May 29, 2012 - Sabbath

Tuesday is the weekly Sabbath Day for the John 13:34 Blog. Thanks for checking in. Back at it again tomorrow.

May 28, 2012 - Memorial Day - "In Flanders Fields"

Today, all over the country, there will be parades and concerts, picnics and barbecues, friends gathering to celebrate the long weekend. In all of our merriment and joy, let us not forget the price that freedom carries. This is the day we remember the men and women who offered themselves in the ultimate sacrifice for the liberties which you and I enjoy.

During my musical days, my first teacher, Walter Blazer, who served in World War II as a Lieutenant, suggested I learn the Charles Ives arrangement of “In Flanders Fields”: a war poem written during the First World War by a Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.  “He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres. According to legend, fellow soldiers retrieved the poem after McCrae, initially unsatisfied with his work, discarded it. "In Flanders Fields" was first published on December 8 of that year in the London-based magazine Punch” (Wikipedia).

“In Flanders Fields” is one of the most popular and most quoted poems from the war. Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the world's most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict. Over the years this poetry and musical setting as become a treasured friend. Every Memorial Day, it seems that I return to Flanders Fields to remember and to give thanks.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

If you wish to hear the Charles Ives setting, I have included a link - begin at the 5 minute mark.

In Flanders Fields

Love One Another - Brian

The Day of Pentecost - The Sunday Musical Offering - Come Down O Love Divine

Today is an important Sabbath day for Christians around the globe as it is the Feast of Pentecost. I encourage you to attend services at your local congregation or visit another community and experience something new.

Come Down O Love Divine is a hymn that I have cherished since I was a little boy. This particular version is performed by the world renowned choir of King's College, Cambridge, England and led by director of music Stephen Cleobury. The second stanza is particularly interesting as the male only first half breaks into a full choir fortissimo harmony for the second half.

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 7 Saturday - The Weekly Round-Up

Memorial Day Weekend and the traditional start of summer: Hot Dog and Hamburgers on the grill, baseball, band concerts at the gazebo on the green, parades, remembering those who have protected our freedoms and liberties. It is one of my favorite times of the year. 

The Weekly Round-Up is an interesting mix of religious thought and humorous insight.


Best Editorial of the Week
The New York Times, May 23

Welcome End of Pseudotheory

Best Reflection on the Feast of Pentecost
Tom Long, Day1

What's the Gift?

Best Reflection on the Church of England
Telling Secrets

"When it's 3 o'clock in New York, it is still 1938 in London."

Support Your Local Archaeologist
msnbc.com

Bethlehem - Way Before Jesus

More Nuns on the Run
Mary C. Johnson, Huffington Post

Cunning Trap for American Nuns

Learn Something New About Another Faith Tradition
Gadadhara Pandit Dasa, Huffington Post

Is God a Person? A Gaudiya Vaishnav Perspective

Best Episcopal Blog Site of the Week
Elizabeth Kaeton, Telling Secrets

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Signs of the Times
Episcopal News Service

Trinity Wall Street To Close Camp and Conference Center

This One Will Make You Think
The Living Church

Our Political Captivity

This One Will Make You Think Too
Sojourners.com

The Problem of Certitude

The Butler Did It....
Los Angeles Times

Vatican Butler Leaks Information

Most Viewed Post at the John 13:34 Blog This Week
Easter 2 - Monday

Young People and the Opera

Always End with Children, Animals or People Having Fun
youtube.com

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 7 Friday - Cleveland Rocks!

Today I want to offer a reflection in praise of Cleveland, Ohio. That’s right, you heard it correctly, I said, “Cleveland, Ohio” because this city on the shores of Lake Erie is a world class cultural center; home to the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the second largest performing arts center in the United States, Playhouse Square. With the opening of the refurbished Hanna Theater, with its hydraulic thrust stage, Playhouse Square now additionally features one of the best venues in the nation for the staging of classic plays.

In addition, let’s not forget the Cleveland Institute of Music which produces some of the finest young musicians in the country who go on to major professional careers. And what about the annual Tri-C Jazz Festival sponsored by a Community College that brings to Northeast Ohio some of the greatest names in business (Diana Krall and Aretha Franklin this spring alone). Baldwin Wallace College's Bach Festival is one of the finest musical offerings anywhere in the country. Did I mention that Cleveland is home to the fabulous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum?



southfloridaclassicalreview.com



The reason that I am so enamored with the cultural life in Cleveland is that this week I experienced a musical event that was, simply put, mesmerizing! To conclude their 2011/12 season, the Cleveland Orchestra, under the baton of their music director Franz Welser-Most, presented Richard Strauss’ history-making Salome with a star-studded international cast. I have heard the opera in New York, London, and Charlotte, multiple times, but never in concert with the orchestra sharing the stage with the singers. In the majestic setting of Severance Hall, “a temple to music”, colors in the score shimmered as never before.

