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Summer Pilgrimages
When I decided to write this article about summer vacations, my initial thought was to talk about them in terms of refuge. Many of us have that one place we retreat to in the summer whether it is the beach, the mountains, or even that aunt’s house with the great porch just down the road. In the Gospels, we constantly see Jesus seeking some alone time in the midst of his ministry of preaching, healing and eating with sinners. On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus is inundated with people seeking his wisdom, or attempting to catch him in some heresy, and every once and while, Jesus seems to try to get away and goes off into the wilderness alone. This rarely results in the rest and relaxation he may have been expecting, because the crowd faithfully follows him. It is natural and even a good and holy thing to seek refuge in those special places away from the busyness of our normal routines, but the more I think about the summer trips we have planned they look more like pilgrimages than places of refuge.
Blessings,
Nick
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Patriotic Hymns
I find it ironic that three of our patriotic hymns—-and there are only six in our hymnal, are firmly bound in the culture of England, with whom we struggled to gain our independence. Indeed two of the hymns are sung to the same music as England’s “national anthem”—God Save the Queen (or King).
The first patriotic hymn in our hymnal is hymn 716—God bless our native land. The tune is God Save the Queen, but the tune has been renamed “America” in this country. The tune has been used to honor the monarch for over 200 years and was first adapted as a hymn by the Methodists in 1761 and first appeared in the hymnal in 1874. The inspiration for the text was taken from a German patriotic hymn written in 1815.
Gott segne Saxonland—-God bless Saxony.
Wo fest die Treue stand in Storm und Nacht
--which stands true and fast in storm and night.
Now compare that to our hymn 716:
God bless our native land , firm may she ever standThrough storm and night.
When the wild tempests rave, ruler of wind and wave,
Do thou our country save, by thy great might.
Hymn 717—My country ‘‘tis of thee, is also sung to this same tune “America”. And the same German text—Gott segne Sachsenland was also this inspiration for the text of this patriotic hymn. This version of America was written by Francis Smith, a Baptist minister. It was first used at Boston’s Park Street Congregational Church on July 4, 1831, for an Independence Day celebration. It first appeared in an Episcopal hymnal in 1892.
The third patriotic hymn in our hymnal is 720, our national anthem. The Star Spangled Banner, as we know it, was originally an English melody composed for a gentlemen’s singing fraternity in London and was entitled “To Anacreon in Heaven”. Even though we were bitter enemies and fought bitter battles, we shared a common heritage. The war is long over, the bitterness gone, but the shared music from that time remains with us.
Lynn GardnerOrganist/Choirmaster
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Save the Date!Summer Picnic andSunday School Kick-Off
On the afternoon of September 8, we will come together at the Smith River Sports Comples for our annual picnic and recognition of the beginning of our Sunday School year. Join us to canoe or kayak down the river and/or for a delicious picnic and some fun fellowship. Details will be forthcoming.
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Save a Tree!
Consider using the Book of Common Prayer and Hymnal that are in the pew rack. You will receive a button stating your preference and a one page bulletin that contains the daily readings and important annoucements. The more extensive bulletins have been a welcome addition, especially for newcomers.
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Public Theology is gathering on July 10! “Go into all the world and preach the gospel,” Jesus instructed followers before ascending to Heaven. Public Theology welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Fr. Nick Hull is in partnership with Rev. Kameron Wilds, pastor of Smith Memorial United Methodist Church to offer a variety of topics for discussion. The meetings are from 6-8P at Mountain Valley Brewing, located at 4230 Mountain Valley Road in Axton.
Outreach services are held each month at Blue Ridge Nursing Home. On a specified Tuesday of every month we go to the behavioral unit at 10:00 am and the memory care unit at 11:00 am at the Blue Ridge nursing home. Around forty people come to the service from all different backgrounds, and we joyfully pray, worship and sing with them! It is a privilege to worship with the people at Blue Ridge, and to share our faith with each other. Come join us for this unique service!
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Our community meal offering, Loaves & Fishes, will be held on Wednesday, July 31 from 5:30-6:15P under the leadership of David Cole. Volunteer to bring desserts, various kinds of fruit, and to help serve and clean-up. The acoustic group plays and sings during this time, come make a joyful noise!
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Check the monthly Calendar for allServices and Programs during July.
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