and abstinence, depending upon the teachings of a particular church body or one’s personal beliefs. Some faith practices advocate ”giving up” earthly pleasures such as foods, alcoholic beverages, or indulgent activities. Other traditions encourage “taking on” spiritual or humanitarian endeavors, such as Bible study, giving to worthy causes, or working for social justice.
At Westminster Presbyterian Church, our members seek to approach the Lenten season with a balance of both sacrifice (giving up) and spiritual formation (taking on) with our annual “Soup & Study” tradition. Each Wednesday night meeting of this five-week series consists of a simple soup supper followed by a period of study or devotions. For over twenty years, Soup & Study has had an enthusiastic following and has explored such varied subjects as Bible study, sacred music styles, creative arts, journaling, and alternative worship formats.
This year’s Soup & Study will once again feature a musical theme with a Lenten devotional book titled Were You There? Lenten Reflections on the Spirituals by Luke A. Powery (Westminster John Know Press, 2019). Intended as a daily devotional with forty separate entries, each one consists of several scripture readings, the lyrics of a selected spiritual, reflections on the song, and a closing prayer.
Spirituals, also known as Negro spirituals, merged African cultural experiences with the realities of being held in bondage. Therefore, the story of their development is closely aligned to African American history and changed according to the era in which they were sung, gradually evolving into the derivative musical genres of the blues and gospel songs of the 20th century. Before the abolition of slavery in 1863, spirituals were sung as work songs or after the regular worship services (which at the time featured mainly hymns and psalms). In rural meetings, spirituals enabled people to share joys, pains, and hopes, exchange coded messages, unite people, and keep their culture alive throughout the generations.
Spirituals were often rooted in Biblical stories of both the Old and New Testaments, referencing themes of deliverance and liberation, and were also inspired by the message of Jesus Christ and the “Good News” of salvation. As the author Luke Powery states, spirituals “can be a sign of hope and the presence of God in the midst of agony. This is why they are called the ‘Spirituals’ because they are the Spirit’s song and the Spirit will not be stopped and will blow through every season of life, even liturgical seasons like Lent”.
“Were You There?” is a well-known, beloved African American spiritual and a fitting title for a Lenten devotional because its theme deals with Christ’s crucifixion.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? (were you there?)
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh!
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
This spiritual is an especially meaningful and emotive one for me (and many long-time Westminster worshippers) because for years it was reverently offered as a Holy Week solo by a beautiful man and soul, Charles Hardy, in a powerful baritone voice. His singing of “Were You There? would bring tears to one’s eyes and chills to the spine. Charles Hardy passed away on his 80th birthday on January 15, 1995. I remarked to his son Jack that I would give anything to have a recording of his Dad singing “Were You There?”.
All are welcome to join us for the 2026 Soup & Study series held each Wednesday evening (following Ash Wednesday) on February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 5:30-7:00 PM in the church’s Social Room (church building). Soup is served at 5:30 PM with devotions commencing at 6:15 PM, led by Pastor Adam Demetros, Elder Linda MacKay, Elder Susan Marteney, Dr. Amanda Demetros, or Elder Paul Dungey. Deacon Donna Riester will provide piano accompaniment. A copy of the book is not required. For anyone seeking quiet meditation or prayer, the Memorial Chapel will also be open to visitors during those times. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Westminster Church office at (315)253-3331. Will you be there for “Were You There?”
Audrey McNally is an elder, member of the Worship Committee and Westminster Choir, and moderator of the Christian Education Committee of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
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