Tim Woodcock writes: In these strange times, under the shadow of Covid-19, our economy is temporarily stripped down to the basics. The shopping malls are empty but the parks are full. Our workplaces, schools, and community organizations are migrating into our homes. Everything feels off-kilter. Churches worldwide are asking themselves how can they operate in the absence of regular services and the use of a physical building. This blog is an attempt to make an online space in which the Second Pres. community can stay connected and can offer each other spiritual sustenance and encouragement. I'd like to invite people to share their spiritual insights related to the pandemic experience: spiritual revelations, great and small; new appreciations and evolving understandings; reflections on what you've been reading and watching recently; hopes for the future. If you have an idea of something you'd like to write about, please drop me a line at timwoodcock [AT] speedpost.net . ...
During National Poetry Month, as a church community we are beginning to a collect and highlight a series of poems that are especially meaningful to us. Mike Willock would like to shine the spotlight on this poem by Lucille Clifton. Mike Willock writes: I learned about this poem from a Stephen Colbert interview with Elizabeth Alexander on April 7. Elizabeth composed “Praise Song for the Day” for President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Here’s the poem: at the cemetery, walnut grove plantation, south carolina, 1989 by Lucille Clifton among the rocks at walnut grove your silence drumming in my bones, tell me your names. nobody mentioned slaves and yet the curious tools shine with your fingerprints. nobody mentioned slaves but somebody did this work who had no guide, no stone, who moulders under rock. tell me your names, tell me your bashful names and I will testify. the inventory lists ten slaves but only men were recognized . among the rocks at walnut grove some of these honored de...
Some more on emerging ways of making music Nancy Quigley came across this beautiful contemporary piece of classical music, which she recommends: Sphinx Virtuosi - Elegy: In memoriam - Stephen Lawrence. The title of the piece of music refers to Stephen Lawrence, an 18-year-old Black Briton, who was murdered in 1993 in an unprovoked and racially motivated attack. Despite the frustration of church choirs not being able to perform together in real time, due to Covid-19, the phenomena of Zoom choirs has led to the creation of some interesting ad-hoc choirs, striking in the diversity (and in some cases ecumenism) that they display. Take a look at these examples from Ireland , Zimbabwe and Australia . And finally, this interview with composer Eric Whitacre gives some insights into the logistical and technical aspects of creating a virtual choir. As the piece makes clear, the idea of a virtual choir has been feasible for at least 10 years but it is ...
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