Richard Strauss composed his third opera, Salome, between the years 1903 and 105, fashioning his own libretto by working directly from the German translation by Hedwig Lachmann of the original French text of Oscar Wilde’s play Salome. The opera was first presented in December of 1905 at the Dresden Hopftheater with Marie Wittich in the title role.

Richard Strauss

Strauss was not the first composer to tackle Salome. Jules Massenet had already produced his interpretation of the story in an opera entitled Herodiade. The Russian composer Glazunov also composed an opera focusing on Herodiade as the central character. Strauss’ concept for this naughty teenager was that she should be played as a “chaste virgin, an oriental princess with the simplest, most dignified gestures.” The composer would paint the licentious side of Salome with his music. Strauss did it so well that the opera with its terrifying debauched content and thrashing devilish music received thirty-eight curtain calls at its premiere.

This “thrashing devilish music” was all in evidence on Saturday night at the first of two performances given here in Cleveland and on May 24 at Carnegie Hall in New York. At Severance Hall, the orchestra, some 100+ strong, dominated the stage with the singers making their entrance from the rear onto a platform raised high above the stage floor. At first I did not believe that this arrangement would be beneficial to the singers. I was seated in the Dress Circle and the balance and blend of sound between the singers and orchestra, even in the declamatory passages, was excellent.

Nina Stemme

Swedish soprano Nina Stemme was making her Cleveland Orchestra debut with these performances of Salome. At the age of 49, Stemme is widely considered the world’s reigning dramatic soprano. This designation is hard to refute for the voice easily soared over the great spectrum of sound at the end of the opera and was fierce in those exposed moments when Salome defiantly declines the advances of her lecherous step-father, Herod. Stemme is the real deal with a warmth and lyricism that reminded this listener of heroines like Sieglinde in Die Walkure, Eva in Tannhauser, and Puccini’s Tosca. I hope she will be invited back to Cleveland sooner rather than later.

Jochanaan (John the Baptist) is an interesting and “otherworldy” role. Bass-baritone, Eric Owens, sang well but was no vocal match to Ms. Stemme. The part of Herod was splendidly sung by tenor Rudolf Schasching, again making a Cleveland Orchestra debut. He was thoroughly engaging and brought much needed comic relief in his scenes with Herodias and the Jewish leaders. The American mezzo-soprano Jane Henschel sang the role of Herodias eagerly agreeing and delighted with Salome’s request for the Baptist’s head.

 

The real star of the night was the Cleveland Orchestra, not only for its weight and power, but for the variety of tone color that such a large and diverse collection of instruments and talented musicians could provide. Welser-Most was in complete control of his forces. In fact, with the exception of James Levine and Antonio Pappano, is there another operatic conductor currently living that brings such a wealth of ability to the podium? He is a singer’s conductor, which is a rare thing these days, who exhibits a natural instinct for knowing when to take over and where he is needed as support to the vocalists.

The massed string section is the backbone of any Straussian orchestra, and the sound of so many instruments brought thrilling results at the climax of Salome’s depraved slobbering over Jochanaan’s head, resplendent in the exotic key of C sharp minor. (I would return to the last performance simply for that moment alone!) In contrast, a single violin is used for a special moment of tenderness such as when the Baptist describes Jesus’ preaching to his disciples.

To add exotic and Middle Eastern flavor to the famous Dance of the Seven Veils, Strauss uses a large variety of percussion instruments such as a triangle, tambourine, castanets, xylophone, and an extra high timpani. The percussionist who was assigned to the xylophone on Saturday delivered an exceptional performance not only for the ear but also for the eye. It was remarkable to see how fast he could play his part and make his runs up and down the xylophone to near perfection. One final orchestral effect occurs when the composer directs the large gong or tam-tam to be rubbed by a small metal triangle beater to musically describe Herod’s madness.



