This month’s hymn improvisations draw from the incredibly rich repertoire of African-American spirituals. While many of these songs were sadly birthed out of oppression, they hold deep emotional conviction for having a personal relationship with Jesus. The history of these songs also reminds us of the truths of freedom and equality for all, that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL [PEOPLE] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence).