Commemorating Hammarskjöld to a courageous congregation: servanthood, gentleness, and risks

This homily was delivered to a courageous congregation, St Timothy’s Episcopal of Brookings OR, recently victorious in a religious liberty struggle with a scofflaw city government over controlling church “soup kitchen” feedings and undefined “social services.” It coincided with a commemoration of Dag Hammarskjöld, UN secretary-General, whose posthumously published “Markings” is a Christian devotional classic. Robert O’Sullivan had multiple careers in politics and media before, in his fifties, becoming an Oakland high school English and Social Studies teacher and a Berkeley pastor.

 

 

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Robert “Silky” O’Sullivan, a longtime resident of the Oakland/Berkeley area, has retired to a beautiful garden home in Brookings on the Oregon coast. He lost his wife of over 51 years, Alice Wildermuth O’Sullivan, in April 2020.  https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=alice-wildermuth-o-sullivan&pid=196211294  She had distinguished careers as a musician and attorney. Hear many examples of her musical gifts on the Alice Wildermuth O’Sullivan YouTube channel:  https://religionnews.com/2021/01/12/alice-wildermuth-osullivan-youtube-channel-features-music-of-church-classical-jazz-musician/

Two German Shepherds help to keep him appreciating the wonders of creation. After many career involvements (including politics and media, high school teaching and pastoring), he has discovered a new vocation as a “Left Coast” ‘poet and writer, deeply influenced by William Blake and Dag Hammarskjold, who both embodied brilliant Christian visions while working in remarkable ways for justice and peace. O’Sullivan’s new words to Christmas carols and other hymns, incorporating peace and justice themes, and a Blake-inspired “unofficial international anthem” have been published in Progressive Christianity, along with civil rights and other writings.  He has recently become an advocate for St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in its successful fight with the City of Brookings over issues of feeding and providing social services to the poor.  He picked up his nickname as a recreational basketball player in the flatlands of Oakland, as featured on his portable high school classroom.

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