The Old Metropolitan Opera House
Metropolitan Opera Archives



With the “Clevelanders” heading to Carnegie Hall this week, I am reminded of a story about the scandalous New York premiere of Salome in January of 1907. The management of the Metropolitan Opera at the time made the mistake of scheduling the final dress rehearsal, to which members of the MET’s board were invited to attend, for 11 o’clock on a Sunday morning. J. Pierpont Morgan and his friends, coming from church, no less, were ill prepared for such a spectacle. Following the rehearsal, they expressed themselves as being “revolted” by such an experience. This of course, caught the attention of the New York press, and easily helped to sell out the house for the public premiere. But the outcries from various sources following the premiere such as pulpits (can you imagine?) and press led to the opera being pulled from the repertory after only five performances. It took another twenty-seven years before Salome was presented again at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

Luckily for all of us, we do not have to wait so long to hear this impressive work. If your Saturday night this coming weekend is free, RUN, do not walk, to the Severance Box Office and secure your ticket for this brilliant performance. How blessed we are to have such an internationally acclaimed musical ensemble in our own back yard. Bravo, Welser-Most! Bravo, Cleveland Orchestra! Bravo, Nina Stemme and her fellow singers!

Cleveland Rocks!!!

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 7 - If You Represent Love, You Have Already Won!

Text: Ephesians 4:17-32 (see below)

There is so much going on in my life right now. I wish I had the time to write about all of it – and I will at some point. I never believed that I would be creating a blog post most every day and that my words would be read by others on all sides of the globe. The prayers, encouraging words, and support that I have received from so many is what keep me going. To my readers, I raise my glass and simply say, “Thank you.”

Given the events of my week, I thought the quote below by Doris (Granny D.) Haddock was particularly appropriate as I continue to seek justice, reconciliation and healing. It is an awesome time to be alive – when the efforts of so many are making a difference not only in local circumstances, like mine; but, in national and international situations as well.

In the Prologue to the Fourth Gospel, the author penned one of the most amazing and hope-filled phrases that I have ever known – “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never overcome it.” That Light walked this earth over two thousand years ago and made a difference in the lives of young and old, rich and poor, sick and healthy. Our witness, in our own time, is to shine that Christ Light each and every day - breaking down walls which divide; speaking truth to power; offering the healing "balm of Gilead" to those who are sick, lost and in misery; and being about the ministry of reconciliation.

Haddock writes: “Aren't we privileged to live in a time when everything is at stake, and when our efforts make a difference in the eternal contest between the forces of light and shadow, between togetherness and division? Between justice and exploitation? Oh, be joyful that you are a warrior in this great time! Will we rise to this battle? If so, we cannot lose, for rising up to it is our victory. If we represent love in the world, you see, we have already won.” (To Be of Use by Dave Smith)

Let your Light shine today. Be a champion for good.

Love One Another – Brian

Ephesians 4:17-32

Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. That is not the way you learned Christ! For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Easter 7 - Tuesday

Tuesday is the Sabbath Day for the John 13:34 Blog. On this day I ask your prayers for my ministry in certainity and faith that the Lord will bless the time ahead.

Back at it again tomorrow.

Easter 7 - Monday - Rest as Communion

I receive a daily reflection from the Church of Our Savior in Washington, DC. This is a very unique community of Christians that have an authentic ministry to the poor and marginalized in our Nation's capitol. The founding leaders were Gordon and Mary Cosby who believed that to live the Christian life there must be an inward journey to grow in love of God, self and others and an outward journey to help mend some part of creation. Read more about this amazing ministry here.

The reflection below arrived on Saturday in the midst of one of the most loveliest days I have ever experienced in Northeast Ohio. Caryll Houselander was a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical artist, mystic, popular writer and poet who died in 1954. This is a beautiful reflection on "Rest as Communion" and is taken from "The Passion of the Infant Christ in A Child in Winter" by Thomas Hoffman.

"Think of a child asleep in her mother's arms; the abandon with which she gives herself to sleep can only be because she has complete trust in the arms that hold her. She is not lying asleep on that heart because she is worn out with anxiety. She is asleep there because it is a delight to her to be asleep there.

"The mother rests too. She rests in her child's rest.... Rest is a communion between them. It is a culmination of content. On the child's part, utter trust in her mother; on the mother's part, sheer joy in the power of her love to sustain her life.

"Such as this was the rest of God in the beginning of time, when God had created the world. Our rest in a world that is full of unrest is Christ's trust in his Faither; our peace in a world without peace is our surrender, complete as the surrender of the sleeping child to her mother, of the Christ in us, to God who is both Father and Mother."

What a beautiful expression of how we might be in Christ Jesus our Lord - fully trusting and joyful in the power of God's love to sustain our lives. May these words bring you comfort, peace and hope this very day.

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 7 - The Sunday Musical Offering - Winterreise, op. 911

Winterreise (Winter Journey) is a song cycle for voice and piano composed by Franz Schubert of a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Muller. It is the second of Schubert's two great song cycles on Muller's poems, the earlier being Die schone Mullerin. While both setting were originally written for the tenor voice, the songs are frequently transposed to suit other vocal ranges - the precedent being established by Schubert himself. Winterreise is a huge undertaking for both the performer and audience requiring great attention to detail and interpretation. Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau was a champion of this composition. Here, he performs with Alfred Brendel in the complete cycle.

