Wisdom: Where Reason and Kindness Meet
It’s true: people are idiots, and idiocy kills. On the other hand …
Everupspringing
Here’s a “sermon” I preached in my church recently. I put the word in horror quotes there, because this wasn’t anything like a homily—more like a poetry slam, really. But I try not to let things get too predictable in church!
For Those Working with Struggling Churches
It’s a burden, isn’t it? It’s hard not to feel like a failure, when your church is struggling and you don’t seem to be able to do anything about it. You know that you shouldn’t feel that way; you know you shouldn’t feel responsible for saving the church. You tell yourself that your people already have a savior, and it isn’t supposed to be you. But still.
This is a presentation I made for the 2021 spring meeting of the Prairie Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. It’s about eighteen minutes of prayer, song, and reflection, written especially for those working with struggling churches.
Beyond This Journey’s Ending
When I was working on this new composition, my wife asked me, “What’s it about?”
“Death,” I said.
“Ah, another commercial success in the making,” she replied.
Well, this song isn’t exactly about death. It’s about mortality and hope. I don’t know where the path leads after death. But I do know the One who walks with us on that path. And therefore I know that, as Julian of Norwich wrote, all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
This is a four-part choral piece; the video below shows a socially-distanced quartet performing it, consisting of myself, my wife Kelly, and my daughter Fern, with my friend Ron singing and conducting. The music, as it moves from lamentation to hope, changes in melody, key, and time signature; the final melody is a traditional Welsh tune, Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn.
The words are below. Sheet music is, as always, available in our Free Stuff area.
The mainspring wound at birth is bound In time to be unwinding. The candle flame that binds my name Burns down to my unbinding. In joy I sang; the heavens rang With all my fiery yearning. But now I see that I must be Too soon to dust returning. The mortal path on which I walk Is one of certain sorrow. It ends before a silent door, A day with no tomorrow. Yet even so, one thing I know: Your love has always found me. All shall be well, all shall be well, For you are all around me. Love will be sustaining me On hilltop and in hollow, In sun or rain, in joy or pain, Whatever path I follow. I shall not fear though death be near, I shall not break though bending. You love me still, and still you will, Beyond this journey’s ending.
I Remember
I think my hymn “I Remember” is a good one for Lent and Easter. This week, I made a revised version, with a new fourth verse that I like better than the original. I wrote a different accompaniment, too: simpler and more contemplative, and thus better suited to a solo performance.
The video is my daughter Fern Athena Webber, singing “I Remember” as part of our Zoom church service at the Open Prairie United Church of Christ.
I remember how he spoke, How minds were shocked And hearts unlocked. He made me see How I could be Like him. My soul awoke. I remember how his touch Could heal the sick. How very quick Was his response To human wants! Could I not do as much? I remember how he prayed Alone, apart, With open heart. Am I not free In prayer to be Restored, renewed, remade? I remember how he died, His body torn, His love reborn, His heartbeat stilled, His love fulfilled. May his way be my guide.
As usual, sheet music for this version (in E minor) is available in our Free Stuff area.
Strong Man
Many of us here in the USA, and many people around the world, were shocked and dismayed last week to see rioters breaking into the US Capitol building. People have been asking me for advice: what can we do to help move our country toward health and wholeness? The general answer hasn’t changed, I believe: live lovingly. Seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. But as for more specific actions? I’m not really sure. I’m thinking and reading and praying a lot these days, just trying to understand what the heck is going on here.
In the middle of all this thinking and praying, I’ve written a song. It’s political, it’s harshly ironic, and it’s not suitable for children. I’ll understand, Merry Mystics, if you want to skip this one. But if you want to know what I’m writing these days, here it is:
P.S. My son Fox and I are working on a video to go with the song. Stay tuned.
Separation at Thanksgiving
Separation hurts; there’s no getting around it. But, news flash: those who love us never really leave us, and even the experience of separation is temporary. In my not-even-remotely-humble opinion!
Spirit Friend, Be With Us As We Pray
I wrote some music this week, something to lead into a time of prayer during my church service on Sunday morning. I used an ancient melody: some plainsong that I remember from my childhood in the Episcopal church. Here’s my wife Kelly Autrey-Webber singing it; the organist is Charlie Gebeck.
As always, the score is available in our Free Stuff area.
(If you’re a Merry Mystic in the USA, you may have expected me to be posting something about the election, now just four days away. Believe me, I’ve preached and sung about it, and voted early! But at this point, I just need some prayer. I hope this helps you too.)
Video Series for The Inn
I’ve created a video series to go with my book, The Inn of God’s Forgiveness. This five-minute video will tell you about the book, and the videos:
There’s a more extensive pitch for the book and videos on the church web site. It will eventually direct you back to my store here.
(I created these videos for a class I conducted as pastor of the Open Prairie United Church of Christ in Princeton, IL. All profits from the sales of the videos go to support the church.)
Advent Processional Performed
Last November, I posted some sheet music for an easy choir piece for a processional for Advent. Now I’ve been leading an online book study for my book, The Inn of God’s Forgiveness. For chapter eight, I wanted to demonstrate my Advent Processional. But because of the coronavirus, it isn’t feasible to record a choir singing it.
Unless everyone in the choir is me.
[vimeo id=430167452]