Singing as Worship

Humpback whale song on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UOkcvGPHsgk"All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name. Selah" (Psalm 66:4, NRSV). "Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps" (Psalm 8:8, The Message Bible). "Music [is] the greatest art and science to attract the attention of mankind since the advent of the human family into the world. God himself, in the beginning, set all things to music, even before man was made, and it has continued from…

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Gifted

We’re coming into the time of the year when thoughts turn to gifts. Many of us will have Thanksgiving dinner at the home of a family member or friend. We may bring food to share with others. Sometimes we also bring a gift for the host and/or hostess. It could be flowers or little delicacies or a bottle of wine – something a bit special to express gratitude. Of course, the big gift-giving extravaganza will be coming in about six weeks. Some may…

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Fluttering of Paper Wings

This past week I was in Washington, DC, where we had lived for over 31 years. I visited friends, attended a lovely retirement party for my former boss, and drove through the old neighborhood. The one thing I did not do was go downtown to the National Gallery of Art (NGA), or more precisely, its East Building. Ever since that building was built in the 1970’s, whenever I was in DC on business or pleasure, I had to stand in the East Wing…

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On Lent and Hope

I love the church year, the changing seasons and colors. Whatever else happens in the world, the church year goes forward. It is not like the chronological calendar year that starts on a number and moves to another number at the end. The cycle of the church year revolves, with hints of the next season, the next experience always ahead. The colors change, the paraments change, the fabric and shapes of the banners, the flowers or the not-flowers at the altar. Some days…

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