College will host the 'Beyoncé Mass' April 13

Augustana College will welcome “Beyoncé Mass,” a groundbreaking Christian worship service that celebrates the spirituality of Black women, at 7 p.m. April 13 in Centennial Hall on campus.

The service uses the music and life of Beyoncé 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.

Free tickets are available in advance through the Ticket Office. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Any tickets not reserved in advance will be available at the door.

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 the Rev. Yolanda Norton, visiting professor at Moravian Theological Seminary and founder of the Global Arts and Theology Experience, the inaugural Beyoncé Mass drew roughly 1,000 people at San Francisco’s historic Grace Cathedral in April 2018. Since then, the worship service has traveled to Los Angeles, Lisbon, Portugal, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and other venues.

“Beyoncé Mass is a Christian worship service that centers Black women and embraces a liberation theology for all people.,” said Rev. Norton. “This is not a service deifying, or even centering Beyoncé. The premise is that Beyoncé’s music and life reflects so many aspects of Black women’s stories.”

The liturgy of Beyoncé Mass includes music from Beyonce’s vast discography, readings from prominent Black female leaders, and a sermon from Rev. Norton, who is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She also is a Ph.D. candidate at Vanderbilt University in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel, and holds a master of divinity and master of theological studies from Wesley Theological Seminary and B.A. in political science from Syracuse University.

The Beyoncé Mass at Augustana is sponsored by Campus Ministries, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity, and the Office of International Student and Scholar Service.