Love One Another - Brian

6 Easter - Saturday - The Weekly Round-Up

An interesting week of reflections, blog posting, editorials and theological musings from around the globe. Here is what I consider to be the best of the best.

Best Editorial of the Week
David Jones, The Charlotte Observer

Who Is Really Shaking A Fist At God?

Seven Reasons To Let Your Kid Study Music
Liz Ryan, dailycamera.com

Letting Kids Find Their Path

Best Rachel Evans Blog of the Week
Rachel Evans

How To Win A Culture War and Lose A Generation

Common Sense Ministry
Lorie Newman, Huffington Post

Whatever You Have Done to One

The Importance of Mentoring
Amy Sander Montanez, Building Faith

On The Shoulders of Others

This One Will Make You Think
Reta Halteman Finger, Sojourners.com

Paul's Letter to the 1%

This One Will Make You Think, Too!
The Archbishop of York

A Response on Marriage and Civil Partnerships

Making Art in Dangerous Times
National Public Radio

Even Under Threat Syrian Artists Paint in Protest

A Learning For Those Of Us Who Are The Church
Jerry Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service

Emergent Seminaries for an Emergent Church

Learn Something About Another Faith Tradition
Bill Moyers and Eli Wiesel

Remembering the Holocaust


Best Church Blog I Found This Week
Centeraisle.net

Straining Gnats and Swallowing Camels

Apple Stores and Evangelism
Guy Kawasaki, davidlose.net

10 Things Churches Can Learn From Apple Stores

Most Viewed Post This Week at John 13:34 Blog
Brian Suntken

The Pastor in the 21st Century Church

Always End with Children, Animals or Adults Having Fun
Youtube

In honor of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau who died yesterday, May 18 at the age of 86. One of the greatest lieder singers of our time, perhaps ever.

New York Times Obituary

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 6 - Wednesday - The Pastor in the 21st Century Church

Text: Ephesians 1:1-10 (see below)

There has been a lot of chatter this week on the Episcopal sites about an article written by the Reverend George Clifford entitled: Do Churches Exist to Support Clergy? You can read the full post by clicking here. He writes:

“Is supporting their clergy the raison d’être for congregations to exist? In 2010, half of the 6,794 congregations in The Episcopal Church (TEC) had an average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 65 or fewer people; 58% of TEC congregations had fewer than 200 active, baptized members and only 15% have more than 500 active, baptized members. Nevertheless, TEC congregations generally want to have the services of a full-time, paid clergyperson” (Episcopalcafe.com).

George goes on to list a number of issues facing congregations. Some of his comments I fully agree with and some I do not. But, I do not believe he gets to the root of the problem. The dilemma is not congregations existing to pay their clergy. Instead, with declining membership, costs of maintaining buildings, economic woes affecting the entire country, the disproportionate percentage of church budgets going towards clergy compensation, etc., etc.: the issue is why is the Church still using outdated models for ministry in the 21^st century? Why has the Church been so slow to respond to the change happening all around us while other businesses are thriving? What is the fear that keeps the institutional Church from embracing or learning from successful business models?

It happens every year at Diocesan Convention, and it does not mater which Diocese you are associated with, the resolution for minimum clergy compensation comes to the floor and quickly passes without as much as a yawn. Then reality sets in and congregations realize that they cannot even begin to pay the minimum for a whole host of good reasons. Why does the dysfunctional family refuse to acknowledge the 800 pound gorilla in the room?

Perhaps it is because the clergy do not want to recognize and accept how fragile our job security really is – we have become “fat cats” enjoying a generous stipend coupled with a healthcare package and an excellent pension fund program. Perhaps our ‘communal” fear in having an honest conversation is that members of the congregation do want to admit how woefully far they are from living into the tithe – in many instances enslaved to debt and over spending. Perhaps our diocesan leaders are fearful of publicly conceding that they have no answers to the questions about leading the Church into the future so they hold on, “white knuckled”, to concepts and systems that are no longer effective and good for the whole. Perhaps the issue is that none of us have spent enough times on our knees listening to the voice of God and following in faith. I do not believe that these are the only reasons – but they are some of the motives why congregations, dioceses, and clergy are not having real and honest conversations about the serious financial matters facing our churches.

