tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1079204553204396802024-03-22T15:10:12.357+10:30Black Wood JazzBlack Wood Jazz is an alternative church space created at Blackwood Uniting Church, Adelaide, South Australiasarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-5754532613522876602010-05-21T21:45:00.003+09:302010-05-21T21:50:06.719+09:30on the passing of a dear friendA loved, creative, vibrant member of the Black Wood Jazz team died today after a long battle with cancer. <div>Pam put the invitations together for Black Wood Jazz spaces, and energetically posted them in supermarkets all over Blackwood in the week leading up to an event. </div><div>Her haiku and images were often a feature of either the invitations or the spaces, sometimes both, inviting us into the mystery that is God. </div><div>I remember the first time Daniel Lee and friends played at a Black Wood Jazz space, Pam and I looked at each other and nodded - this was the mood we'd been seeking. </div><div>We will forever remember Pam's creative spark, her energy and enthusiasm, her love and care for people, and her courage in the face of adversity. </div><div>Rest in the peace of the Divine, dear friend, and may we be always united in the Song of God. </div><div><br /></div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-42812844811400419472010-03-23T11:25:00.002+10:302010-03-23T11:29:16.160+10:30alternative worship for Maundy Thursday<div>If you found your way to this blog searching for an alternative worship space in Adelaide this Easter, Sarah's current alternative church project at Christ Church / Effective Living Centre in Wayville is The Esther Project. You are welcome to enter this Maundy Thursday space on your lenten / Easter journey: </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ocsrx2XFG5Y/S6gR03uC0XI/AAAAAAAAALQ/VwGW7_G7iwc/s1600-h/invite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ocsrx2XFG5Y/S6gR03uC0XI/AAAAAAAAALQ/VwGW7_G7iwc/s320/invite.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451626948939927922" /></a>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-89035197240549441702010-02-13T12:17:00.002+10:302010-02-13T12:18:13.672+10:30Art and Community<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><div style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; padding-top: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-position: initial initial; "><p><a href="http://blackwood.unitingchurch.org.au/" mce_href="http://blackwood.unitingchurch.org.au/" target="_blank">Blackwood Uniting Church</a> invite artists to participate in an exhibition on the theme of <span mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Community,</span>to be held from 16 - 18 April 2010.</p><p mce_style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; ">The theme has been chosen to encourage artists to reflect on the nature of <span mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Community</span> and to represent this in some way, through the media of painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, ceramics or glass.</p><p>More information and entry form available via their <a href="http://blackwood.unitingchurch.org.au/index.php/tag/art-exhibition/" mce_href="http://blackwood.unitingchurch.org.au/index.php/tag/art-exhibition/" target="_blank">website</a>.</p></div></span>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-10694379527200665392009-04-08T09:59:00.005+09:302009-04-08T10:09:51.889+09:30Into Holy Week a little wetter than anticipated ...<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a tide of jubilant expectation. His disruption of peace and social order was annoying while he was in the small towns, out of the way. But here in the city he was a far more visible, more real threat to the authorities. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">He brought his radical message and disruptive behaviour right into the heart of Jewish political and religious power, the Temple; and they couldn’t have that. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Even one of the twelve closest to him felt unsafe, uncertain around Jesus – enough to betray him to the authorities. Was it that Judas couldn’t accept the message Jesus delivered, or could he not bear the undermining of Jewish leadership? We can only guess. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Jesus had spent hours in the garden in deep prayer, agonising over the knowledge that to bring about God’s realm on earth, he had to enact this realm of peace, of forgiveness, in the face of injustice and violence. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Jesus stayed true to God’s mission. He did not run. He did not meet violence with violence. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">And so he was arrested. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">One of our witnesses has described the coming and going of the trials, as different Roman leaders resisted then bowed to the Jewish leaders and ordered Jesus’ execution. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Jesus carried the cross on which he would die through the streets. Witnesses along the way who had seen his peaceful, healing actions in the country now saw this man defeated. How confused they were, those who hailed Jesus as King of the Jews as he arrived in Jerusalem. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Jesus had been severely beaten, blood still dripping from wounds onto the street as he walked, his skin red, ripped, raw. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">With the disciples all gone, fled in fear and disbelief, the women walked those last steps with Jesus.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">And as we turn from Palm Sunday’s jubilant expectation into another Holy Week, we, too, walk with Jesus towards the cross. We, too, agonise over the costly decision to give up the life we have in this world in order to embrace </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">true </span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Palatino; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">life in the realm of the Holy One who creates, redeems, reconciles. </span></span></span> </span></span></p></div>We were surprised by the rain on Sunday, having got used to living in a drought and not really deciding on a wet weather plan. So some quick thinking revised the shape of the BWJ space slightly, in the spirit of improvisation! Luckily there was a decent sized shelter at the oval we had booked. <div>When the sun poked through the clouds and through the drizzle, it was quite a backdrop. </div><div><br /></div><div>Again, Daniel Lee and friends created just the right atmosphere with their jazz guitars & drums. </div><div><br /></div><div>And three characters shared moved between the groupings of people sharing their stories of the days before Jesus' crucifixion. The woman who had anointed Jesus at dinner evoked laughter, a soldier posed interesting questions, and Peter almost had people in tears at his sorrow having denied his relationship with Jesus. </div><div><br /></div><div>People commented that this was a moving experience, and that they appreciated this opportunity to engage with the Holy Week story. </div><div>We reflected on the events of that week, and our journey through Holy Week this year, taking bread and wine for that journey to the cross. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-48840264663031228752009-03-16T11:23:00.002+10:302009-03-16T11:27:22.319+10:30Into Holy WeekUpdate on the next BWJ space: <div>meet three characters from the Holy Week narratives, hear their stories, and reflect on the events of the days before Jesus was crucified. </div><div>hear again or for the first time the cool jazz guitars of Daniel Lee and friends, local musicians.</div><div>begin your journey into Holy Week, remembering the sacrifice Jesus made, bringing about a new creation, a radical reign, renewing our relationship with God. </div><div><br /></div><div>4.00 - 5.30 Sunday 5 April</div><div>The Pines 2</div><div>Belair National Park</div><div><br /></div><div>Bring drinks, nibbles, chair/rug and friends. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-58653521231056225482009-02-16T14:50:00.004+10:302009-02-23T10:25:05.952+10:30Black Wood Jazz: into Holy Week<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Sunday 5 April - 4.00 to 5.30 pm - Belair National Park, "Pines Two" </span></span><div><br /></div><div>Into Holy Week will offer reflections on the characters and stories of the week leading up to Jesus' arrest. After the triumphant arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, the expectations of his followers were quickly overturned with the shocking events that culminated in his brutal execution. </div><div>Who were some of the people whose dreams were shattered in those days in Jerusalem? What is their story? How do their experiences resonate with our own? </div><div><br /></div><div>With cool jazz and over picnic supper, we'll explore these questions, and begin to bring our attention once again to the cross. </div><div><br /></div><div>BYO rugs/chairs and food (make it a meal or nibbles as you feel inclined). </div><div><br /></div><div>More information to follow on any costs involved. An offering will be received to help the church participate in God's mission in our neighbourhood, in our world. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-74604790831176891212009-01-15T17:46:00.003+10:302009-01-15T17:49:19.113+10:30alternative church gatherings in januaryIf you're interested in encountering the Holy outside of traditional church settings, Blackwood Uniting are gathering on the main oval of <a href="http://www.heysentrail.sa.gov.au/parks/sanpr/belair/index.htm?ParkID=BelairNP">Belair National Park</a> at 9.30 am on the Sundays in January. Sorry, I know we're half way through January now, but there's still two opportunities to encounter the Sacred in the beauty of the Australian bush on our doorstep, this Sunday 18 Jan and next, 25 Jan. Bring a chair or rug to sit on, and bring a thermos to join us for coffee and a chat after our reflections. sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-17183140710139249802008-12-01T14:03:00.003+10:302008-12-02T11:40:19.859+10:30Bonhoeffer on AdventA friend who was at Black Wood Jazz last night recalled some words she'd read of Bonhoeffer's, speaking of waiting and Advent. I'd like to share them here. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Celebrating Advent means learning to wait. Waiting is an art which our impatient age has forgotten. We want to pluck the fruit before it has had time to ripen. Greedy eyes are soon disappointed when what they saw as luscious fruit is sour to the taste. In disappointment and disgust they throw it away. The fruit, full of promise, rots on the ground. It is rejected without thanks by disappointed hands.<br /><br />The blessedness of waiting is lost on those who cannot wait, and the fulfillment of promise is never theirs. They want quick answers to the deepest questions of life and miss the value of those times of anxious waiting, seeking with patient uncertainties until the answers come. They lose the moment when the answers are revealed in dazzling clarity.<br /><br />Who has not felt the anxieties of waiting for the declaration of friendship or love? The greatest, the deepest, the most tender experiences in all the world demand patient waiting. This waiting is not in emotional turmoil, but gently growing, like the emergence of spring, like God’s laws, like the germinating of a seed.<br /><br />Not all can wait—certainly not those who are satisfied, contented, and feel that they live in the best of all possible worlds! Those who learn to wait are uneasy about their way of life, but yet have seen a vision of greatness in the world of the future and are patiently expecting its fulfillment. The celebration of Advent is possibly only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who can look forward to something greater to come.</span></span><br /></div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-9512130071245191532008-12-01T13:46:00.005+10:302008-12-02T11:41:07.293+10:30advent stories in the carparkWell, last night was cold and a little windy, and the threat of rain ever-present, but for those who brought their chairs and picnics to the Blackwood UC car park were warmed by the smooth jazz, inspired by stories of hope and courage, and enjoyed conversation and creativity. <div><br /></div><div>We heard the story of Edith Cavell, an English nurse in Belgium at the time of the German invasion during WWI. Edith helped soldiers to escape German capture. She was arrested by German soldiers, imprisoned, court martialled and executed. Her hope in Christ inspired her imitation of Christ, and she stated as she went to face her death, that patriotism was not enough: 'I must have no hatred or bitterness toward anyone.' </div><div>Dietrich Bonhoeffer also found himself on the wrong side of the German army, though this time he was a German church leader opposing the Nazi regime, and pleading the church to do the same. He chose to stay in Germany rather than leave, to suffer alongside his fellow German Christians in order to have integrity in the rebuilding after the war. Bonhoeffer did not get that chance, killed by the Nazis in the final days of the war. His courage, positivity, and trust in the closeness of God comforted and inspired his fellow prisoners during his 18 months of imprisonment. </div><div>Martin Luther King's story is well known. His call to non-violent protest for the civil rights of African Americans during the 1960s put him in opposition to fellow African Americans, his demand for civil rights put him in opposition to much of the rest of America. But his knowledge of the love of God gave him hope for peace in his nation, gave him courage to fight for the outcome he believed would come, risking his life. He too lost his life in pursuit of peace. </div><div>Mother Teresa is also very well known for her choice to live amongst the poorest of India and suffer with them. Though she has been well praised for her work, and inspired many to join her in India, or to act with compassion and love and care in other places of need, she has also faced much criticism. She too found her hope and the courage to go on in God. </div><div>The final story we heard was of an unnamed Christian publisher in Burma, who is being persecuted by the junta. Their wish is for all religions to be eradicated from Burma, bar Buddhism, and many Christian churches, schools and orphanages have been forced underground. It is a costly act of discipleship for the Christians in this land. But as this publisher says, people are yearning for the word of God, and having found his hope in Christ, he feels he can do no other than to work for Christ, live for Christ. </div><div><br /></div><div>These stories demonstrate that deep hope and trust in God, in Jesus Christ, insists on being lived out. May we all have the courage to act on the hope we find in God this Christmas, and every day. </div><div><br /></div><div>The stories were sourced from Gordon Brown's book <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Courage: Eight Portraits</span>, Becky Benanate in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Legends: Women who changed the world, </span>the <a href="http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031019_madre-teresa_en.html">vatican site</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa">wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.vom.com.au/news/article.asp?artID={1D0136DA-74D4-4EE0-ABE1-0BD063E97138}">voice of the martyrs</a>, and the site of the <a href="https://www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/">Anglican church in Melbourne. </a></div><div><br /></div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-33368333736478375142008-11-28T13:17:00.002+10:302008-11-28T13:21:30.485+10:30getting excited!I'm getting pretty excited about Black Wood Jazz Christmas under the stars this Sunday. Seems people are looking forward to it, planning their picnics, gathering their friends. If the rain holds off for the afternoon and evening, it will be even better! However, we have a wet-weather plan, we'll create Christmas under the pretend stars inside the church, so don't be put off, it's going to be a wonderful way to kick off the Advent season. <div><br /></div><div>I've been inspired and awe-struck by the stories I've been reading, preparing them to share on Sunday night, too. People do some amazing things, inspired by the Divine, or conscience, or however they name it. Be prepared to be inspired! </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-13685087171323879452008-11-03T10:01:00.003+10:302008-11-03T10:04:34.519+10:30Black Wood Jazz under the stars<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; ">Kick off Christmas with an event that can be as kicked back, or stimulating as you make it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">6.00 - 8.30pm on Sunday 30</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> November 2008</span></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC'; ">BYO picnic, folding chairs, (and a table if you are that way inclined), cold drinks, friends, neighbours and good conversation to Christmas under the stars in the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Blackwood UCA carpark (at the Roundabout, 266 Main Road, Blackwood).</span></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC"">Enjoy the smooth sounds of Daniel Lee and Friends.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Enjoy cool company – bring your own if you aren’t to sure about ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We will unwrap some stories of hope too as the evening gives way to stars. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';">Hot drinks available for gold coin donation. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC"">Donations will be collected to support Black Wood Jazz and the Christmas Bowl Appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC""> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-912767901131351662008-09-29T11:39:00.003+09:302008-09-29T11:57:57.923+09:30Black Wood Jazz AdventBlack Wood Jazz Advent space will be at 6.00 pm 30 November at a location to be confirmed. <div><br /></div><div>BYO picnic tea. Daniel Lee and friends will provide live jazz. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-23370041033441273522008-09-27T12:03:00.003+09:302008-09-27T12:09:39.539+09:30Early thinking for Advent 2008We met yesterday afternoon to plan this year's advent space, and though we are still to settle on a date, it will either by 30 November or 7 December at 6.00 pm. <div><br /></div><div>At this stage, we are thinking of meeting in <a href="http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/sanpr/belair/index.html">Belair National Park</a> for a picnic, along the lines of the <a href="http://blackwoodjazz.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_archive.html">Jazz at Nunyara of 2006</a>, though on a more intimate scale. </div><div><br /></div><div>We've got some great ideas for reflection over our dinner and jazz, and will be refined over the next 8 weeks. </div><div><br /></div><div>So if you're in Adelaide at the beginning of Advent, and are looking for an evening of smooth jazz, great company, and deeper conversation as we prepare for another Christmas celebration, pencil in those dates, and watch this space ... </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-83055416232506309482008-09-25T16:23:00.003+09:302008-09-25T16:31:18.955+09:30Album releaseWhile I'm here - <a href="http://www.mamajazz.com.au">Liz Tobias</a>, who has provided music at two Black Wood Jazz events <a href="http://blackwoodjazz.blogspot.com/2005_07_01_archive.html">here</a> and <a href="http://blackwoodjazz.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_archive.html">here</a> as Liz Chehade - has released her first album. Look for it on itunes or in good music shops! It's typically soulful sound from one of our fave singer/musicians! Congratulations Liz. sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-68395486447383738062008-09-25T16:02:00.002+09:302008-09-25T16:05:58.619+09:30finding an old friendwanted to share with whoever reads this the joy of rediscovering a long lost friend - i lost my cd of jamie cullum's twenty something some time ago, and just bought it off itunes. <div>listening to it is filling me with joy following weeks of sadness, as i fall back into familiar lyrics, melodies and oh the harmonies of all at sea. </div><div>i have missed these tunes, how indescribable to have them seeping through my senses to my soul once more. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-82701417794249700162008-09-18T16:06:00.000+09:302008-09-25T16:16:14.754+09:30the psychology of improvisationheard on the radio today of a jazz musician from scandanavia somewhere who is researching the psychology of improvisation. what an interesting topic for consideration. I am going to search his work out, and will share what i discover ... sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-78392108241561323712008-09-06T10:20:00.003+09:302008-09-25T16:33:11.060+09:30Was Jesus a jazz musician?<div>this was the first session I went to on my last day of <a href="http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/">greenbelt</a>, a huge christian arts and social justice festival in the uk - more posts at <a href="http://sarahtellsstories.blogspot.com/">sarah tells stories</a>. <br /></div><div>Philip Roderick is involved with a group called <a href="http://www.contemplativefire.org/index.htm">contemplative fire</a>, who had led some worship sessions that I had missed and it was too late by now to do anything about that. However, coordinating a jazz church space as I do, I thought I would hear someone else's reflections on Jesus and jazz. </div><div>Really there was nothing new in what Philip said, using language for Jesus and jazz such as flow, zone, grace and swing. there is a dance between structure and freedom in jazz, as there was in the life of Jesus, in what he was teaching the disciples. As he, as we, allow the Spirit to speak/flow through structures, the both/and-ness of things is beautiful. </div><div>All of creation has a melody - we just need to hear. As we interact with others, Philip suggests that it is helpful to find the melody of others and thus be able to walk in time with them. </div><div>improvisation is hugely underestimated according to Philip, though as I rewrite this from my journal, I forget the context of that thought ... later in the session, he spoke about bricolage, french for taking what we have and using just that, and he led us in an improvisation singing vive la bricolage. it was lovely. as community we strive to breathe together, think together, pray together in improvisation. again, the image of community mirrors that of a jazz band, with its delicate balance of personalities, each individual and each group learning the best of the past and adding our own personal vision. One has to understand one's own role in the group well enough to improvise. </div><div>Philip spoke of three elements of a jazz musician: respect for tradition (learning not merely repeating); respect for other players, allowing each person's gifts to blossom; openness to learning something new from an old piece and from each other. Are these elements in all people, living in community? </div><div>Relating jazz to the kingdom, Philip suggests that in neither is their failure - only feedback. Jazz operates on the knife-edge of failure, incorporating mistakes and bum notes. </div><div>And on contemplative prayer, he says that this requires the same attentiveness, atunement and alertness that jazz calls for in order for music to play the performer, in order for us to be played through - hearing echoes of Spirit?? </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-87052373754033544142008-07-10T12:34:00.001+09:302008-07-10T14:51:07.038+09:30Why jazz worship?