{"id":103742,"date":"2024-12-10T18:51:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T18:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/?p=103742"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T17:23:42","slug":"joy-comes-in-the-morning-the-prophetic-social-witness-of-rev-cecil-l-murray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/joy-comes-in-the-morning-the-prophetic-social-witness-of-rev-cecil-l-murray\/","title":{"rendered":"Joy Comes in the Morning: The Prophetic Social Witness of Rev. Cecil L. Murray"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/06\/Tim-Slides161-1500x1000-1-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/06\/Tim-Slides161-1500x1000-1-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/06\/Tim-Slides161-1500x1000-1-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray standing at the altar in a church, wearing a ceremonial robe with colorful African-inspired patterns, smiling with hands folded.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Joy Comes in the Morning: The Prophetic Social Witness of Rev. Cecil L. Murray<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n    \n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">December 10, 2024<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-103743 \" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/06\/2024-Cecil-Murray-Sermons_links_web_pages.jpg\" alt=\"Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray looking attentively to the side, wearing a suit and tie, with the text &quot;Joy Comes in the Morning: The prophetic social witness of Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray&quot; overlaid on the image.\" width=\"254\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/06\/2024-Cecil-Murray-Sermons_links_web_pages.jpg 612w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/06\/2024-Cecil-Murray-Sermons_links_web_pages-232x300.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/>\u201cJoy Comes in the Morning\u201d is a workbook with 14 sermons delivered by\u00a0the Rev. Dr. Cecil \u201cChip\u201d Murray at\u00a0First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles. It is part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/crcc\/murray-archive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Murray Archive<\/a>\u2014a project of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, in partnership with FAME, to make Pastor Murray\u2019s prophetic social witness available to a new generation of activists, pastors and scholars.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>To receive access to a PDF of this report, fill out <a href=\"https:\/\/usc.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_bNoXzOdn9aYQS8e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this form<\/a> and tell us how you are continuing Rev. Murray&#8217;s legacy of faith-fueled action. You will find a link to the PDF on the confirmation page.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/usc.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_bNoXzOdn9aYQS8e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get access to &#8220;Joy Comes in the Morning&#8221;<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:heading --> <!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"18px\"} --><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-spacer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- \/wp:spacer --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>These sermons were preached more than 25 years ago, but are still powerfully applicable today. Reflection questions following each sermon will help the reader make connections to their own context and ministry.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Pastor Murray, who passed away on April 5, 2024, showed us that\u00a0<strong>faith leaders can create positive social change<\/strong>. His example \u2013 his ability to\u00a0<strong>critique injustice and call us to action<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 is as relevant as ever. While Pastor Murray&#8217;s sermons offer a model for Christian preachers specifically, we believe\u00a0<strong>his words will inspire, comfort and motivate<\/strong> all who encounter them.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The sermons highlight in this small sampling of Pastor Murray\u2019s homiletics touch on several key moments in the recent history of Los Angeles: the civil unrest of 1992, the death of Mayor Tom Bradley, the racial and religious fault lines revealed during the O.J. Simpson trial and the tumult of 9\/11. Sermons on more mundane topics\u2014Mother\u2019s Day and child-rearing, for example\u2014also capture the distinctive combination of moral remonstrance, social critique and comfort for the afflicted that characterized Pastor Murray\u2019s ministry at FAME.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} --><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/usc.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_bNoXzOdn9aYQS8e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get access to a PDF of &#8220;Joy Comes in the Morning&#8221;<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:spacer --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Interested in a printed copy of the workbook? <\/strong>We have a limited number of printed copies. While supplies last, they are available for a suggested donation of $50 or more to cover our costs. <a href=\"https:\/\/giveto.usc.edu\/?fundid=9218752000,9218766000,9218751340,9218753001,9218753001,9218753001&amp;appealcode=undefined&amp;buttongen=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Make a donation<\/a> and email\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:crcc@usc.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crcc@usc.edu<\/a> to request a workbook.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Find out more about the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray Archive: <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/crcc.usc.edu\/murray-archive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">crcc.usc.edu\/murray-archive<\/a>.<\/strong> Additional sermons also will be available through the USC Digital Library.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cJoy Comes in the Morning\u201d is a workbook with 14 sermons delivered by\u00a0the Rev. Dr. Cecil \u201cChip\u201d Murray at\u00a0First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":813,"featured_media":103744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,65],"tags":[24,14,23,70,91,27,28,29,17],"class_list":["post-103742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-report","category-tools","tag-black-church","tag-christianity","tag-cmcce","tag-murray-archive","tag-preaching","tag-protest-movements","tag-racial-justice","tag-religious-leadership","tag-violence"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Joy Comes in the Morning: The Prophetic Social Witness of Rev. Cecil L. 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