On Sunday, March 21, we are scheduled to have our annual Spring Concert/Service. This year’s theme is called, “The Will to Go On” or, in a word, endurance. One of the songs which the Children’s Choir will offer is called “Storm or Rain?” What a peculiar title. What’s this about? The song is based on […]
by Rev. Ed Thompson - Minister of Music
A Minister’s Message – Two Hymns, Same Melody – January 19, 2021
In our much-loved hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition, I couldn’t help but notice that the tune for #211, “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder,” is the same for #212, “We Are Dancing Sarah’s Circle.” Mistake? Not at all. Here we have the concept of the masculine and feminine having equal representation. So, what are those differences? […]
by Rev. Ed Thompson - Minister of Music
A Minister’s Message – Why Give Thanks? – November 24, 2020
The more that we humans increase our awareness, the more that we need to make adjustments in the way we live and interact. At this time, I am thinking about Thanksgiving. The picture of the so-called first Thanksgiving, I am now aware, was a small pixel taken out of a very large picture. I don’t […]
by Rev. Ed Thompson - Minister of Music
A Minister’s Message – From Innocence to Knowledge – October 6, 2020
The well-known theologian, educator, author, minister and civil rights leader Howard Thurman had a lot to say on many subjects. He authored over a dozen books. Among other things, as an African-American minister, he was the founder of the first interracial interfaith congregation in the United States. He knew well that progress does not happen […]
by Rev. Ed Thompson - Minister of Music
A Minister’s Message – Nightly Liberation – April 21, 2020
According to my calculations, we are finishing week 5 of the isolation/lock-down. At some point last week things began to feel different for me. What I had thought of as a temporary deviation was now a lifestyle change or a new normal. It almost feels like my former life has been hijacked by the virus. […]
by Rev. Ed Thompson - Minister of Music
A Minister’s Message – Dancing Stars – April 7, 2020
One of the “benefits” of this Corona time is that I am able to catch up on some reading. One of the passages that I recently came across is from Friedrich Nietzsche: “One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” That caused me to start thinking […]
by Rev. Ed Thompson - Minister of Music
A Minister’s Message – The Garment of Legend – December 31, 2019
Several years ago Carl Seaburg collected readings, poems and reflections about this holiday season from countless people. He then edited them and published them in a volume called Celebrating Christmas. It is a rich resource. One of those items is by Edward Erickson and, in part, goes: “We stand with eyes toward the east, awaiting […]
by Rev. Ed Thompson - Minister of Music
A Minister’s Message – Resiliency – October 8, 2019
OK. It is now Thursday afternoon. About an hour ago I discovered that AOL had just ‘lost’ 800 emails. This is a problem. I need some of those to do my work. What to do? Remind myself that anger will do me no good Remind myself to change email vendors Remind myself that it is […]