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">This article was helpful as I began to think about creating our jazz church space. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">July 2003 CJA Network Featured Article<br /><br />Jazz Pianist<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bradley Sowash<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why Jazz Is Appropriate for Christian Worship<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As a touring "sacred" jazz pianist (I prefer the word "inspirational"), I spend a lot of time with colleagues and parishioners nationwide who connect with the gospel through this joyous music. People love the sound of jazz hymns and spirituals and I am continually impressed by the relevance of jazz for contemporary worship. Why does it work so well? The answer lies in the parallels between jazz traditions and the life of the church. Consider how readily jazz models the Christian lifestyle:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz is multi-cultural and inclusive - Jazz was born in America when the harmonic and melodically based music of European colonists eventually blended with African rhythms preserved in the hearts and minds of slaves. As the music matured, black and white musicians continued to learn from each other. In time, famous bandleaders including Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and others led integrated bands. Later, Latin cultures introduced a third influence initially championed by Dizzy Gillespie. With roots stemming from several cultures, jazz continues to be influenced, performed and enjoyed by people of diverse backgrounds to this day. Jesus was radically inclusive. His habit of inviting people of all sorts and conditions to join him in fellowship is an open-armed model of welcome churches seek to emulate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz is indigenous but universal – Religious practices tend to reflect the culture that produces them. Yet mainstream American worship styles often feature musical selections which are European imports. Jazz is indigenous to America. Therefore, it is altogether right and appropriate to worship within our own cultural context. Jazz is also now enjoyed worldwide. Musicians from around the world play jazz together whether or not they share a spoken language. God is at once both personally indigenous (the God within us) and universal (the God "out there" somewhere). Similarly, when we gather together to worship locally, we simultaneously participate in a worldwide Christian body.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz is spontaneous - The essence of jazz is improvisation. Drawing on their training, preferences and inspirations, jazz musicians spontaneously create variations on a given theme. To listen to live jazz is to witness raw musical ideas being given substance often within the framework of a well-known melody. Many musicians describe a sense of the ideas flowing through them rather than from them. This inherent creativity in jazz relies on a connection to the Spirit. Jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli hinted at this when he said, "Great improvisors are like priests. They are thinking only of their god." Jazz imitates God's creation - ever evolving.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz involves cooperation – Live jazz in any setting is performed and received by a cooperative community. Each musician is called upon to both support his/her colleagues and work as an individual soloist as roles are shared. Listeners inspire the music through their<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>eactions to complete the circle. While the quest for meaning is ultimately a private endeavor, church life exemplifies cooperation and community building in which participants learn and grow collectively as well as individually.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz has a range - Sometimes meditative, sometimes celebratory, jazz touches us by speaking directly to a spectrum of emotions. Without this ability to reflect the full range of human experience, it never would have lasted. Louis Armstrong was right when he said, "What we play is life." The church year reflects this range of experience from the wonder of Christmas through the reflective Lent season to the joy of Easter and from baptisms to weddings to funerals. Once the worship enhancing powers of jazz are understood, it is hard to understand why any church would not want to, at least occasionally, incorporate this rich and uniquely American musical style into its programming. Churches who have already taken this step report the following:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz makes for excellent evangelism – With outreach as a priority, many churches have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>discovered that the uniqueness of a jazz worship service holds appeal and potential healing for people whose past experiences have led them to consider organized religion uninviting, dogmatic, irrelevant or even repressive.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz offers a tradition-based alternative – Most mainstream churches are interested in balancing heritage and contemporary relevance. When experimenting with new forms of music or worship practices, inevitable complaints follow regarding the abandonment of church traditions. With roots reaching back to African-American spirituals and European folk songs on up through Duke Ellington’s famous sacred concerts and New York City’s jazz vespers scene of the 1960’s, jazz renditions of the remarkable American hymnody we inherited link the past to the present.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">• Jazz has cross-generational relevance – Contemporary services utilizing popular music have proven successful in attracting younger families to churches. And why not? Even Martin Luther understood the importance of including compelling music in worship when he wrote, "Why should the devil have all the good music." However, a pitfall of offering too narrowly defined contemporary music for worship has the unintended effect of dividing the church into age demographics since older members are likely to prefer traditional fare. The toetapping wide appeal of jazz, on the other hand, draws people of all ages and backgrounds thereby creating a diversified community of worship and a sense of belonging for the individual parishioner. Author Bishop John Shelby Spong points out, "The church will die of boredom long before it dies from controversy." By preparing a feast that for the mind and senses that includes prayer, spoken word and the appeal of culturally relevant music, a church that is willing to embrace jazz sends a message that it is visionary. It says "we are willing to experiment with the recipe for bringing about a greater contemplation of God.". And in the words of Biblical scholar Marcus Borg, "Churches that are full of God are likely to find their pews full of people."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">© 2003 Bradley Sowash</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;"><a href="http://www.bradleysowash.com/">www.bradleysowash.com</a></span> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-5426547754569364442008-07-10T12:19:00.000+09:302008-07-10T12:40:35.977+09:30The story of Black Wood JazzBlack Wood Jazz began three years ago. I had just finished coordinating the nitelife program for NCYC (National Christian Youth Convention, Uniting Church event for 16 - 30 year olds) 2005, at which the jazz lounge had been quite popular. I was looking for a space that invited questions and encouraged discovery, rather than some church spaces that offer answers and encourage acceptance of the status quo. I thought that if I was looking for such a space, perhaps others were too. So I gathered some friends and we started to create spaces for deep thinking and discovery of the Sacred in our lives. We decided that the soundtrack to our discoveries would be jazz. Live jazz. <div>For the past three years we've been creating four spaces a year, and I will begin to put up photos and summaries of our discoveries in those spaces. We're going to create two spaces each year from now, as the <a href="http://blackwood.unitingchurch.org.au">Blackwood Uniting Church</a> community becomes busier, and those of us on the team also become busier. The spaces are still valued by the community, within and outside the church, and especially at the pivotal moments of the faith. So our two spaces will be at Christmas and Easter. If other issues pop up that invite deeper thinking and conversation to the melodies of jazz, then we'll add a third space to the calendar. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you find our story interesting, and would be delighted to hear of ways it inspires others to discover the Sacred, connect to the Holy Story, and reach beyond the conventions to invite people inside and outside our faith communities to think deeply about the God who writes the song on our hearts. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-80786695350712628822007-08-19T19:43:00.002+09:302008-10-04T15:42:04.063+09:30God DelusionIn August 2007, we tackled the arguments of Richard Dawkins. He had some strong accusations of people involved in religion, and we wanted to think about what he was saying, and decide what our opinions were. We viewed some scenes from a program on the ABC (Australia) programme Catalyst. What follows are some of the responses to come out of our conversations. <div><br /></div><div>We have within us all the capacity to hurt and harm and to help and heal. What choices do we make? </div><div><br /></div><div>When Dawkins says that teaching faith is wrong, we said: </div><div>Rational argument may lack compassion and morality / define indoctrination vs helpful teaching & nurturing / neither do a lot of Christians believe in God who 'keeps us safe from harm' / what is life without hope? / I'm a Christian and I don't believe in preaching fear & hellfire to children. But I do believe in telling them about a God that loves them and wants them to love all people / or we believe in the Bible as it is intended - the story of the people of God and their relationship - not literal history - why was he able to become an athiest after growing up in the church - but things other children will just believe 'nonsense'. That's an insult to me & my intelligence & faith / I've never seen a single instance of religion originating evil rather than religion being used to justify pre-existing greed & lust for power / any religion that is not faith affirming misses the mark / people believe in what they want to believe in / he hasn't looked at the full spectrum of faith and so has not made a complete or fair argument /if he was brought up Christian what happened to make him so angry? / yes, we do believe in the mystery of God - and that is what is so beautiful about it</div><div><br /></div><div>When Dawkins pits reason against faith, we disagreed in these ways:</div><div>religion doesn't pretend to have all the answers / several well-structured studies have concluded that stronger mental health occurs when people feel that they are part of something bigger that is worthwhile / faith goes beyond the rational, without being contrary to rationality, viz. 'irrational' / even if religion was the root of all evil - doesn't that mean that God is evil or that God doesn't exist / not all people of faith are non-thinkers or illogical thinkers / we are intelligent people and we believe / it is true that unthinking faith is not very helpful in the long term / religion can no more be contained in one basket than can science. religion contains questions & mystery, as does science / the variety of beliefs within even one church disproves Dawkins' view that believers are all the same / rationalism taken to its logical conclusion denies the existence of the human spirit, our humanity & human compassion / what's rational about quantum mechanics? / he's a fundamentalist opposed to fundamentalism </div><div><br /></div><div>When Dawkins pits reason against faith, we agreed thus: </div><div>if faith really is unthinking, then it can indeed result in evil / it is true that unthinking faith is not very helpful in the long term / Euler (a mathematician) found reason to support his faith when he discovered an equation he considered too perfect to be anything other than Divine / righteous faith - righteous unfaith? </div><div><br /></div><div>We also agreed to a point that faith can divide:</div><div>faith does breed intolerance to some things such as poverty and war and other injustices / yes - the fundamentalist end of religion is dangerous / fundamentalism generates intolerance, fundamentalism grows churches, because you can hand over your thinking to someone else!</div><div><br /></div><div>However, we also think that faith doesn't have to be divisive: </div><div>people of faith are just as scared of fundamentalism as people not of faith / just because someone follows a religion doesn't make them good - what an assumption!! / pushing beliefs onto other people doesn't belong to people of faith / i don't believe there are 'good' and 'evil' people, there is the potential for both in us all / intolerance is a wide-spread human trait with or without faith: scientists are not immune / there cannot be a successful, fully literal believer because the Bible is self-contradictory / intolerance occurs when we strive for absolute certainty / St Francis of Assisi? Fr Damien? Mother Teresa? / he is taking all the bad examples of people in religion. there have been so many good religious people and he is only observing about 10% of the religions out there / good people do evil in the name of religion only when religion is subverted by evil people to serve their secular cause / </div><div><br /></div><div>and to summarise: </div><div>It strikes me how dogmatic Dawkins is / we generally object to Richard Dawkins' generalisations. he makes statements which do not include all believers!</div><div><br /></div><div>to Dawkins' assertion that religion is the root of all evil, we respond with the statement that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">faith is the root of all hope</span></span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>We also considered writings at these sites: </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?articleId=977">http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?articleId=977</a> - Peter Harrison's response to The God Delusion</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?articleId=993">http://www.journeyonline.com.au/showArticle.php?articleId=993</a> - reflecting on a seminar analysing The God Delusion</div><div><br /></div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-4116652086976364922007-05-07T20:41:00.001+09:302008-12-12T09:02:20.500+10:30Live Fire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP0m4_hjlf-3l5wSi3bp3pwXtJG4jPX9c5HVh82HZCHrT1Gc55cj3BTMDEPMUMhkne4aDxRaZ4obqYC9MLWwSbab7wGP4tOuaC0gU1ZaBfCqdY9T73UlmOB2dd3oX_PsqMvuw1mskMHxr/s1600-h/fire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP0m4_hjlf-3l5wSi3bp3pwXtJG4jPX9c5HVh82HZCHrT1Gc55cj3BTMDEPMUMhkne4aDxRaZ4obqYC9MLWwSbab7wGP4tOuaC0gU1ZaBfCqdY9T73UlmOB2dd3oX_PsqMvuw1mskMHxr/s320/fire.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221342060364984450" /></a><br /><div>May 2007, Live Fire, was Pentecost and the ascension of Jesus in one night. Wow! </div><div>We hung a semi-transparent white sheet of material from the ceiling and projected onto it flames that moved and clouds that descended and ascended, as we heard the stories read aloud. If I can dig up a photo of it, I'll add it to this post. </div><div>We also had people move among the rest lighting candles we'd each been given, symbolising the apostles taking 'the fire' out from Jerusalem as commanded. People brought their fire/candle with their money offerings as a symbol of our offering ourselves and our gifts back to God. </div><div>Really moving space this one. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-69732417865690090882006-12-14T16:53:00.002+10:302008-12-12T09:02:20.672+10:30Christmas 2006<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICk7vjkNjm5s-O_wXq9MYvX4EPOimCFv53n50Vq9UgeqGUm4DSHRhDUJ7pSudyq5JwTA2_YOgDM8CRXyFDJPJfwkJVb22Oir65nUMkCAIjUy7JdFLxnuL1-0-RlQRPgwVLPdjb9FK8e82/s1600-h/liz+nunyara+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICk7vjkNjm5s-O_wXq9MYvX4EPOimCFv53n50Vq9UgeqGUm4DSHRhDUJ7pSudyq5JwTA2_YOgDM8CRXyFDJPJfwkJVb22Oir65nUMkCAIjUy7JdFLxnuL1-0-RlQRPgwVLPdjb9FK8e82/s320/liz+nunyara+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222775300785516770" /></a><br />Early in Advent of 2006, we held Jazz on the Lawns at <a href="http://www.nunyara.com.au/">Nunyara Conference Centre</a>, Belair. We had 100 people or so on the lawns that slope down the hill from the front of the main building, eating picnics, or meat from the bbq put on by Nunyara, and icecreams. Later, people could buy coffee from a group supporting refugees in South Australia. Kids (big ones and small) could have their faces painted. And in the background, the sun slowly slid toward the horizon, drawing its red, orange, yellow, purple tail behind it, over the city of Adelaide. Magic. And of course, there was live jazz. <div><a href="http://www.mamajazz.com.au">Liz Chehade</a> (now Tobias) brought a group of friends, and they played superbly as usual. To be out of the warm late afternoon sun, they played in the shade of some of the trees. </div><div><a href="http://www.kathierenner.com/taxonomy/term/2">Vincent's Chair</a> also played beautifully from the balcony of the main building. </div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back, there are things we'd do differently. Set up some shade for the musical instruments. bring the people and the bands closer together. Not have a drama. advertise the availability of coffee, and who the proceeds support. advertise other foods for sale. </div><div><br /></div><div>Still, the response was positive, the jazz was excellent, and people had a good time. It's certainly a great way to connect with the wider community, as many who came had little or no connection to the Blackwood Uniting Church community. We would do things differently, though. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-25024566394312088332006-07-08T20:35:00.002+09:302008-12-12T09:02:21.586+10:30Cool August Night<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGk-E3evhod_XryTEP1tTxj83_lgoWTaAgT7-UVjJHfQqH0K45IDeLwRNIp9Px8usrjeJCb-jVuj66IaJmSY15RUZdrropwKDAuARm1kzKmFf0eGbKMTPUpxHabqE8SDRWiHy9O2bJLiI/s1600-h/august+butterfly+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGk-E3evhod_XryTEP1tTxj83_lgoWTaAgT7-UVjJHfQqH0K45IDeLwRNIp9Px8usrjeJCb-jVuj66IaJmSY15RUZdrropwKDAuARm1kzKmFf0eGbKMTPUpxHabqE8SDRWiHy9O2bJLiI/s320/august+butterfly+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221340671213354946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WHnNltrR4GPn160T4-uJ5aIs-vdfnGuIcKLASuul6wDPV1BkGy4mUg62AHRDjJjUf3oHQks9WNqsFqqZPX4a23OJ8QT7FaAmG6g8kBkMIPJL66i0BDRhDX6A4v0IaPeey8HpSZLzoqSB/s1600-h/august+fire+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WHnNltrR4GPn160T4-uJ5aIs-vdfnGuIcKLASuul6wDPV1BkGy4mUg62AHRDjJjUf3oHQks9WNqsFqqZPX4a23OJ8QT7FaAmG6g8kBkMIPJL66i0BDRhDX6A4v0IaPeey8HpSZLzoqSB/s320/august+fire+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221340674760921714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlBEs0EJcyPEpR1amHxQB5P6i3iJMuUI6n5wpP_WmewC-t-7xhbEnXn5wSZxvXWFpyKaDGZgwHXixscoJ-gGq_TwgBDu7AV6HqJzp5jmnUGAJDHk1adC0IDBGwnHS0UfEc3xDd0BYfB9J/s1600-h/august+garden+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlBEs0EJcyPEpR1amHxQB5P6i3iJMuUI6n5wpP_WmewC-t-7xhbEnXn5wSZxvXWFpyKaDGZgwHXixscoJ-gGq_TwgBDu7AV6HqJzp5jmnUGAJDHk1adC0IDBGwnHS0UfEc3xDd0BYfB9J/s320/august+garden+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221340682942811522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmAygnzGDkallRMJXQlnhy9O7hvfK8UJQfZsJDK51hplnMzxdAyEdBVa-bvAxD9mla_MmM4y7xLeA8E8y3blY48Pnw0H3UD6edKKuY-gZv9ZVkZlqMiVYBIhGwwDwTnTmMfNrOGycRhJM/s1600-h/daniel+lee+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmAygnzGDkallRMJXQlnhy9O7hvfK8UJQfZsJDK51hplnMzxdAyEdBVa-bvAxD9mla_MmM4y7xLeA8E8y3blY48Pnw0H3UD6edKKuY-gZv9ZVkZlqMiVYBIhGwwDwTnTmMfNrOGycRhJM/s320/daniel+lee+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221340681138670242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAP1jDcIMxMyS1LVNK-hS9env3tUCx8QMzBDf-8hMBIWygfIDSITaxR_cu0QBGiLmfdDcFbVRCMQfweaSaOw9xa4Yyb-feHYZdytDM4Kg4pSeNnV8TdBcYZkquMd13iTVpQnSZ0FVvyqM/s1600-h/fountain+reverse+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAP1jDcIMxMyS1LVNK-hS9env3tUCx8QMzBDf-8hMBIWygfIDSITaxR_cu0QBGiLmfdDcFbVRCMQfweaSaOw9xa4Yyb-feHYZdytDM4Kg4pSeNnV8TdBcYZkquMd13iTVpQnSZ0FVvyqM/s320/fountain+reverse+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221340687167897570" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photos: Tim Lee</span></div><div><br /><div>On a cool August night in 2006, we created a warm fire beside which we revisited the creation story, and our connection to God's ongoing story of creation in with and around us. </div><div>We read poetry, constructed a garden, and again enjoyed the cool jazz of Daniel Lee and friends. </div></div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-62410391051231952842006-04-21T12:43:00.002+09:302008-10-04T15:40:49.018+09:30Easter 2006<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">We created a space on Easter Sunday evening, 2006, that had long tables arranged in square. A focus in the centre represented the empty cross and the empty tomb. I presented three monologues during the evening, from different points of view of the people to whom Jesus appeared. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We had soup and rolls, a good option after our family feastings at lunch time. </p><p class="MsoNormal">There was brown paper on the tables, and writing implements, so people could respond to the stories. Space was also left between each story for conversation. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I think this was the first time we had 'Daniel Lee and friends' - jazz guitars sometimes joined by a percussionist. They hit the spot in terms of creating the jazz mood we were seeking, and I remember looking at a team member and nodding approval! </p><p class="MsoNormal">If you would like to use these monologues, please feel free. I would ask that you acknowledge appropriately. Also - let us know how they go! </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Resurrection Monologues - Sarah Agnew</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Resurrection Monologue 1 : Mary<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Dead and Buried</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> And so we took him down</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(or thought we did)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wiped off the sweat and spittle<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From his face,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Washed the dried blood,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Threw out the crown of thorns,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And wrapped him once again<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In swaddling clothes.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A tomb can be a cramped <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Confining place,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Far smaller than a stable.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We laid him there<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(or thought we did).<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were not able <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To comprehend<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The infinite contained.