Diekmann Award Response

Cheryl Costen-Hibbler (for Melva Wilson Costen)

Happy New Year! My name is Cheryl Costen-Hibbler, Melva’s daughter and her proxy voice this morning.

To Todd, the Academy, and the Academy Committee, on behalf of my mother, I am honored to accept and thank you for bestowing the Diekmann award on my mother this year for contributions she made to the liturgical life of the world.

It is a special feeling to be able to receive flowers while one is still among us, and for that we are genuinely grateful for this kind consideration.

Mom’s passion for the worship, music, and liturgy of African American Christian worship invited all those who studied worship to consider the influence and impact of Black Christians on worship and culture in America and around the world.

Truly, the Spirit of God blows where it will and it is that same Spirit regardless of the size of the worship space, the colors of the worshipers’ skin, or the language or music they sing and play. Justice is the life source of all Christian worship.

Additionally, I would be remiss if I did not also share with you that, while she was “liturgizing” the world, there is no comparison to what she gave her family as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. With GRACE and JOY, Mom never missed a beat providing us love and attention, discipline, and support throughout OUR Christian journey. The balance of a true gifted woman of God.

So again, THANK YOU very much for this honor and may God continue to bless the works of the North American Academy of Liturgy.