Songs My Grandma Sang

by Michael B. Curry

In a conversation about his teaching and preaching style, Michael Curry notes with a laugh that hymns and songs of faith were always a part of the mix. “I learned what I believed in the songs I heard my family―especially my grandmother―sing. We sang our faith every day.”

Out of that strong foundation, Bishop Curry shares the music of his childhood―the songs that have grown with him to shape an adult and vibrant faith.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

The descendant of enslaved Africans brought to North America by way of the trans-Atlantic slave routes, Presiding Bishop Curry was born in Chicago, IL, on March 13, 1953. Presiding Bishop Curry’s father was an Episcopal priest and his mother was a devout Episcopalian. She died at a young age, and Presiding Bishop Curry, along with his sister, was raised by his father and his grandmother. His father, mother and grandmother grounded him in Christian beliefs and practices through their example and their teachings.

He attended public schools in Buffalo, NY, and, even at a young age, he learned about social activism through his father’s leadership and his own dedication to righting a broken world.

Presiding Bishop Curry was graduated with high honors from Hobart College in Geneva, NY, in 1975. He received a Master of Divinity degree in 1978 from Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, CT. He has furthered his education with continued study at The College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary, and the Institute of Christian Jewish Studies. He has received honorary degrees from Episcopal Divinity School; Sewanee: The University of the South; Virginia Theological Seminary; and Yale.

He is married to the former Sharon Clement, and they have two adult daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth.

Presiding Bishop Curry maintains a national preaching and teaching ministry, having been featured on The Protestant Hour and as a frequent speaker at churches, cathedrals, and conferences around the country and internationally.

He has authored five books: Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times (2020); The Power of Love (2018); Following the Way of Jesus: Church’s Teachings in a Changing World (2017); Songs My Grandma Sang (2015); and Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus (2013). He was one of the subjects of In Conversation: Michael Curry and Barbara Harris by Fredrica Harris Thompsett (2017).

He has authored numerous publications including columns for the Huffington Post and the Baltimore Times.

In 2018, Religion News Association named Presiding Bishop Curry religion newsmaker of the year.

Reviews

[Jen]

I was mislead by the title. I was expecting discussion of the hymns and spirituals that his grandmother sang, what they meant to her and what they meant to him.

What I got was a book of sermons that were tied, sometimes not overly strongly, to different hymns and spirituals.

Not bad, but not what I felt was promised in the title.

The sermons were good, if somewhat repetitive in spots, but most sermons tend to be about the same thing, so that wasn’t a bad thing either.

My TBR grew a tad from this book. Had no idea Albanian Muslims saved their Jewish neighbors during WWII. That book is on my TBR and is high up on it. I’m fascinated by WWII, not the darkness and evil, but the spots of light that the darkness can’t extinguish, where regular people stand up and refuse to let fear stop them from doing good.

This was a very good book. Recommended if you like sermons and learning something you weren’t expecting. 4, that title was misleading, stars.

[Thom]

After hearing him preach at General Convention of The Episcopal Church, I bought his book. Much of what I heard him preach, I read in the book. Clearly it was fresh in his mind. I was a little disappointed, then, since I didn't learn anything new, really. It preaches better than it reads.

[Mark]

3 ½ stars. A series of sermons or mini-sermons, each loosely based around a hymn, spiritual, or other spiritual song. As such, it’s a little uneven from one chapter to the next. Chapter 7, “A song seldom sung,” is probably my favorite from the book. A lot of Curry’s published books, focused around the theme of the “Jesus Movement” and “It’s all about love,” seem to be reluctant to move into very deep waters, theologically speaking...which is too bad, because knowing Curry as a diocesan bishop and preacher first-hand, he’s not a shallow theologian. I wish his published work would venture more in that meaty direction.
Unfortunately the book, especially the first half, suffers from a lack of careful copy-editing and contains numerous type-os.

[Meg Rice]

As a cradle Episcopalian, my mind's ear heard the hymns as my eyes read the lyrics. The theological truths of the lyrics awakened my memory of first learning these lessons as a child. Now, singing with a contemporary praise band, the power of the old hymn lyrics and messages came back to remind me of my life-long heritage and Journey with Jesus and His Way of Love, His teaching humankind of God's love and grace. Many of the hymns are universal and will touch the heart strings and faithful places within believers of all denominations. Now on the headboard of my bed, this book will be reread as needed before sleep.

[Jeff Bobin]

Throughout history music has shaped our lives in many ways. Here a pastor and church leader reflects on the impact of the songs that his grandmother sang and gave her a sense of hope in challenging times.

A good mix of history, theology and culture and how our lives are reflected in the music of our times.

[Eileen Gaston]

Spiritual, sweet, if a bit simplistic, this short book connects Bishop Curry's deep faith with songs and hymns from the African-American tradition and the Episcopal Hymnal.

[Dana Tipken]

Loved it! Good insight. A book I would read again.

[Linda]

Definitely a "religious" book. Very inspiring to read, kind of old-fashioned sermons with references to favorite hymns. Worth rereading and meditating on.

[Cara Meredith]

Reads like the Bishop preaches! Fire!

[Janet Bunce]

I really enjoyed this book. Saw him speak in person twice. I never realized his story growing up and it is very interesting. I would recommend.

[Fawn Pender]

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry challenges us to live out God's message of love with courage, using the hymns of his grandmother to bind yesterday's stories with those of today. In this current climate of strife and division, his words of love and acceptance take on even greater importance.

Definitely a good read.

[Rob Skirving]

My favorite chapter is titled "A Song Seldom Sung" and my favorite line from that chapter is "With God there is always another possibility."

I bought this book at General Convention, just days before Bishop Curry was elected Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. I decided to read this book on the day after he was installed as Presiding Bishop, on a day when "Bishop Michael Curry" was trending on my Facebook page. For any who want a deeper appreciation for Bishop Curry's life and faith, this is a great book. Every chapter a sermon, every sermon filled with story, song and Scripture. God's Holy Spirit permeating it all and radiating off the pages.

Welcome to the Episcopal Church's version of the "Jesus movement!"

[C. Raphiell]

Easy read with an encouraging message about being followers of Jesus. I enjoyed the hymn texts interwoven throughout the chapters. The ending was exciting for me because it included something that I heard him say last summer in Hayneville, Alabama at the Jonathan Myrick Daniels Pilgrimage.

[Denise]

I skimmed this for a class and still got a lot from it. It’s a book I’ll come back to in a decade and it will really hit me. It’s a testimony interwoven with memories and hymns.

Read with a book club in 2022, you can hear Bishop Curry’s voice! It is a powerful and simple collection of essays.

[Kriston Henderson feldpausch]

I enjoyed this book. Like listening to Bishop Curry speak, the songs came alive and really resonated with me.

[Joan Schrock]

I loved the mixture of scripture teaching and words from old hymns-most not in the Episcopal Hymnal. Lots of spiritual songs.

[Sandra]

Weaves scripture and hymn texts to teach biblical messages

[Kitty]

I love the writing style of Michael Curry. His thoughts are engaging and thought provoking. I also enjoyed the many references of hymns and spirituals. I will read this book again and again.