Hear the Spirit

“Dr. Stewart has created liturgies worthy of the Black church’s prophetic tradition. These poems, prayers, and litanies refuse to separate Sunday morning worship from Monday morning justice-making, offering worship resources that honor our ancestors, celebrate our culture, and speak truth to power. This is the kind of Afrocentric Christianity the Black church needs—liturgies that comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.

“Raedorah Stewart has always been a singular, rare talent; a womanist poet and liturgist whose embodiment crosses boundaries of sexuality, gender, and race. In Hear the Spirit, Stewart has offered us an inspiring and stirring collection of words that animates the power of God in ways that enliven our thinking and stir our hearts. This is a unique book by a gifted and talented writer. A must read!”

Anthony G. Reddie

“Hear the Spirit represents a significant bridge between Black religious scholarship and authentic church practice. Rev. Dr. Stewart has given us worship elements that are both theologically sophisticated and pastorally sensitive, prayers that honor our intellectual tradition while serving congregational life. This collection serves both the academy and the sanctuary with womanist wisdom.”

Dr. Marcia Y. Riggs

“Dr. Stewart creatively captures the breath, depth, and soul of her dedication and commitment to ministering to and worshipping with the broken and disenfranchised. In Hear the Spirit, Dr. Stewart sits as a watchwoman, prophetic wordsmith, and theopoet on the sacred wall using poetry, litanies, and the liturgical calendar to boldly proclaim God’s word to all people, for all people, and about all people. This collection is brilliantly written and should be used by every worship leader, minister, preacher, and pastor who seriously proclaims God's word to and for all people.”

Dr. Carolyn L. Gordon

“Here she goes again! In Hear the Spirit, Rev. Dr. Stewart has skillfully crafted liturgical resources that not only bridge the gap between Black religious scholarship and authentic church culture but also highlight the powerful intersection of womanist theology and poetic expression. These prayers thoughtfully center Black women's theological insights, showcasing scholarly depth and artistic beauty that are essential to Christian proclamation. Dr. Stewart's transformative artistry demonstrates that academic rigor and spiritual nourishment can beautifully coexist, providing an invaluable contribution to womanist liturgical poetry that is essential for scholars and practitioners alike.”

Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas

“Carpenter Chair and Professor of Ethics and Society, Chair of African American and Diaspora Studies, Vanderbilt University Rev. Dr. Stewart has created liturgical resources that honor the unique traditions of Black church worship. Hear the Spirit reflects the poetic call-and-response culture, prophetic witness, and liberation theology that make African American Christianity distinctive. Every pastor and worship leader seeking resources that speak to the Black experience while addressing contemporary justice issues needs this collection.”

Rev. Dr. William Epps

“These liturgies practice what progressive pastors preach: that God's love is so radical it shatters our narrow definitions of belonging. From transgender Day of Remembrance to disability justice prayers, Dr. Stewart has created worship resources that don't just welcome the marginalized, they center them as sacred reflections of divine diversity. Revolutionary worship for revolutionary times.”

Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis