Singing about peace...

I have been teaching music to the three kindergarten classes at Berkeley Art Magnet School in Berkeley for the past few months. The teachers and principle say they really value what I am doing with the kids. This is great. I love being able to serve the children of our neighborhood. I thought you might like to see my latest posting on my "Little Bird Music for Kids" blog. I am amazed at all countries represented by people accessing my kid music blog.

Reporting from my small place on the corner of Virgina and Milvia in Berkeley.

I have been playing this old negro spiritual for as long as I have been playing music with kids. It is an upbeat song with lots of great hand motions. I like the positive affirmation that we get to sing of having "peace like a river", "joy like a fountain", "and love like an ocean... in my heart".

I have changed the words from soul to heart when I sing this song with school kids. When using hand motions it makes more sense to say heart and touch your heart with both hands than to try and explain what a soul is to kids (like I know).

You can listen to me and my 7 year old granddaughter singing the song on this player. (My granddaughter has been singing "backup" in a kids country band which might account for the "twang" that she insist on adding to all my songs.)

Peace River.mp3



I've Got Peace Like A River
I just play a simple G C D progression

Verse 1:
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my heart
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river
I've got peace like a river in my heart

Verse 2:
I've got joy like a fountain
I've got joy like a fountain
I've got joy like a fountain in my heart (x2)

Verse 3:
I've got love like an ocean
I've got love like an ocean
I've got love like an ocean in my heart (x2)

After singing each verse we combined all the verses (peace like a river, joy like a fountain, love like an ocean in my heart). This requires the kids to follow directions and listen more closely. Often we end the song like this... I've got peace, joy, love, like a river, fountain, ocean... starting very slowly and finishing singing very fast. Makes for some grand silliness.

Here are the hand motions...
peace = make the 2 finger peace sign
river = dance fingers along in from of you like running river water
joy = use fingers to make a smile on your face
fountain = smash hands together and lift to the sky like splashing water
love = hug yourself
ocean = churn hands make a breaking wave motion
heart = bring both hands to your heart

A note about authorship.
Most everyone list this song as traditional negro spiritual but I have found a couple of references to the song being written by Mosie Lister. If Mr. Lister did write the song here is the copy write information.

©1970 Mosie Lister Songs (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
CCLI song #3247635

sunday reflections: a widow, seven dead husbands, angels, the bush story and my friend beva

I DID IT!!!
I guess I should not get so excited about being able to record my sermon on Sunday, but I am. After all those years of sermon tapes (I just tossed out a few hundred old tapes) I am now putting digitally recorded sermons on my blog. This means... first that I will never have to throw out a sermon tape again =] and that anyone, anytime, anywhere (they have an Internet connection) can listen to what I am saying to my people on Sunday mornings. I think that is very cool...

This week I shared my thoughts (and findings) about the story of some Sadducees (high minded, well healed Jewish leaders) who are trying to sidetrack Jesus from a very successful entrance into Jerusalem earlier in the week (Luke 20:27-38). Most of the sermon reflects on why I think Jesus shakes his head at the question from the sadducees thinking what "sad-duc-ees" they are. I also shared a story about my wonderful friend who is teaching me about what Jesus means when he says; "in God, they are all alive!"

Enjoy!


To download the message just click on this LINK . It is in "MP3" format.

sunday reflections: thoughts about sycamore wood pews

I ended my thoughts to the congregation on Sunday with a proposal.

What if we replace our pews with sycamore trees? You know, the trees made famous in the story of Jesus and the vertically challenged Zacchaeus. (I even shared my "wishful thinking" that possibly our pews were made of the wood of this holy, unpredictable, in cahoots with Jesus, tree.)

I know this seem like a radical idea but think about it...

a sycamore orchard in our church would have many advantages.

It certainly would give our church some attention. It is one thing to tell people we are a multicultural church. When I share with folks about our church they find it interesting but their interest seldom gets them to church for a visit. Telling them we have planted a sycamore orchard in our sanctuary - now that would be an irresistible "come and see." I guess usher duties would include tree trimming and some cultivation training.

