All Saints Church joins all those around the world mourning the passing of the inimitable Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an extraordinary force for love, justice and compassion in the world.
Rector Mike Kinman reflected, “Archbishop Tutu was one of the most effective prophets and agitators for justice the world has known, and the memories that are coming to mind of him this day are not of harsh word and stern visage but of him smiling, laughing, dancing. Desmond Tutu was joy incarnate … and his legacy, in addition to the countless lives he personally touched, is the power of joy and love to topple empires and heal us all.”
Take a moment to watch this beautiful video/musical tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “All Unto Me,” by composer Bruce Babcock. It was inspired by a sermon given by Archbishop Tutu at All Saints Church, Pasadena, on November 6, 2005 – part of which is included in the video.
A longtime friend of All Saints Church, “The Arch” preached the 2005 sermon based on John 12:32, in which he said:
“Jesus did not say, ‘I, if I be lifted up, will draw some.’ Jesus said, ‘I, if I be lifted up, will draw all.’ All! All! All! All! Black, white, yellow, rich, poor, clever, not so clever, beautiful, not so beautiful. It’s one of the most radical things! All, all, all belong. Gay, lesbian, so-called straight. All! All are meant to be held in this incredible embrace that will not let us go.”
As we mourn Archbishop Tutu’s passing, we also celebrate his prophetic vision and courageous witness — and trust that he has even now been gathered up into that incredible embrace of God’s all inclusive love. As our late rector emeritus George Regas would say: Oh, lucky heaven!
(Archbishop Tutu was again the guest preacher in the All Saints pulpit on February 20, 2011. “All Unto Me” was performed in his presence on that occasion. This recording features the combined Coventry and Canterbury choirs of All Saints Church Pasadena, conducted by then-music director James Walker. )
Here are resources we hope you’ll find hopeful:
“His legacy was his love for people” – December 27, 2021 interview with Wilma Jakobsen https://youtu.be/mj8EI8_QQpc
Funeral Service for Archbishop Desmond Tutu – January 1, 2022 from Cape Town, South Africa https://youtu.be/BuvwOY3iKEg
“The love that won’t let us go” – January 2, 2022 sermon by Susan Russell http://inchatatime.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-love-that-wont-let-us-go.html
“God Smiles” – November 6, 2005 sermon by Archbishop Desmond Tutu preached at All Saints, Pasadena https://s3.amazonaws.com/berkley-center/051106TutuAndGodSmilesAllSaintsDaySundaySermonTranscript.pdf
Archbishop Desmond Tutu mourned, beloved across diocesan community — January 5, 2022 Episcopal News feature article https://diocesela.org/news/archbishop-desmond-tutu-mourned-across-diocese/
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