The Commission on Prison Ministry is sponsoring a day camp for children of prisoners during the summer of 2008. It will be for children ages 9-10 years and limited to 10 children. The small number will maximize individual attention each child receives.
Activities that are being proposed are reading of stories that build self-esteem and address experiences of prisoners’ children, journaling, arts and crafts, games that foster social development, and swimming. Other activities may be added by the committee that we hope to form in January.
A parish has already expressed interest in providing some staff and their facility for the day camp. However, we will need a psychologist to serve as consultant, story readers, counselors, an art and crafts director and a lifeguard. This is a special opportunity for anyone, especially college students to make a difference in the lives of needy and marginalized children. Additionally, they will obtain valuable experience in supervising and counseling children. Anyone who is interested can contact Billie Stockton at billiestockton@insightbb.com or by calling her at 859-583-3530 after 4:00pm weekdays or anytime on weekends.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sermon at Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving in Morehead, Kentucky
Thanksgiving
Morehead Ecumenical Service 2007
Mozart is one of the most celebrated composers of all time. He starting composing little pieces and performing them at age 5, and wrote over 600 works before dying at the young age of 35. The genius of his artistry, the beauty of his work, and its enduring attraction over the two hundred and fifty years since his birth attest that he was a unique talent among us, gifted by God in a way few have been. His music inspires in its otherworldly quality, showing a glimpse of heaven, of God’s own music. I played the French horn in high school, and tried to master his horn quartets. Their beauty, using the horn’s mellow hunting calls, captured my imagination, even if what came out of my instrument was nowhere near what Mozart had in mind. Mozart’s range and depth of feeling in his works show that he was human, while tapping into divine gifts.
That Mozart composed such awesome music in such great quantity without benefit of computers or a workroom of assistants is even more astounding. When we rely so heavily on computers and the internet for everything we do, and call on experts for everything from fixing our roof to learning how to garden, the genius of Mozart just being who he was astounds us.
The overwhelming talent of such an artist, like the greatness of many men and women we revere, gives me pause at this time of Thanksgiving. These great men and women of the past as well as those here in our midst, remind me how God’s mercy works.
Gifts and talents given by God need nothing more than the courage to act on them. But sometimes courage is hard enough.
Mozart had such courage. He was often treated like a servant by the church and the emperor who used his talents in their institutions. Mozart was hailed by the city of Salzburg, but soon fell out of favor with the court, because he would not give over his talent to their whims, or put his talent into the box they thought was appropriate. And Mozart suffered because of his talent. His final years were not ones of ease, but of hardship as he struggled to use his gifts when others would not pay him.
While Mozart’s genius is clear to us today, it is only because Mozart was true to his gifts that we have his works with us. It is only through Mozart’s struggles to compose in the midst of financial troubles that he inspires us with his music.
Many of God’s gifts are like that—they require courage and struggle. As we remember the first Thanksgiving, the ones that the Pilgrims of Plymouth celebrated, we remember their struggles too. Their struggle from religious persecution in England that made them come to the New World. They didn’t agree with the Church of England about some of the methods of worship and had hoped that when King James came to the throne they would be able to incorporate their beliefs into the state church. But that was not to be, and after a few failed attempts, in 1620, they managed to set sail from Southampton to the Plymouth colony.
Their struggle to survive the sea voyage, and their first year in the wilderness, far away from the help of the conveniences they knew, from food supplies and shelter, testified to the courage they had in their own beliefs. In this struggle they had to rely on their only neighbors, the natives Americans, who helped them plant crops and build shelters. The genius of the Pilgrims did not lay in any particular talents, but in the courage of their religious convictions, to cross dangerous water, and brave a new world in the dark winter. Their real genius lay in the humility to accept the help of their neighbors, the people of the Wampanoag nation. It is because of the debt they owed to the natives in helping them to survive, that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated with a feast. In a way they celebrated the manna in the wilderness, brought to them by their neighbors.
When God gives a gift, there is an expectation of responsibility for that gift. Had Mozart not been sure of his gift he maybe would have composed just some minor music, not the wonderful works we know today. Mozart could have been intimated and cowed into working for the authorities. Likewise, the Pilgrims could have compromised their religious beliefs and never led a new nation into freedom of religion. Courage to face God’s gifts is often required before those gifts can bring light into the world.
