LOGO angelican
November  2013  
Vol 6 Issue 13

Labyrinth


Practicing Month to Month
 

Dear friends,

 

This month we continue our series on the spiritual practice of music.  I am thrilled that Emma, one of the younger members of St. Laurence, has written the thought provoking reflection below on how music shapes her spirituality.  As I read her article two things came to mind, 1.  A favourite hymn that we frequently sing, "Draw the Circle Wide" and a vision of the heavenly Jerusalem from the Book of Revelation,

 

            Look, here God lives among human beings.  He will make his home among them;

            they will be his people, and he will be their God, God-with-them.  He will wipe

            away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning

            or sadness or pain.

 

Thank you Emma for prompting us to think deeply about the persuasive power of music.   

Dates and times for events at the church in November are in the side column.  Please take special note of November 17th.  Anna will be back from sabbatical and Bishop Gregory will be with us - a special day indeed.

 

 Blessings,

 

Carolyn Herold

 


Emma Severson-Baker on music as a Spiritual Practice

Music is one of the only ways I connect with God. I don't hear Him/Her in words, no matter how elegant or blunt they are. I hear the holy spirit in the notes of a song as it flows through my veins. This is my spirituality. The same is true for many of my friends. We don't talk to God in a church surrounded by 40+ year-olds, we sing to Her/Him in the music we play as we dance in our rooms.

 

A song by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis called "Same Love" was put out a few months ago and has become a huge hit. It's about acceptance for same-sex relationships. I think it's important that there are songs about things like this. All the kids my age that I know listen to hit music on the radio and have a chance to think about whether they agree or disagree with the lyrics in the songs. And while there are some songs that have demeaning lyrics, "Same Love" has a strong and caring message.

 

In this song one of my favorite lines is "America the brave still fears what we don't know". I interpret this lyric to mean that because some people don't understand same-sex relationships, they fear them, and fear can all too quickly turn to hate. Because of fear not enough people stand up against bullies and haters. As we know a lot of people still fear homosexuality. But as some important verses in Mackelmore's song remind us, "It's human rights for everyone, there is no difference!" and "Strip away the fear, underneath it's all the same love."

 

In this song I feel the connection to things beyond even the face value of these words. I feel the spiritual message being sung in a heartfelt fashion. In fact the singer talks about his growing up in a church that preached hurtful righteousness, and excluded homosexuals. He says "If you preach hate at the service those words aren't anointed, that holy water that you soak in has been poisoned!"

 

I want my church to be a church of love.  I think the Anglican Church should bless same-sex marriages. I think it's awful that we don't already. I believe that when anyone feels love it is a reflection of God's love. Whenever love grows between two people, any two people, they are experiencing God's love.

 

As the song "Same Love" teaches us, there is no righteousness in denying love between any couple. Millions of people have now heard this song, and it has challenged them to think, to speak up, to change. It challenges them to carry a message of love. This is why music is so spiritually important.

 

If you want to hear the song and see the music video you can find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November at St. Laurence

Sunday, November 3

10 am  Service. The Rev. Don McLeod to preach and preside. 

 

Tuesday, November 5

Living the Question 2.0. Afternoon session 1:30-3:30 pm. Evening session 7:30-9:00 pm.

  

Thursday, November 7

9:30 am Contemplative Prayer Service

 

Sunday, November 10

10 am Remembrance Day Service. The Ven. J. Barry Foster to preach and preside.

 

Tuesday, November 12

Living the Question 2.0. Afternoon session 1:30-3:30 pm. Evening session 7:30-9:00 pm 

 

Wednesday, November 13

7:30 p.m  Parish Council Meeting. Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson attending.

 

Sunday, November 17

10:00 am Baptismal Service. Bishop Greg Kerr-Wilson to preside and preach. Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee returning from Sabbath Rest.

 

Tuesday, November 19

Living the Question 2.0. Afternoon session 1:30-3:30 pm. Evening session 7:30-9:00 pm  

 

Thursday, November 21

9:30 am Contemplative Prayer Service

 

Sunday, November 24

 10:00 am Service. Rev. Anna Greenwood-Lee to preside and preach.