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For us it was the end.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Only the harsh realities<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of death and stone<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Remained. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Elizabeth Rooney<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(21st Century poet)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were so devastated after the crucifixion, after burying Jesus in the tomb. There didn’t seem to be a way to stop the tears from flowing. We were overwhelmed, inconsolable – even with all the promises he had made, the assurances he gave that this was God’s will, that we would see him again, he would leave us a friend.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Well – where was that friend? And just how can you see a person again after they have died? How much we still hadn’t understood …</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We were up early the day after the Sabbath, because we wanted to keep the custom and anoint his body. We’d been trying to decide what we were going to do about moving the stone in front of the tomb – it was far too heavy for a few women to move without tools or great physical strength. So when we got there and discovered that the stone had been rolled aside already, we were a little surprised. But we thought the men must have anticipated us and moved the stone. So we went in.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> And then we really did receive a shock. He was gone – the body was not there, where we had so carefully laid it. It was not in the tomb at all. The cloths we had wrapped around him were strewn on the floor, the scarf from his head was folded, sitting at the place where his head should have been resting – where was Jesus’ body?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Before we could recover our voices to call the guards, we were stunned again, this time by the brightest of lights. Suddenly we found ourselves facing angels of God – they must have been, who else would it have been lit up that way?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> How could we believe what they said? It was such a foreign idea they might as well have spoken in a foreign language.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘Jesus is risen.’</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> And yet we believed, somewhere deep inside.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> As we digested the news, we heard another voice and turned, still speechless, in shock, and received one more surprise. Standing before us now was Jesus himself. He is risen indeed!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Rabbouni, I cried. I had found my voice, hearing the voice of my teacher, my shepherd, as he had taught us. A shepherd knows his sheep, and they know the voice of their master.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> My Rabbouni, my teacher is alive, and I will rejoice every day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I have never known such joy as we felt in that moment. All those hints he had given, the secrets and promises; showing us his power over death by bringing Lazarus back to life; finally we understood.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The world would change because Jesus had lived. Our relationship to God had changed because Jesus had died and beaten death. Our relationships with each other would change because Jesus loved, because of God’s love.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The world will never be the same again. We will never be the same again.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We wanted to shout and dance and sing – but we ran. We ran to share this fantastic news, the best of all possible newses, with his closest friends. They would see him soon. They must believe he was alive.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Jesus is alive.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Resurrection Monologue 2 : Thomas<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t hear Mary tell the others that Jesus was alive. Didn’t see their response to her news. I wasn’t waiting with them in the room that day. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was such a tense time, those days after the crucifixion, and we had locked ourselves away from those who had persecuted the Lord. I was going crazy, so I had ducked out for a while. It wasn’t the best idea, but on my own I was less recognisable than all of us together.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh, but when I returned, the atmosphere in our room had changed. I couldn’t guess anything from their faces – these men I now knew so well. Some looked as though they had been shocked, some looked frightened, some looked happier than I’d seen them in years – so it couldn’t be that a threat had been delivered. What could have happened while I was gone to bring about these different responses?<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When they saw me, and realised I had not been with them, they all began to talk fast and furiously, over each other.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t make any sense of it at all.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then one of them spoke, clearly, calmly – ‘We have seen the Lord: Jesus was with us. He is alive.’<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">No! How could that be? We felt the world change when he had died – surely we would notice if he had come back to life? How could he possibly be alive?<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How could I have not believed them?<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> My grief was overwhelming, blinding me from seeing the possibility, as it had blinded my friends to the truth of what Mary said.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> But he had raised Lazarus, and done countless other things. Of course he should defeat death. But at that time, all I could see was that he had gone to the cross, had given himself to the Romans, to his enemies and let them kill him. I didn’t understand why he would do that. Couldn’t see that it wasn’t because they were stronger than God, but because there was no other way to save God’s people than through this human/divine sacrifice.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Unless I see for myself, I will not believe. How could I have not believed him?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> For a whole week I did not leave that place, unless I was with the others. If Jesus came to us again, if he really had risen as they insisted, I was not going to miss him again.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> And then it happened. We were gathered together, the doors locked for fear of our persecutors, and yet he came and stood among us. Flesh, but not flesh.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘Peace be with you.’ Peace? My heart was racing.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> He had heard the cry of my brothers for certainty that Mary’s words were true. He heard my cry for one more moment, for a chance to see with my own eyes, which surely could not deceive me. And here he stood, with us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> ‘Put your finger here. See my hands. Reach out your hand, put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe.’</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I believed. I fell to my knees, bowed my head. ‘My Lord, my God.’ For surely there was no doubt that Jesus and God were one and the same.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I did not touch his wounded hands or his side. I felt with every part of me that I was with my friend, my teacher, my God. God was most certainly present in Jesus, in that room.