Leaders in the Church (that is truly all of us, friends) have got to start changing our mind set about how we will move forward into the future. A “pioneering” mentality will be essential if we are to survive the massive amount of change taking place all around us. Now, more than ever, the Church needs to seek leaders who are “mavericks” - someone who refuses to play by the rules. He/she isn't scared to cross the line of conformity. But their unorthodox tactics get results! Does the example of Saint Paul come to mind? To put it another way, our faith community would greatly benefit from “entrepreneurial” leaders who are more eager to save souls than the institution.

Unfortunately, far too many in the Church have embraced a “settler” mentality and such an approach in the end will lead only to the death of the institution. “Settlers” care about the buildings, the worship service on Sunday, and making sure that their “fire insurance” is up to date. They have little or no concern about sharing the message of the Gospel with others or growing the Kingdom. If the leaders of the early church had not been pioneers, you and I would never have known about Jesus. What is the difference between then and now? Nothing!

I believe that in my lifetime, I will experience the following….

My vocation as a full time paid clergy person will no longer be a reality within the next ten years. I envision a bi-vocational entrepreneurial experience which in the long run will bring life and hope to the Body of Christ. Most clergy today spend too much of their time tucked away in their office waiting for the phone to ring with an emergency so that they can respond like the fire department of EMS. Or, they sit, like I have, on this diocesan committee or that, pushing around a lot of paper but not really accomplishing anything for the Kingdom of God.

The clergy person who is seeking the Kingdom is serving others in the world. I see a time when the pastor of a faith community is working Monday through Friday in a “regular” job – engaging people, listening, and learning new concepts and attributes that can be used in the proclamation of the Gospel. That same pastor will then lead a congregation on the Sabbath but will bring to the table a whole host of life experiences previously unknown.

By not having a full time job in “the” Church, two opportunities will come to the fore. First, more of the ministry of the faith community will have to be embraced and accomplished by others (how refreshing!). The whole Body will have to be engaged in order for the community to grow and become whole. Second, a larger percentage of monies raised by the local congregation can be used for the good of the world and not as a compensation package. (Don’t get me wrong – I endorse paying pastors for the work which they do!) However, I believe that when persons see that their offerings are going “out” in larger percentages, the giving to that congregation will increase – others will benefit and the Kingdom will become known. That can only be a positive.

Is this a daunting vision? You bet. Does it frighten me? At times.

But, I am hopeful for the future because God is ultimately in control of my life and yours. Besides, there are persons in the world already living faithfully into this type of leadership and achieving great things for God. What can the Episcopal Church learn from them? In order to move into this style of “entrepreneurial”, “pioneer”, form of ministry, we are going to have to shed much of what we thought we needed to “be” the Church in the 21^st century. I am ready… what about you?

Love One Another - Brian

Who Is Running the Show?

Lawrence Kushner

God is to the world as our unconscious is to our everyday lives--quietly, invisibly, secretly guiding our steps; feeding us our lines; moving us into position; unifying everything we do. We are chastened to realize that what we thought was an accident was, in truth, the hand of God. Most of the time we are simply unaware. Awareness takes too much effort, and besides, it's more fun to pretend we are running the show.

Source: Eyes Remade for Wonder

Ephesians 1:1-10

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Easter 6 - Tuesday

Tuesday is the Sabbath day for the John 13:34 Blog. Back at it again to tomorrow. Please return and reflect with me.

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 6 - Monday - Sunday at Parkside Church with Alistair Begg

I woke up yesterday morning wishing to hear a good sermon. Not wanting to retrace my steps to various churches in the area, I decided to venture into new territory and visit the good folks at Parkside Church over in Bainbridge Township. This congregation was conceived by Alistair Begg many years ago and he is still their chief pastor and visionary leader. It has a Mega Church feel to it but very different from my last experience at Christ Church Chapel in Hudson.


I was introduced to Alistair a number of years ago while listening to his radio program Truth for Life. The link can be found here. He began his pastoral ministry in 1975 and in 1983 became the senior pastor at Parkside. A native of Scotland, Alistair received his M.Div from the London School of Theology. He is a gifted preacher and I had always wanted to hear him in person. I was not disappointed.

Again, I had to wait in traffic for about ten minutes in order to get into the parking lot. This is a new experience for an Episcopalian! I wondered what my congregation would do if we had a traffic jam on Aurora/Hudson Road. An older gentleman greeted me warmly at the door and pointed the way to the sanctuary. My first impression was that hospitality was an important ministry in this church. The auditorium was packed for the 9:45 service and I was lucky to get a seat (chair) up against the wall slightly right of center. 

