Hope you have heard about the concert by Sepncer LaJoye on Nov 9th at 7pm at Sherman St. CRC. I hope you will find solidarity and community there. The PR blip reads: Join Sherman Street CRC for an evening of music from Spencer LaJoye! This Calvin University graduate has gone on to become an outspokenly queer, award-winning songwriter. They’ve now been writing and touring their own autobiographical folk/pop music for over a decade, but the virality of their 2021 anthem “Plowshare Prayer” secured them a permanent place in hearts and households across the world, as well as a peculiar career as a veracious songsmith with an unshakeable pastoral presence. Charming and banter-heavy, Spencer’s live performances at theaters, listening rooms, church sanctuaries, backyards, folk festivals, spiritual conferences, and queer clubs keep diverse audiences laughing one moment and weeping the next.
A free will offering will be taken. Suggested donation: $5. Students free.
You are invited to remain afterwards for a Q&A with Spencer.
I don't have anything to add to your beautiful thoughts on hope, joy, and sorrow, but I do have music trivia. haha If you want to learn more about Don't Worry Be Happy and the artist behind it, Switched on Pop did an episode a while back: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6N34YcPbPULxCZV1FAGz2N lol
Jeff, you write such encouraging words to me. Thank you again and again for writing when you are ok. You always give me so much to think about. That song is beautiful. So much beauty around us here in even in the midst of so much ugly and painful. Voices like yours are such a balm to me.
Oh the joy of sorrow. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again, BUT, yep big BUT. It’s going to come around again. My go to head song is from the Nitty Gritty band, “Will the Circle be unbroken.” The first part says: “Will the circle be unbroken. By and by, Lord, by and by. There's a better home a-waiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky.” Amen.
I enjoyed reading this as it is so true! I wonder if only joy in us can see joy outside us. If we think of joy as a feeling, we often are bereft. Yet in all of us, there is a joy that cannot be destroyed. No matter what we do to each other or to ourselves, I don’t think we can destroy at the very deepest level, this essence of joy which does not depend on circumstances. Love gives us the strength to hold the contradictions in ourselves and hopefully in others when we realise that for many of us, fear is the driving force but it is not the only force. I’m meditating on the women as they hurried away from the tomb, they were both afraid and yet filled with joy and ran to tell ….
Jeff, I am not well health wise but well otherwise. Given no choice but to choose my attitude I work at celebrating the good days and enduring the other days. On a good day life exudes possibilities and ideas and on the other days survival and endurance are the priorities. I didn’t ask for it but couldn’t give it away because no one deserves this. And, at least, as a military retiree and disabled veteran I have unbelievable health care with some amazing doctors and a loving caring husband. I am not a hero and I have my moments but my life is pretty good.
That being said I enjoy your writing and affirm what you said about the new speaker. In his comments he characterized some of my beloved children and I’m angered by his bias and lack of love. Poor man to be so afraid. Take heart Jeff. You are loved just as you are. Take a moment and listen to Bobby McFerrins Psalm 23. That would upset the new speaker and a whole bunch like him. I add a link but that’s beyond my abilities. Blessings june
Did you see the full, double rainbow on Saturday morning? It was brilliant and breathtaking! It was a sign from God! “I am here! Great is my faithfulness!” I often start an email with “I hope you are well.” I will rethink that. In my quiet time, when I sit in the shadow of the Almighty, all is well with my soul.
Hello Jeff...I'm new to your post but have felt such a deep connection. I work at a church, and we are preparing for Advent. Our theme this year is, "How does a weary world rejoice?" Several things you wrote connected with this theme and will hopefully inspire me as I write the liturgy for this important season. I do feel sorrow deep in my bones and happiness or even joy feels fleeting, wrapped in momentary situations. I'm also feeling the dread of transitioning seasons. The falling leaves, the cold wind, and the grey skies are signpost of autumn leaving and winter coming, days grow dark, and joy feels fleeting. It's time for me to sit, to live into my reality and be present with the pain. Your words today pointed me in that necessary direction, to not deflect my pain, but see what I can discover in the process. Thank you.
Good morning! Your words do indeed make sense. A friend and I have been coaching one another in the midst of our collective work and family stressors, a la Michelle Obama's definition of 'when others go low, we go high': do your best by others, tell the truth, keep perspective, and do the work. It's been a very helpful lens with which to navigate through these stressful times. Blessings and peace! Ally
The sermons of the garden/nature are vast indeed, and what I turn to often. The delight of bulbs and other perennials popping up in early spring here in Ontario brings me absolute pure undiluted joy every year. It never gets old. The snowdrop alone could indeed be an entire sermon series. Coming back every year, poking through the snow. Always small and humble, easy to miss if you don’t go out wandering to check. Some years strong and lush, some years tiny and battered by the elements, but always there.
Prayers for my daughter, Rev. Jenny Wynn, as she leaves pulpit ministry to become Director of Development at Phillips Seminary in Tulsa this week. She moved into a place yesterday and is trying to get settled with the help of my son. Quite a change from minister at Fitst Christian Scottsdale to non pulpit/church ministry!
