Beyoncé Mass
A free Christian, womanist worship service centered on love, justice, peace, and disruption of the status quo that is open to all.
On Friday, September 29th The Riverside Church will welcome the Beyoncé Mass back to New York City. The worship service uses the music and life of Beyoncé as a tool to cultivate an empowering conversation about Black women—their lives, bodies, and voices—and create an experience of story, scripture, and song that calls for the liberation of all people. Beyoncé Mass will begin at 7:00pm ET.
The womanist ethic that undergirds the mass will explore the ways that communities find strength, joy, and ingenuity in spite of the obstacles in society. The mass focuses on how marginalized communities, especially Black women, are a manifestation of God’s love in the world.
Created and curated by Yolanda Norton, Visiting Professor at Wesley Theological Seminary and founder of the Global Arts and Theology Experience (GATE), the inaugural Beyoncé Mass drew roughly 1,000 people at its inaugural event at San Francisco’s historic Grace Cathedral in April 2018. Since then, the worship service has traveled to Los Angeles, Calif, Lisbon, Portugal, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., etc.
SEEKING VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS
We are seeking vocalists and musicians in the roles described below:
Vocal
Vocal participation for three of the songs during the Beyoncé Mass will be on volunteer basis. Soprano, alto, and tenor lyric sheets and vocal guides have been developed for singers who will be accompanying the lead vocalists on three of the songs for the Beyoncé Mass.
Musicians
We are also looking for musicians who can play either the Violin, the Viola, or the Cello for two songs. These three musicians will receive a modest honorarium.
Rehearsal Schedule
September 19th – 7:00 PM (the details of this date are currently pending)
September 26th – 6:00 PM
September 28th 3 – 5:30 PM
September 29th (Day of) 12 Noon – 5:30 PM