The hour long service followed a similar pattern from the week before - but there were variations on a theme. An Associate pastor greeted everyone and offered the announcements - again with special intentions to guests and visitors. The eight musicians then led about 9-12 minutes of music. This congregation really sang, even with the words posted on two screens. But these hymns were some of the "chestnuts" of the faith - 'Holy Holy Holy' and 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness'. Also, the band did not play nearly as loud as the group did in Hudson last week. You could actually hear yourself sing and that was important. In addition, all of the lights in the auditorium were on so that I did not feel like I was at the theater - but actually in church worshipping God.

Next, the worship leader, who was the lead guitarist, asked all present to join in a confession of faith. What did mine eyes behold?! The confession of sin from the Book of Common Prayer, Rite One followed by the worship leader using the words of assurance and pardon from page 332 of the BCP.

The offering and rather lengthy pastoral prayer followed. Alistair then stepped on to the platform and was ready to offer the message for the day. I was fairly certain that there would be some sort of Mother's Day theme running through his sermon. I was delightfully surprised that he did not even mention this "Hallmark inflicted holiday" until the conclusion of his remarks. For his text, Alistair chose Titus 1:10-16! When was the last time you heard a preacher in the Episcopal tradition preach on the first chapter of Paul's Letter to Titus? The text reads:

"There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, ‘Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.’ That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."

The first portion of the sermon was an exegesis of the text, information on Paul, Titus and the Christian community in Crete. But then Alistair became more focused. "The problem," he said, "was that the issues were not outside the church. The problems were INSIDE the church." He went on to add how Paul, quoting verse 16, made clear that the difficulties facing the community were a religious problem. The Church could, in fact, be a dangerous place in which to be where members of the Body "listened but did not learn, investigated but did not experience, profess Christ but did not know Him." Near the end of his twenty-five minute sermon, Alistair stated: "Until the reality of Jesus grips a church, there will always be the danger of false teachers, myths and those who wish to deny Christ by their actions." And he was not afraid to look at his flock and say that even at a place like Parkside, people did not always behave in ways which spoke to what the community professed in worship. Pretty gutsy call on a day when most folks probably came expecting to hear 'touchy-feely' stories about moms and 'Madison Avenue' ideals about love. I was impressed by the preacher's boldness.

The service ended with another prayer and an song entitled - "Jesus WIth Thy Church Abide". I was struck by the text and how the words complimented Alistair's reflections and themes presented in his sermon.

Jesus, with Thy Church abide,

Be her Savior, Lord, and Guide,

While on earth her faith is tried:

We beseech Thee, hear us.

Keep her life and doctrine pure,

Help her, patient, to endure,

Trusting in Thy promise sure:

We beseech Thee, hear us.

All her fettered powers release

Bid our strife and envy cease,

Grant the heav’nly gift of peace:

We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she guide the poor and blind,

Seek the lost until she find,

And the broken hearted bind:

We beseech Thee, hear us.

All that she has lost, restore,

May her strength and zeal be more

Than in brightest days of yore:

We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she thus all glorious be,

Spotless and from wrinkle free,

Pure and bright, and worthy Thee:

We beseech Thee, hear us.

Parkside Church in Bainbridge Township is "big time" Mega Church. The leaders of that congregation have a vision for the future that is God-centered, imaginative, and bold. There is a trust and confidence in God that God will see this inspired vision to its reality. That congregation has its eyes on the horizon and not on the near at hand. But, at the same time, there was a sense of intimacy which I experienced in the midst of all the people, classes, book store and even the cafe! God is certainly to be found in that community of faith. The Spirit is alive and well.

Love One Another - Brian

Becoming Free

Thich Nhat Hanh

Let go, and respond to the immediate needs around you. Don't get caught in some false perception of yourself. There will always be another person more gifted than you. And don't perceive your position as important, but be ready to serve at any moment. If you can let go of who you think you are, you will become free--ready to love others. If you learn to see your impermanence, you will be able to live for the moment and not miss opportunities to love by pushing things into the future.

Source: Unknown

Easter 6 - The Sunday Musical Offering - Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 - Adagio

Today is the Sabbath - I encourage you to worship in your church or visit a different church and learn something new.

Okay, since today many Americans celebrate Mother's Day, I thought the Musical Offering should be some of the loveliest music I know. I first came to know Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony as a high school student in Montclair, New Jersey. Each year, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra would play subscription concerts in the High School auditorium and one spring their conductor Thomas Michalak programmed this work. I never forgot the performance - nor the passion with which Maestro Michalak called forth from his musicians.

Later on, I purchased a recording of Andre Previn leading the London Symphony Orchestra. I am not sure that there are any more grooves left on that LP because I played it so much!