In the past couple of weeks, the Morehead community has been rocked by the report of the drug use of one of its professors. This is a case of someone who has great gifts of teaching and scholarship and vision. But with these gifts came the responsibility for nurturing the gifts. Some people need help with their gifts, just like the Pilgrims needed the help of the Wampanoag. Just like Mozart needed to keep confident in the musical genius he had. Some people who need help to nurture their gifts and have not received this help, turn to drugs to help them be more confident. Drug use can reduce anxiety and produce feelings of well being, but these feelings are fleeting and the drug must continue to be used to keep the good feelings coming.
There is much drug abuse in Eastern Kentucky, we see it every week in the paper—marijuana, meth labs, cocaine use. Those who turn to drugs are sometimes the smarter ones among us, people who have great gifts, unique and special talents. Many who turn to drugs have seen glimpses of their gifts, but may not have had the nurturing, love and community to bolster them to hold onto their dreams, to see their gifts grow and bring light to the world.
Thanksgiving is a time of seeing the gifts around us, not just the gifts that have been nurtured and so give light that all the world can see, like Mozart’s music or the Pilgrim’s genius of religious freedom. Thanksgiving is also a time to take stock of the gifts that have been wasted due to lack of the love and care that bolsters people’s confidence, makes them know they are God’s beloved and that God has given them great gifts.
Thanksgiving is a time to acknowledge that not all people have had the courage of Mozart or of the Pilgrims, to face their struggles and persevere to bring the special light given to them by God. By noticing these gifts in our community we take part in helping bring light. By helping those whose gifts have been stifled, we help the light of their gift reach us all.
My question tonight as we give thanks for the gifts bestowed by God, is how can we as a communities of faith help to bring light into the world? Where is God calling our faith groups to see the gifts that have been hidden in fear, covered by drug use?
Are there ways we can step out like the Pilgrims and stand up for our faith? How can our congregations help with this one issue of drug use, that has so much potential to free up the gifts of God and bring so much more light into the world?
Drug use is an issue that knows no boundaries of faith, of religion, of color or gender. It affects us all as the community of Morehead. If one goal of all faith groups is to bring light into the world, perhaps helping to reduce drug use and its terrible effects on people, families, schools, and communities is an area of concern that we can agree to work on together.
When Mozart went his own way to compose, light was brought into the world. When the Pilgrims brought the light of their humility into the world, they worshipped in freedom, then Thanksgiving arrived. When light comes into the world, when God’s gifts are allowed to shine through, then we know that the season of Thanksgiving has truly arrived. The season of courage, of faith and of light has entered. Let us give Thanks for all in our midst who have allowed their gifts to shine. Let us work together to help all people see the light of God’s gifts.
Morehead Ecumenical Service 2007
Mozart is one of the most celebrated composers of all time. He starting composing little pieces and performing them at age 5, and wrote over 600 works before dying at the young age of 35. The genius of his artistry, the beauty of his work, and its enduring attraction over the two hundred and fifty years since his birth attest that he was a unique talent among us, gifted by God in a way few have been. His music inspires in its otherworldly quality, showing a glimpse of heaven, of God’s own music. I played the French horn in high school, and tried to master his horn quartets. Their beauty, using the horn’s mellow hunting calls, captured my imagination, even if what came out of my instrument was nowhere near what Mozart had in mind. Mozart’s range and depth of feeling in his works show that he was human, while tapping into divine gifts.
That Mozart composed such awesome music in such great quantity without benefit of computers or a workroom of assistants is even more astounding. When we rely so heavily on computers and the internet for everything we do, and call on experts for everything from fixing our roof to learning how to garden, the genius of Mozart just being who he was astounds us.
The overwhelming talent of such an artist, like the greatness of many men and women we revere, gives me pause at this time of Thanksgiving. These great men and women of the past as well as those here in our midst, remind me how God’s mercy works.
Gifts and talents given by God need nothing more than the courage to act on them. But sometimes courage is hard enough.
Mozart had such courage. He was often treated like a servant by the church and the emperor who used his talents in their institutions. Mozart was hailed by the city of Salzburg, but soon fell out of favor with the court, because he would not give over his talent to their whims, or put his talent into the box they thought was appropriate. And Mozart suffered because of his talent. His final years were not ones of ease, but of hardship as he struggled to use his gifts when others would not pay him.
