Were You There? Lenten Reflections on the Spirituals by Luke Powery

In the introduction to his brief, compelling devotional, author Luke Powery points out that spirituals “are musical memorabilia created on the anvil of misery by enslaved Blacks.” He adds that Spirituals are a “theomusical” genre that shows that suffering is part of a fallen world.

Powery combines spirituals with the 40-day Lenten journey to help readers candidly and courageously examine their hearts and their relationship to God. Exploring song after song, he points out how “the spirituals move us toward honest faith and truthfulness and lament. There can be no hope if we aren’t truthful.”

Each devotion includes a spiritual, suggestions for daily Bible readings, a short reflection, a portion of Scripture, and a prayer. This valuable resource seems best suited for personal devotions rather than a small group setting. (Westminster John Knox Press)