While the entire composition is worth a listen, I am offering the magnificent Third Movement (Adagio). From the EMI Classics album notes: "Serge Rachmaninoff, together with his wife and daughter, escaped from Moscow to Dresden in the autumn of 1906, where the popular pianist, conductor and composer sought peace and anonymity in order to compose. In October he began work on his second symphony, finishing the first draft around New Year’s Day 1907 and orchestrating it in the following months. The failure of his first symphony had resulted in severe despondency and an inability to compose that was overcome only with the help of hypnosis. Rachmaninoff conducted the premiere of his Symphony No. 2 in St. Petersburg in January 1908. The lushly orchestrated four-movement work is filled with sweeping melodies and features a vibrant Scherzo, an achingly beautiful Adagio and the Dies irae as an idée fixe. From its premiere, the symphony not only eliminated the humiliation of the failure of its predecessor but became – and has remained – one of the composer’s most popular and best loved works."

Enjoy this inspired musical moment here played by the Eskisehir Greater Municipality Symphony Orchestra. The conductor is Naci Ozguc and the clarinet solo is played by Mertol Mutlu. A perfect gift for Mother's Day.

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 5 - Saturday - The Weekly Round-Up

What a morning in Northeast Ohio - bright sunshine and the promise of a new day. The Weekly Round-Up follows below. Make today the very best day you can - somebody may be counting on you!

Most Magnificent Photos of the Week
msnbc.com

The World At Night

Best Editorial of the Week
Opinion Page, New York Times

JP Morgan's 2 Billion Loss

Support Your Local Archeologist!
Alan Boyle, MSNBC.com

3000 Year Old Artifact Brings David and Goliath Story to Light

To Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen....
Devour.com

A Subway Ride with a Twist

This One Will Make You Think
Rebecca Barrett Fox, Sojourners.com

The Face of Hate

This One Will Make You Think, Too!
David Gibson, God's Politics

Are Americans in Rome Behind Nuns Crackdown?

Compassion Wins The Day
Jeff Bigler, Waterboarding The Horse

Treating Students With Compassion

Best Reflection on Problem Solving
Liz Ryan, HuffingtonPost.com

What Does "Out Of The Box" Thinking Really Mean?

On My Bucket List
Mentalfloss.com

15 Libraries in Europe That You MUST Visit

Best Reflection on Energy Matters
T. Boone Pickens, thinkprogress.org

Taking On The Koch Brothers

What Nature Can Teach Us (Amazing Photogrpahy!)
Youtube.com


The Beauty of Pollination


Best Reflection on The Episcopal Church
Elizabeth Kaeton, telling-secrets.blogspot.com


The Kudzu of Mission Creep


Best Musical Interview of the Week
Christine Connolley, The Uptempo Magazine


Twenty Questions With Soprano, Lauren Flanigan


Excellent Reflection on The Christian Right's Attempt to Cover Up Jesus
Howard Bess, Consortiumnews.com

Hiding the True Jesus

Best Four Minutes on National Public Radio This Week
Barbara Bradley Hagerty, NPR

Same Bible - Different Verdict on Gay Marriage

This Example Makes Me Proud To Call Myself A Christian
David Dishneau, Huffintonpost.com

Episcopal Leaders in Maryland Forgive Shooter

Most Read Post at John 13:34 Blog This Week
Easter 5 - Monday

My Experience At The Mega Church

Always End With Children, Animals or Adults Having Fun
Youtube.com

Love One Another - Brian

Easter 5 - Thursday - A Fresh Approach From the Top Down

Text: Matthew 6:25-34 (see below)

Today, my blog achieves the summit of 10,000 pageviews – really outstanding since I began writing only at the end of last November. This week, I had first new hits from Australia, Greece and South Korea. While the John 13:34 Blog has not cracked the African continent, I am hopeful for the future. Again, my thanks to all of you, my readers, for your willingness to engage this site.

Yesterday, I shared some ideas about issues the Christian Church must address as we journey further into the 21^st century. One of my suggestions was to look at institutional structures that are no longer effective, and are, in effect, complicating and blocking the mission of God. There are many fine blogs on the internet which have articulated these concerns better than I can.

For example, blogger Gary Gilbertson writes for a blog entitled: Episcopal Journey of Hope. It is a very interesting collection of writings and reflections about the current state of the Episcopal Church. Another appealing blog is maintained by the Reverend Elizabeth Kaeton who serves in the Diocese of Delaware. Kaeton has some very insightful things to say about the current state of our Church. See more here.

What follows below is from Gary Gilbertson’s recent musings about leadership in the Episcopal Church. I believe he is on to something – so I ask that you read his thoughts with respect and kind reflection.

