Symphony
Symphony
I recall first understanding the visceral power of music as a little kid.
My parents would occasionally buy these inexpensive Time/Life LPs at of all places the grocery store, the “greatest hits” from composers like Gershwin, Bernstein, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart. They were all beautiful, but my favorite by far was Copeland’s Greatest Hits. I was particularly moved by one instrumental moment in Appalachian Spring…the already passionate music quickening and swelling to the point that I would just be overcome by the beauty of it. Every. Single. Time. Sometimes I’d listen—through my ginormous headphones (it was the 60s)—to that one brief passage over and over and over again, the accelerando and crescendo expressing something for which words don’t do the trick. It’s something you have to feel.
Another advantage of having spent hundreds of hours wearing out those albums is that I learned—again, by feel—the power of symphonic form to craft a story.
The readings from Romans over the past several weeks strike me as a kind of theological “symphony”. If you know anything about symphonic form, you know that in order to truly grasp a particular movement, it’s essential to hear it in the context of the entire masterpiece. In a similar way, the fourth movement of this “symphony”—this week’s Epistle reading from Romans 6—only makes sense if you hear it in the context of the entire masterpiece, particularly the dramatic, if not overwhelming crescendo of grace that precedes it.
I look forward to playing it for you Sunday.
Steve+
Promoting the Gospel
Redeemer’s Shared Vision is “To proclaim and promote the Gospel; giving ever more time, talent, and treasure to seeking the flourishing of our neighbors.” Proclaiming is like what we do when we gather for worship or share the gospel with someone. Promoting are those things we do to make the gospel plausible to our neighbors. Here are some ways you can help promote the gospel in our community this summer:
Some Upcoming Events
Saturday, July 15—Bowie Baysox Baseball and Fireworks
Sunday, July 30—Fifth Sunday Potluck
Sunday, August 27—Worship, Blessing of Students and Educators, and Picnic on the Bay
Saturday, September 9—Bowie Baysox Baseball and Fireworks
Sunday, September 10—Adult Confirmation Class begins (six weeks)
Sunday, October 22—Bishop Julian Episcopal Visitation
Picture credit: Larisa Birta on Unsplash