Hope you have heard about the concert by Sepncer LaJoye on Nov 9th at 7pm at Sherman St. CRC. I hope you will find solidarity and community there. The PR blip reads: Join Sherman Street CRC for an evening of music from Spencer LaJoye! This Calvin University graduate has gone on to become an outspokenly queer, award-winning songwriter. They’ve now been writing and touring their own autobiographical folk/pop music for over a decade, but the virality of their 2021 anthem “Plowshare Prayer” secured them a permanent place in hearts and households across the world, as well as a peculiar career as a veracious songsmith with an unshakeable pastoral presence. Charming and banter-heavy, Spencer’s live performances at theaters, listening rooms, church sanctuaries, backyards, folk festivals, spiritual conferences, and queer clubs keep diverse audiences laughing one moment and weeping the next.
A free will offering will be taken. Suggested donation: $5. Students free.
You are invited to remain afterwards for a Q&A with Spencer.
Just thank you. Is Fozzie an Irish Jack Russell terrier? Fozzie resembles our dog, who passed away years ago, but still lives in our hearts.
We know very little about Fozzie's backstory. We assume he's mostly Jack Russell, but we've never had him tested.
I don't have anything to add to your beautiful thoughts on hope, joy, and sorrow, but I do have music trivia. haha If you want to learn more about Don't Worry Be Happy and the artist behind it, Switched on Pop did an episode a while back: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6N34YcPbPULxCZV1FAGz2N lol
Jeff, you write such encouraging words to me. Thank you again and again for writing when you are ok. You always give me so much to think about. That song is beautiful. So much beauty around us here in even in the midst of so much ugly and painful. Voices like yours are such a balm to me.
Visit “American Tune” by Paul Simon and performed with him as accompanist to Rhiannon Giddens. Peace, Dwight
Oh the joy of sorrow. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again, BUT, yep big BUT. It’s going to come around again. My go to head song is from the Nitty Gritty band, “Will the Circle be unbroken.” The first part says: “Will the circle be unbroken. By and by, Lord, by and by. There's a better home a-waiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky.” Amen.
I enjoyed reading this as it is so true! I wonder if only joy in us can see joy outside us. If we think of joy as a feeling, we often are bereft. Yet in all of us, there is a joy that cannot be destroyed. No matter what we do to each other or to ourselves, I don’t think we can destroy at the very deepest level, this essence of joy which does not depend on circumstances. Love gives us the strength to hold the contradictions in ourselves and hopefully in others when we realise that for many of us, fear is the driving force but it is not the only force. I’m meditating on the women as they hurried away from the tomb, they were both afraid and yet filled with joy and ran to tell ….
Jeff, I am not well health wise but well otherwise. Given no choice but to choose my attitude I work at celebrating the good days and enduring the other days. On a good day life exudes possibilities and ideas and on the other days survival and endurance are the priorities. I didn’t ask for it but couldn’t give it away because no one deserves this. And, at least, as a military retiree and disabled veteran I have unbelievable health care with some amazing doctors and a loving caring husband. I am not a hero and I have my moments but my life is pretty good.
That being said I enjoy your writing and affirm what you said about the new speaker. In his comments he characterized some of my beloved children and I’m angered by his bias and lack of love. Poor man to be so afraid. Take heart Jeff. You are loved just as you are. Take a moment and listen to Bobby McFerrins Psalm 23. That would upset the new speaker and a whole bunch like him. I add a link but that’s beyond my abilities. Blessings june
Jeff,
Did you see the full, double rainbow on Saturday morning? It was brilliant and breathtaking! It was a sign from God! “I am here! Great is my faithfulness!” I often start an email with “I hope you are well.” I will rethink that. In my quiet time, when I sit in the shadow of the Almighty, all is well with my soul.
Peace be with you!
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwir0aeQtZeCAxV7PEQIHdlqBp0QtwJ6BAgQEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Do9fzWq-d8jU&usg=AOvVaw3Hj_oGYaHkPzMn6gjlypDs&opi=89978449
Thank you, June!
Thank you for sharing so much love.
Hello Jeff...I'm new to your post but have felt such a deep connection. I work at a church, and we are preparing for Advent. Our theme this year is, "How does a weary world rejoice?" Several things you wrote connected with this theme and will hopefully inspire me as I write the liturgy for this important season. I do feel sorrow deep in my bones and happiness or even joy feels fleeting, wrapped in momentary situations. I'm also feeling the dread of transitioning seasons. The falling leaves, the cold wind, and the grey skies are signpost of autumn leaving and winter coming, days grow dark, and joy feels fleeting. It's time for me to sit, to live into my reality and be present with the pain. Your words today pointed me in that necessary direction, to not deflect my pain, but see what I can discover in the process. Thank you.
Good morning! Your words do indeed make sense. A friend and I have been coaching one another in the midst of our collective work and family stressors, a la Michelle Obama's definition of 'when others go low, we go high': do your best by others, tell the truth, keep perspective, and do the work. It's been a very helpful lens with which to navigate through these stressful times. Blessings and peace! Ally
The sermons of the garden/nature are vast indeed, and what I turn to often. The delight of bulbs and other perennials popping up in early spring here in Ontario brings me absolute pure undiluted joy every year. It never gets old. The snowdrop alone could indeed be an entire sermon series. Coming back every year, poking through the snow. Always small and humble, easy to miss if you don’t go out wandering to check. Some years strong and lush, some years tiny and battered by the elements, but always there.
Prayers for my daughter, Rev. Jenny Wynn, as she leaves pulpit ministry to become Director of Development at Phillips Seminary in Tulsa this week. She moved into a place yesterday and is trying to get settled with the help of my son. Quite a change from minister at Fitst Christian Scottsdale to non pulpit/church ministry!
Hello Jeff, as we Quakers say, you speak to my condition. Thank you as always for the care you show us through your writing.