The Coronation

Last Sunday morning two former Baptists, now Presbyterians (Pat and I), went to church with Glory, Jim and Norah at All Saints Episcopal to listen to a Roman Catholic composer's music: On Christ the King Sunday, members of the Alabama Symphony were there to play throughout the service parts of Mozart's "Coronation Mass." It was a splendid service; the church was packed. There was some chaos at the serving of the Eucharist (having so many people meant setting up an additional serving station, and directions were not completely clear; also the children had just come back into the service, and there were scads of them—a quite fecund congregation). Norah was pretty good through the whole service; she got to stand up on her daddy's lap and watch the musicians.

I, being out of the ecclesial loop, didn't even realize it was Christ the King Sunday until we got there (which means next Sunday is Advent). The priest seemed to be hurrying through some of the liturgy, which I understand – I used to feel like I had to hurry through a service when it was going to be longer than usual and there were many visitors. No sermon, since the music proclaimed the gospel. A good worship was had by all.

In the afternoon I watched a little NFL. At 4:00 I went to Independent Presbyterian Church to hear Alan Morrison give an organ concert. He played a piece by Henri Mulet; then variations by Johann Christoph Bach, J.S. Bach's uncle. Then a contemporary piece by Harold Stover based on Shaker tunes. And ended with Symphony IV by Louis Vierne.

When I get to the end of my life, if I have the chance, I will thank God for the gift of life, for love and family—and for the gift of music. All kinds of music. But you can't get any better than majestic organ music.

In January the Independent Presbyterian Church will take out its pipe organ and begin building a new pipe organ at a cost of 2.25 million dollars. Is it worth it? Yes, yes, yes. They will have to abandon their sanctuary for nine months while it is being built. They take their music seriously.

I took organ lessons back in the 80s. I was able to play for some services when our organist was ill. I loved going out the door of my study and sitting at the organ bench to practice in those days. Playing a pipe organ is a thrilling experience. You can make so many different sounds. It's almost like being God—creating something beautiful and moving. I envy my friends who can really play the organ well. I've been lucky to have wonderful organists during my pastorates, like Steve, Bob, Tom, Karen, Victor, Karisa, et al. May God bless them.

The Bird

 

 

WHAT YOU SOW

I heard a bird

Singing a variety show.

What kind of bird I did not know.

Loud, pure notes

Like arias for the air,

Trills to thrill and fill the sky,

Ecstatic melodies which require

More than two wings by far,

Wide internals rapidly bridged,

Intricate bebop flights of chirp,

A whole medley of melodies

Flung to the sky.

Who is this guy? I say

To myself.

 

Then—sighted when not flighted

I see a long-tailed impressionist:

         a mocking bird.

A one man show

Imitating birds of feather

Who don't flock together.

With great versatility

And wondrous chirpability

My feathered guy

Soloed so high

On the wings of the morning

That the great golden egg

Shining down on the world

Rose up and applauded

With bright approval.

 

Earth-bound reader,

Open your eyes and see

In the skies,

Flocks and flocks and flocks.

Open your ears

And hear the piercing

Bird who mocks, mocks, mocks.

Everything or Nothing

Rupert Shortt (yes, 2 t's) writing in the Times Literary Supplement has some valuable comments. He is reviewing Tracey Rowland's book Benedict XVI. Shortt asserts that Benedict is "the first pope in centuries to be a thinker of the first rank." But he does have criticisms: Benedict doesn't address the Holocaust tragedy as it should be; the Pope has promoted "his own model for church government"; he hasn't been open to the ideas of reform-minded theologians.

Shortt is good at highlighting the themes of Benedict's own theological perspective. In one book Benedict tells the reader that belief in God has much in common with love; that is, if you never give yourself to it, you will never understand it. Benedict offers this bit of reasoning: "Anyone who makes up his [sic] mind to evade the uncertainty of belief will have to experience the uncertainty of unbelief, which can never finally eliminate for certain the possibility that belief may after all be the truth." 

Furthermore, Benedict argues that secular reason is not wholly reasonable, because it fails to reckon with the fundamental and inclusive context of meaning that only religion supplies. In other words, if reason and science ignore the spiritual dimension of life, their reasoning isn't big enough.

Shortt thinks that Benedict's approach to other religions is too narrow. Shortt says, "Religious exclusivists have little to offer those outside their own loop. Christians with a more open sense of the holy Spirit's mission will see the subject in a broader light." I agree.

Benedict's interaction with the father of atheism, Frederich Nietzsche, is interesting. Benedict thinks Nietzsche understands a great deal about the human condition, but doesn't offer the right solution. "Either everything means something or nothing means anything." It is the first half of the previous sentence that is correct, according to Benedict.

That is a statement to meditate on. Let me repeat it:

         "Either everything means something,

              or nothing means anything."

##

Retirees Luncheon

(I'm putting this in large print for any old people who might be reading this blog.)

I just attended my first retirees luncheon. There were about 25 in attendance (some were spouses), even though this presbytery has around 100 retirees. I think I was the youngest one there (since I just took early retirement). The oldest was celebrating her 100th birthday today.

The Board of Pensions representative was there to cheer us on. He said that our retirement fund has $6.5 billion dollars in it and is secure. The Lutheran pension/medical system is broke. So, I'm glad to be Presbyterian. He explained that we might not be getting a 'raise' (apportionment) for a couple of years or more because of the way the economy is. But don't worry, he said. 

As for the medical aspect of the Fund, we are in good shape, but the changing rules about health care plans are in flux right now and the Board does not know exactly how it will affect our medical plans. However, he said, don't be surprised if there is no medical plan at all for our denomination in 2014! The medical exchanges that will be set up beginning that year may force our denomination (& all religious denominations) out of the medical insurance business. But don't worry, he said.

The medicare supplement that the Board of Pensions offers is a very good one, he said. But then again, it might not be there beginning in 2014.

I sat at a table with a female minister from Oregon who seemed to like the Oregon Ducks (# 1 right now); she just finished serving a Lutheran congregation that was dying. The other female minister at our table is serving a small church. I met another retiree who moved from Ohio (family here in AL). 

My wife will not believe this, but I ate the greens they set in front of me. They weren't bad. Also chicken, salad, something else (some kind of vegetable mix), and an apple dessert.

The Executive Presbyter asked me if I am willing to serve an interim pastor position that might be opening up soon. I said 'yes.'

I don't really like to be around old people too much; they remind me too much of myself. But then again, there is something refreshing about old people too: many of them don't give a damn about trivial stuff in the church that they used to worry about.


##

Blog Book

Whew!
Whew!
Sigh...


It's done -- I've uploaded the book I've been trying to finish for months. The actual writing and editing has taken over three years. I feel like a heavy sack has fallen off my back. When I get my proof copy and approve it I will announce the title, the ISBN number, etc. It is a paperback, 187 pages. I deleted many blogs, rewrote several, and edited, edited, edited. I hope it comes out alright.

For my last two books I used iUniverse as the printer/distributor.
That cost me a few hundred dollars. I broke even on the first book, but lost money on the second one. Of course this is not meant to be a money-making project for me.

This third book will  be printed by a company called Lulu. There is no cost, unless you want to purchase their editing or cover design packages, or special distribution or advertising packages. But the quality of print and binding should be on par with other printing operations.

I'm so excited to finally have this behind me. Now I can concentrate on the Daily book that I've; it will take a long time to complete.

I find that I cannot stop writing. Since I no longer preach/speak, I feel the need to write even stronger. It's like something has to come out of me.

I've birthed a book!
Whew.