Another plus - I understand that the sycamore tree that Zuccheaus climbed produced a fig like fruit. This could be a great fund raiser for the youth. They could set up a stand at the farmers market selling "sanctified sycamore figs." It might also encourage a switch from grape to fig juice. Fresh fig juice must be good for you. One of the drawbacks is the fact that only this one kind of little wasp can fertilize the fruit of the tree but I can see another youth fund raiser coming on... insect repellent?

I could see there would be more advantages. With all that extra oxygen trees produce it would be much easier for people to say awake during sermons and we would not have to drive anywhere to have a church picnic.

Now, understanding how the church works, there will have to be committees formed to deal with new issues posed by our unique sanctuary furnishings. There would mostly likely be a "tree cushion fund" committee formed and of course a liturgical decoration committee that will have to figure out how to decorate our trees for the Advent season (ornaments? lights? fake snow?). We will also have to figure out ways to receive the offering with folks sitting in trees (long handles attached to the collection plates? a sophisticated pulley system? paper airplanes?)

Now this is all very interesting to me but let me get back to why I made my proposal.

It seemed to me that the reason Jesus called out to Zacchaeus was because he was so ready for Him. Here's Zacchaeus, robe pulled up to his knees, dropping all pretensions, up in the trees with the children of the village, hanging over the road, waiting for Jesus.

I don't think he had any idea where this would lead but it he was ready. When Jesus does call to him he about falls out of the tree and after breaking bread with Jesus in his home he enters a new place in his life.

That day Zacchaeus was welcomed at the table of the family of God (a child of Abraham) and he moved from the Kingdom of Disproportion (Walter Brueggermann's description of our unjust, commercial driven, anxiety filled world) to the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ. He transfers his dependence on the power of money for the loving embrace of God's grace.

That salvation came to Zacchaeus' house that day was not only good news for his family but good news for the whole village. What with 1/2 of the richest man in town's money being fed into the social welfare system all those poor kids would now have proper health care. That would be good news in any land.

I have an active imagination. Before I made my proposal of an orchard in the sanctuary I could already see my people perched on their sycamore branches, waiting for Jesus' call, anticipating where God would lead them next. It made my words more important. You are careful of what you say when you think people are listening.

It seems to me that this is the way we should be coming to church. The church pews should be a dangerous place where we have put ourselves within ear shot, within sight, of Jesus' words that shake the world and shake our lives. We should be sitting on the edge of our pews, like sycamore branches we have climbed, teetering on every word Jesus says, and we should be ready to climb down from the pew when called that we might enter into the good work God is doing in the world.

reporting from my small sycamore branch in the world

32nd Annual Lessons and Carols at SFTS

Myrna and I have attended Lessons and Carols at SFTS many times. It is a wonderful way to start our reflections during Advent. We are planning on going on Sunday, December 2. If others would like to join us we might be able to go up early getting to see the campus and have dinner together. Let me know if you are interested.

32nd Annual Lessons and Carols at SFTS: "San Francisco Theological Seminary will once again host its Advent/Christmas service Dec. 1-2 at 7 pm. The theme for this year's candlelight service is 'Illumination' taken from Isaiah 60:19. Will feature readings from scripture and special music, with each 'lesson' concluding with congregational singing of carols. Reception outside on the Geneval Terrace will follow. Free. Arrive early for good seating."

sunday reflections: "out of memory"

darn modern technology. I have been trying to record my sermons lately for a number of reasons.

One, I am taking a Dr. of Ministry Class in January and I have to present a couple of recent sermons for class examination - Ugh :( have not done that in awhile.

Two, It is good for me to listen to past sermons. I am not saying it is always fun but it is good to hear what comes out of my mouth after all that planning and work. I have a tendency to throw in more than I sometimes intended in my notes. Recording sermons (and knowing I will have to listen to them later) has had a positive effect on the quality of the sermons (in my partner's estimation as well as my own).

Three, I hope these recorded sermons are helpful for those who miss a Sunday or want to "review" and see if I really said what they thought I said.

Anyway... with all good intentions I was not able to record the sermon this past Sunday. When I went to push the record button on my little digital recorder I got the message "out of memory." This was not good news for a pastor just standing up to preach his "without notes" sermon. It was such a relief when I realize that the memory issue was the recorder's and not mime that not being able to record the sermon seemed a very small problem.

Anyway... I have taken care of the memory problem and have great hopes of recording next week's sermon.

not recording from my small place in the world