Archive
Joy Comes in the Morning: The Prophetic Social Witness of Rev. Cecil L. Murray
“Joy Comes in the Morning” is a workbook with 14 sermons delivered by the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray at First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles. It is part of the …
Memories of the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray – 1929-2024
The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, who died April 5, 2024 at age 94, trained 1,000 faith leaders in community development and civic engagement at USC, building on an illustrious career …
Reflections from the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray
“If I could help somebody as I travel along…then my living has not been in vain.” Hear the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray quote the song that inspired his life and …
Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray Sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Hear the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, who died April 5, 2024 at age 94, sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” shortly before his retirement from the University of Southern California …
Los Angeles’ Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray, Dies at Age 94
Until the pandemic, the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray was the first person in the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s office every morning. Then 90 years old, he would …
Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray: A Life of Faith and Service
Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray served for 27 years as pastor of the historic First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles and guided Angelenos through the trauma of and …
Celebrating Rev. Cecil Murray, His 90 Years of Life and the Love That He Has Shown Us All
Below are the remarks CRCC Executive Director Brie Loskota gave at Rev. Cecil L. Murray‘s 90th birthday celebration. The first time I met Rev. Murray was just after it was announced that …
Rev. Cecil L. Murray: A Call to Ministry
Rev. Cecil L. Murray led First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church in Los Angeles for 27 years. In this video, Pastor Murray reflects on his calling to the ministry, from his childhood …
The Murray Method of Church Leadership
In his 27-year tenure at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, Rev. Cecil L. Murray transformed a small congregation into a megachurch that brought jobs, housing and corporate investment …
September 1, 2002: “It Ain’t About You, Brother or Sister” — Rev. Cecil Murray
“Put God first, put your neighbor second and yourself third,” Rev. Cecil Murray says in this sermon about resisting the natural temptation to always put yourself first. Self-surrender leads to self-discovery. Self-surrender …
October 31, 2004: “God Shows Up, God Shows Out” — Rev. Cecil Murray
“When you are outside of you comfort zone, God sees you. God not only sees you outside the comfort zone, God saves you,” Rev. Murray tells his congregation. When nothing is working …
October 24, 2004: “When This Tent is Taken Down” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray reminds us that God will always be here for us, even when we lose what we have. He says the difference between a house and a home …
October 22, 2000: “He Knows How Much We Can Bear” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray addresses hard times when it can seem like God is very distant. Rev. Murray encourages his congregation to continue to trust in God while rediscovering the older, …
October 17, 2004: “Paying for Your Show” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray talks about paying dues in life. He tells his congregation that it is healthy to be mad about things that have gone wrong, but not to lose …
October 14, 1998: “Hating Me Until You Need Me” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray talks about anger as a natural product of struggle and human relationships. He reminds his congregation that even when you are broken or empty, God is always …
October 1, 1995: “Healing First, Hugging Second” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, delivered as the OJ Simpson murder trial was ending, Cecil Murray preaches on inequality, and how blame is placed on communities of color for the consequences of crimes committed …
October 1, 1995: “Fighting Without and Fears Within” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray addresses many issues in society surrounding racial inequality. “Until there is justice for everybody,” he says, “there is justice for nobody.” He encourages his congregation to stand …
November 15, 1998: “Confusion or Delusion” — Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Rev. Murray addresses the need for humility and the temptations of showing off. “Everybody has something, and your something is no better than the other person’s something!” He says …
November 11, 1995: “Free at Last!” – Rev. Cecil Murray
In this sermon, Cecil Murray talks about “professional sufferers” — people who complain all the time and who are dying to prove they are suffering more than others. He encourages people to …
May 31, 1992: “Sent for You Yesterday, Here You Come Today” — Rev. Cecil Murray
Pastor Murray talks about the negative effects of waiting: waiting on people, waiting on justice for Rodney King or waiting for the full acceptance of Black civil rights. He argues that for …