While Mozart’s genius is clear to us today, it is only because Mozart was true to his gifts that we have his works with us. It is only through Mozart’s struggles to compose in the midst of financial troubles that he inspires us with his music.
Many of God’s gifts are like that—they require courage and struggle. As we remember the first Thanksgiving, the ones that the Pilgrims of Plymouth celebrated, we remember their struggles too. Their struggle from religious persecution in England that made them come to the New World. They didn’t agree with the Church of England about some of the methods of worship and had hoped that when King James came to the throne they would be able to incorporate their beliefs into the state church. But that was not to be, and after a few failed attempts, in 1620, they managed to set sail from Southampton to the Plymouth colony.
Their struggle to survive the sea voyage, and their first year in the wilderness, far away from the help of the conveniences they knew, from food supplies and shelter, testified to the courage they had in their own beliefs. In this struggle they had to rely on their only neighbors, the natives Americans, who helped them plant crops and build shelters. The genius of the Pilgrims did not lay in any particular talents, but in the courage of their religious convictions, to cross dangerous water, and brave a new world in the dark winter. Their real genius lay in the humility to accept the help of their neighbors, the people of the Wampanoag nation. It is because of the debt they owed to the natives in helping them to survive, that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated with a feast. In a way they celebrated the manna in the wilderness, brought to them by their neighbors.
When God gives a gift, there is an expectation of responsibility for that gift. Had Mozart not been sure of his gift he maybe would have composed just some minor music, not the wonderful works we know today. Mozart could have been intimated and cowed into working for the authorities. Likewise, the Pilgrims could have compromised their religious beliefs and never led a new nation into freedom of religion. Courage to face God’s gifts is often required before those gifts can bring light into the world.
In the past couple of weeks, the Morehead community has been rocked by the report of the drug use of one of its professors. This is a case of someone who has great gifts of teaching and scholarship and vision. But with these gifts came the responsibility for nurturing the gifts. Some people need help with their gifts, just like the Pilgrims needed the help of the Wampanoag. Just like Mozart needed to keep confident in the musical genius he had. Some people who need help to nurture their gifts and have not received this help, turn to drugs to help them be more confident. Drug use can reduce anxiety and produce feelings of well being, but these feelings are fleeting and the drug must continue to be used to keep the good feelings coming.
There is much drug abuse in Eastern Kentucky, we see it every week in the paper—marijuana, meth labs, cocaine use. Those who turn to drugs are sometimes the smarter ones among us, people who have great gifts, unique and special talents. Many who turn to drugs have seen glimpses of their gifts, but may not have had the nurturing, love and community to bolster them to hold onto their dreams, to see their gifts grow and bring light to the world.
Thanksgiving is a time of seeing the gifts around us, not just the gifts that have been nurtured and so give light that all the world can see, like Mozart’s music or the Pilgrim’s genius of religious freedom. Thanksgiving is also a time to take stock of the gifts that have been wasted due to lack of the love and care that bolsters people’s confidence, makes them know they are God’s beloved and that God has given them great gifts.
Thanksgiving is a time to acknowledge that not all people have had the courage of Mozart or of the Pilgrims, to face their struggles and persevere to bring the special light given to them by God. By noticing these gifts in our community we take part in helping bring light. By helping those whose gifts have been stifled, we help the light of their gift reach us all.
My question tonight as we give thanks for the gifts bestowed by God, is how can we as a communities of faith help to bring light into the world? Where is God calling our faith groups to see the gifts that have been hidden in fear, covered by drug use?
Are there ways we can step out like the Pilgrims and stand up for our faith? How can our congregations help with this one issue of drug use, that has so much potential to free up the gifts of God and bring so much more light into the world?
Drug use is an issue that knows no boundaries of faith, of religion, of color or gender. It affects us all as the community of Morehead. If one goal of all faith groups is to bring light into the world, perhaps helping to reduce drug use and its terrible effects on people, families, schools, and communities is an area of concern that we can agree to work on together.
When Mozart went his own way to compose, light was brought into the world. When the Pilgrims brought the light of their humility into the world, they worshipped in freedom, then Thanksgiving arrived. When light comes into the world, when God’s gifts are allowed to shine through, then we know that the season of Thanksgiving has truly arrived. The season of courage, of faith and of light has entered. Let us give Thanks for all in our midst who have allowed their gifts to shine. Let us work together to help all people see the light of God’s gifts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