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We saw him among us then, and we saw him once more before his Spirit was all that was left. Be assured, friends who were not with us then – if you open your hearts and your minds, you can know his presence as surely as we did then. You, too, can believe that God made this sacrifice, and Jesus rose from the dead so that a new law would come to be. The law of love, for God and for each other, is a law for Jew and Gentile. It is the law Jesus personifies; it is the law that will free us all.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> My prayer for you all is that you will believe – do not doubt – that Jesus is risen, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is the Son of God.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Resurrection Monologue 3 : Peter<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My first response when I discovered the empty tomb with Mary and the others was to run. I didn’t know what was going on, but this was not a good sign – or so I thought. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Still I didn’t believe when Mary found us all in the room, shaking with fear, and told us her news. The best of all possible newses – yet we wouldn’t hear her. It was impossible. We were convinced Jesus had been defeated, and couldn’t make sense of the world at all.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I felt terrible after we saw Jesus for ourselves, risen and alive, we had not trusted Mary. Loyal, truthful, wise Mary. Mary who had stayed when we had run for cover. Mary who had wrapped and anointed the body of our dear friend. She was a stronger person than any of us in those days. Perhaps women are helped through their grief with the practical task of anointing the body? We could think of nothing to do but survive the persecution and wait for the friend Jesus had promised would show us the way until he returned. When would that be?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We were so blown away by the events of the last week of Jesus’ time on earth, we were overcome with fear. Look what it made me do on the day he was arrested – could I really have denied my Lord? Three times?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> We saw Jesus once more before he returned to the closeness of God.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I had decided to go fishing, and the others joined me. we didn’t catch a thing. As the sun came up, a man appeared on the shore and he spoke – ‘you have no fish, have you? Throw your net on the right side of the boat. You’ll find some there.’</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> There were so many fish in the net when we tried to haul it in that seven of us couldn’t do it. Jesus’ dearest friend recognised him first, saying to me, ‘Peter, it is the Lord!’ I pulled my clothes on and jumped into the sea – I was so excited! I left the others to bring in the fish! We weren’t far out by then.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> One more time, Jesus broke bread with us. We ate the fish we had caught cooked on coals.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I wonder if there’s something in the fact that Jesus asked me three times that morning: ‘Simon Peter, do you love me?’ Yes Lord. ‘Do you love me?’ Yes Lord. ‘Do you love me?’ You know everything – you know I love you. ‘Feed my sheep.’</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> And then he said something that made me uneasy. I had overcome my fears since Jesus had been with us, but when he said to me that when I was young I had fastened my own belt and gone where I chose, but in the future I would be bound and taken where I did not want to go – a shiver ran down my spine.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> But I understood, at last, what he had meant when he had told me I would go where he was going. I would die in his name – as I had once boldly told him I would.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Follow me.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I have been rash in the past, made bold statements and not seen them through with bold actions. I knew at that moment, when he called me to follow him, the road would not be easy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The breath he blew on us when he was first with us after his death was his spirit – the spirit of God. We consider ourselves now sent on the most important mission. People must hear of the things God has done, of the love Jesus showed. People of all races and creeds must hear that God is their God and has opened up the doors of the kingdom to all people.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I always said I believed Jesus’ teaching. But belief is nothing without action. People should see that I believe in God, that I believe Jesus is God and that he has left his Spirit to keep us close to him until we see him again.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I believe that Jesus has asked me to gather the flock – I’ll bring the people together and we’ll live in a community that values each person, that values love and trust and despises hate and deceit. I believe in Jesus as the true shepherd of us all, and until he comes again, I’ll watch over his sheep. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107920455320439680.post-21100966337903444732005-10-10T20:16:00.001+09:302008-12-12T09:02:22.169+10:30Blues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLCQU7f6Bf6BieWWVenqRE5jpY9S_nLFWsBve-8W5U94U1g9QG_kjDr5seUE-5701kePZyQCf98XK_DGgmEKe7tAtf1S17JWHFmkAA5EvsL808MWjPaIAs7cyhyy9-MSj7gsZ82JaHxsp/s1600-h/band+leading+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLCQU7f6Bf6BieWWVenqRE5jpY9S_nLFWsBve-8W5U94U1g9QG_kjDr5seUE-5701kePZyQCf98XK_DGgmEKe7tAtf1S17JWHFmkAA5EvsL808MWjPaIAs7cyhyy9-MSj7gsZ82JaHxsp/s320/band+leading+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221337835996439362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPuNB-I55V4D7GUnUq4koQKu9Nv07D0CnmKCDzV9HbcUIZ2OU7hbMEQQErv50XpPRd9y1uIuXzhvc-FUY3FYXWa-66czrg0VvxFq0z9YQN79UmXW9UZIbR2ry876sezv5vdjm0ubLPKsm/s1600-h/jesus+blues+1+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPuNB-I55V4D7GUnUq4koQKu9Nv07D0CnmKCDzV9HbcUIZ2OU7hbMEQQErv50XpPRd9y1uIuXzhvc-FUY3FYXWa-66czrg0VvxFq0z9YQN79UmXW9UZIbR2ry876sezv5vdjm0ubLPKsm/s320/jesus+blues+1+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221337691283653154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncAYf_y4lOXNel6Hih2aZmdnNPH7tBXEFS4wG1NALIMm_jzB3Nh7joKukXq8-k6bfLJeRKk54lz9QUp-XiS07RBKNm1sp4fjDrD2pLfnfGzBEnDb5Lvdj5A1YK-I9eMlXiTYnK4jgEUBW/s1600-h/flower+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncAYf_y4lOXNel6Hih2aZmdnNPH7tBXEFS4wG1NALIMm_jzB3Nh7joKukXq8-k6bfLJeRKk54lz9QUp-XiS07RBKNm1sp4fjDrD2pLfnfGzBEnDb5Lvdj5A1YK-I9eMlXiTYnK4jgEUBW/s320/flower+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221337499462422258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVoKk-Bcre_tOW-yFI2rZ_654k5MC0dukuGr0G65EcHuj6T3CVymDROfdIgTsEPPUPy9QKlHyOH6AVDTkWZ6AyQ8S4kEPR_UC5CSYt6zBEeaU440dCQzO_us6YMSIRZ0feKbs6rajIZIR/s1600-h/what+is+blues+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVoKk-Bcre_tOW-yFI2rZ_654k5MC0dukuGr0G65EcHuj6T3CVymDROfdIgTsEPPUPy9QKlHyOH6AVDTkWZ6AyQ8S4kEPR_UC5CSYt6zBEeaU440dCQzO_us6YMSIRZ0feKbs6rajIZIR/s320/what+is+blues+sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221337273395257346" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photos: Tim Lee</span></div><br />In October 2006 we considered the Blues. On tables, we had thoughts from people we'd talked to about what they thought of when we said 'blues'. <div><br /></div><div>We had some representations of the times and places Jesus sat for time out, when he seemed to be feeling blue and needing energy renewed. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And of course we had a live band, playing contemporary blues. </div>sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02781555126562933766noreply@blogger.com0