Tuesday, August 28, 2012
There is no incompatibility
I have an entry in my brother blog that includes a note about a wonderful song of inclusion and also a note about the Western Jurisdiction instructing its local churches to ignore the "incompatibility" clause.
A Taizé Service
Rev. Bob Schoenhals sent me this guide about the First Sunday service this weekend.
The Music of Taizé
Services at Taizé and those in the pattern of Taizé, now held all over the world, are characterized by simple melodic chants, sung repeatedly as a form of meditation. The act of singing the words over and over serves to clear and relax the mind and spirit and to focus one’s attention on the presence of God. These are interspersed with scripture reading(s), silence and prayer.
About the Taizé Community
Today, the Taizé Community, centered in Taizé, France, is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations. By its very existence, the community is a “parable of community” that wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.
The brothers of the community live solely by their work. They do not accept donations. In the same way, they do not accept personal inheritances for themselves; the community gives them to the very poor.
Certain brothers live in some of the disadvantaged places in the world, to be witnesses of peace there, alongside people who are suffering. These small groups of brothers, in Asia, Africa and South America, share the living conditions of the people around them. They strive to be a presence of love among the very poor, street children, prisoners, the dying, and those who are wounded by broken relationships, or who have been abandoned.
Over the years, young adults, both men and women, have been coming to Taizé in ever greater numbers; they come from every continent to take part in weekly meetings and the simple services, drawn by their hunger for deeper experiences of the spirit.
Church leaders also come to Taizé. The community has thus welcomed Pope John Paul II, four Archbishops of Canterbury, Orthodox metropolitans, the fourteen Lutheran bishops of Sweden, and countless pastors and pilgrims from all over the world.
The Music of Taizé
Services at Taizé and those in the pattern of Taizé, now held all over the world, are characterized by simple melodic chants, sung repeatedly as a form of meditation. The act of singing the words over and over serves to clear and relax the mind and spirit and to focus one’s attention on the presence of God. These are interspersed with scripture reading(s), silence and prayer.
About the Taizé Community
Today, the Taizé Community, centered in Taizé, France, is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, coming from around thirty nations. By its very existence, the community is a “parable of community” that wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples.
The brothers of the community live solely by their work. They do not accept donations. In the same way, they do not accept personal inheritances for themselves; the community gives them to the very poor.
Certain brothers live in some of the disadvantaged places in the world, to be witnesses of peace there, alongside people who are suffering. These small groups of brothers, in Asia, Africa and South America, share the living conditions of the people around them. They strive to be a presence of love among the very poor, street children, prisoners, the dying, and those who are wounded by broken relationships, or who have been abandoned.
Over the years, young adults, both men and women, have been coming to Taizé in ever greater numbers; they come from every continent to take part in weekly meetings and the simple services, drawn by their hunger for deeper experiences of the spirit.
Church leaders also come to Taizé. The community has thus welcomed Pope John Paul II, four Archbishops of Canterbury, Orthodox metropolitans, the fourteen Lutheran bishops of Sweden, and countless pastors and pilgrims from all over the world.
First Sunday in September
The First Sunday Service will be on September 2. It will be a Taize Service led by Rev. Bob Schoenhals and George Jonte. Fellowship time with refreshments will begin at 6:00 with the service at 6:30.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
First Sunday for July 1
First Sunday @ Nardin Park UMC, 29887 W 11 Mile Rd, Farmington, MI: July 1, 2012 @ 6:30 p.m. will wlecome George Jonte to the pulpit as he brings the message, "The Myth of Holy Conferencing". Using passages from the book of Ezekiel and Second Corinthians, he will weave a message of how the term holy conferencing has evolved and moved away from the original concept of John Wesley.
Eric and Karen Roth will provide music and Doris Hildebrand and members of the Nardin Park Church & Society committee will provide hospitality. Communion will be observed during the service. Join us at 6:00 for fellowship and then the service at 6:30 p.m.
George Jonte is a certified lay speaker in the Detroit Annual Conference and serves two churches in our conference: Minister of Music @ Berkley First UMC and Coordinator of LGBT Advocacy and Ministry at Detroit Central UMC.
Eric and Karen Roth will provide music and Doris Hildebrand and members of the Nardin Park Church & Society committee will provide hospitality. Communion will be observed during the service. Join us at 6:00 for fellowship and then the service at 6:30 p.m.
George Jonte is a certified lay speaker in the Detroit Annual Conference and serves two churches in our conference: Minister of Music @ Berkley First UMC and Coordinator of LGBT Advocacy and Ministry at Detroit Central UMC.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Reconciling Ministries Network Convo
The date and location of the 2013 has been announced. It will be over Labor Day weekend, August 30 to September 2, 2013 at the 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. That's outside Washington DC.
Monday, June 4, 2012
My General Conference Report
I gave my General Conference report at my church yesterday. I talked about my work in the Common Witness Coalition and the failure of the attempt to remove the incompatibility clause. Instead of posting it to either of my blogs I put it on my personal website as one of my Stewardship Moments. You can find my GC report here and from there you can explore my other Stewardship messages and even my music.
Friday, May 25, 2012
First Sunday Worship on June 3
Rev. Bob Roth of First UMC Ann Arbor will be the speaker. His church has already become a Reconciling Congregation so his message is one to eagerly anticipate. As always, Refreshments at 6:00 and service at 6:30.
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