"Fewer and fewer of us are present on Easter Day to respond, "The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia."  The Episcopal Church continues its five decade decline with an almost 3% loss in the last reporting year.  We celebrate the Resurrection with joy while viewing with sadness that our traditional approaches to ministry, worship, Sunday school, evangelism, and mission are no longer effective.  Skilled gurus tell us how to turn churches around (Barna), enable the emerging church (Kimball/Moyhaug), or tough it out (Nixon).  Perhaps a fresh approach from the top down would be in order:
"WHAT IF there was a bishop or two who declared a moratorium on his/her professional travel outside the diocese for one year.  That's right.  No House of Bishops gatherings, no national committees, no workshops, and no commissions -- you get the idea.  Stay home except for personal trips on their own days and dollars.  And just imagine those bishops committing 2/3rds of their work time to actual labor in congregations.  They would lead a Christian "formation" event or teach a course for the Parish.  They would conduct leadership training for the Vestry and evaluate the vocational/professional skills of the ordained with an eye to guiding clergy change if needed.  They might do "hospice" work so that a parish could die with dignity.  And,

"WHAT IF a bishop or two revoked their assessment formula that mandates "giving" by congregations to the diocese and instead championed a voluntary tithe as a guideline.  We all know, even if some won't admit it, that the primary work of a judicatory is growing and maintaining healthy local congregations.  More resources at the local level and dioceses streamlining their efforts to be about their principle work could only be a good thing.  And,

"WHAT IF a bishop or two committed to a minimum average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 20,000 before a diocese could have an Episcopal election.  According to the data, there are nine national churches within the Anglican Communion which have one million or more adherents and the average size of a diocese in these nine is 121,000.  Nigeria averages 225,000 members per diocese and Australia averages 170,000; we are at the bottom of the list with 19,000 members while the two above us are 48,000 and 83,000.  It is easy to see that we are top heavy with bishops and dioceses and this can only drain resources from local congregations and mission fields.

"God compromised with Abraham that if only 10 righteous people could be found, Sodom would be spared.  God WHAT IF a bishop or two could be found who would do these three things; would you spare our Episcopal Church?  Maybe then more of us can respond, "The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia."

Well said, Gary.

What do you think? Click on the comment link below and leave a post for all to view. Tomorrow, perhaps some reflections about the need for change amongst parish clergy. I hope you will return.

Love One Another – Brian

Five Reasons Why Western Christianity Is In Trouble While Christianity Flourishes In Much Of The World

Bill Easum

One doesn’t have to good look closely at Western Christianity to tell it is in dire jeopardy. With over 85% of our churches simultaneously declining and aging within 25 years the number Christians in the West will drop by 50%. However, that’s not the real picture. Go many parts of the world and Christianity is exploding with new converts- Korea, China, Fiji, south Africa, India, Nigeria, Indonesia,  Philippines, Latin America.  Just consider Latin America. In 1900, there were only 50,000 Protestants in Latin America. In the 1980s, they had grown to 50,000,000, and by the year 2000, they reached 137,000,000.  The same thing is happening of other parts of the world.  God is fulfilling the Great Commission throughout the world – just not here. Ever wonder why? Let me list the reasons I see:

1. Western Christians do not live and breathe salvation.  We are content to sit and soak and leave the salvation of our networks to the church staff and even then most church staffs are in to maintain not transformation.  Just ask your congregation “When was the last time you had a conversation with a lost person about Jesus?” and see the reaction.
2. Western Christians have become too sophisticated to truly believe in miracles and if you don’t believe in miracles you can’t believe in Jesus because he IS a miracle. We are too smart to truly believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he now sits at the right hand of God. So if that isn’t believable nothing else is in the story from that day forward.
3. Western Christians have become too affluent to risk all for Jesus.  When you are poor it is easy to be sold out for Jesus. But when you have 90% of the world’s riches its hard.
4. Western Christians are saddled with pastors who focus more on their next promotion than on how to reach the least, last, and lost. I know. I’ve gone to meddling now, but you know its true with many of us. Pastor, which do you think about the most – an increase in salary or new converts?
5. Western Christianity has misunderstand what is meant by the word “church.” Most of us think “building” when we say the word “church.” Or we think of an institution to which we belong.  We talk about “going the church” when in reality we ARE the church everywhere we go.  And because we confuse church with buildings and institutions we fail to see the importance of how we live our lives after we leave the building.  We don’t see a disconnect in how we live and what we say we believe.

I know there are may other reasons why Western Christianity is dying while Christianity is exploding over much of the world. But these are the ones that stand out the most for me as I look into the mirror and see too much of them in my life. How about you?

Source: www.billeasum.com

Matthew 6:25-34

Jesus said: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’