Ms. Waltrina N. Middleton led worship at the Amistad Chapel at the Church House, the national office of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday July 8, 2009.  This summer, Ms. Middleton works for the national setting of the United Church of Christ as an intern with Wider Church Ministries.  The theme she chose for worship was "A Liberating Lament" which, in her words, "is dedicated to the memory of innocent victims everywhere caught in the crossfire of war and unrest around the world.  May God hear our lamenting prayers and grant us liberation and peace."  During the service, names of innocent civilians killed during the war in Iraq were read and honored.  Names are listed at www.IraqBodyCount.org.

Click to view the worship service bulletin and to read Ms. Middleton's sermon entitled, "A Liberating Lament: Martyrs of War. Songs of Freedom."

Ms. Middleton is a Merit Scholar and Master of Divinity student attending Chicago Theological Seminary. She is the founder and organizer of Seminarians for Change, a citizen group that serves as a model to empower others to be actively engaged in the political process through hands-on grassroots community organizing. A native of Yonges Island, SC, she has a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University and an M.A. in Public Service and Nonprofit Management from DePaul University. A Fund for Theological Education Fellow and the first recipient of the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Legacy Fellowship for Prophetic Ministry, Waltrina's theological focus includes holistic approaches to healing, global outreach and rural ministry. A proud southern lady, Waltrina is a huge fan of Shrimp and Grits and Boiled Peanuts (not necessarily served together).