Endowed by their Creator - 16 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 310

Micah 6:8
Genesis 1:26-31
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?
 

With all the talk about armed protests in the several State capitals, I was - at first - gladdened to hear the Michigan State Police spokesman say that Lansing is open to anyone who wants to protest peacefully. He went on to say that the First Amendment gives us the right to assemble and protest.
That's where I went from gladdened to saddened (or maddened?). The first amendment does no such thing. The whole concept of the founding of this nation is that we all have unalienable rights granted by our Creator. The Constitution grants no rights - it simply acknowledges that the people already have these rights and that the government has no power to abridge, abrogate, or nullify them.
We need to be very careful about the language used around our rights. The Constitution is not the source of our rights, nor does it specify all of them. In fact the only area in which it attempts to be comprehensive is in the limited powers of the government. Anything not specifically listed as a power or responsibility of the federal government is acknowledged as belonging to the people or to the several States.

Don't be fooled.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

A Bard for Our Times - 15 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 309

Micah 6:8
Jeremiah 8:18-22
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

I guess I'm still on my French literature jag today. Yesterday was the master of tragedy, Racine. Today we move to comedies - farce, in fact! - and Molière.

Today, 15 January 2021, is Molière's 399th birthday. One supposes there will be widespread celebrations next year for his 400th - who knows? maybe even live performances of his plays? stranger things have happened!

Still, looking at a list of his major works, I was struck by how shockingly appropriate so many of them are to today's society, situation, and political environment. I have picked a few (in chronological order) to give you a sense of what I mean:
Le Médecin volant (1645) "The flying doctor"
Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur (1664) "Tartuffe, or the imposter"
L'Amour médecin (1665) "Love is the doctor"
Le Médecin malgré lui (1666) "Doctor in spite of himself"
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (1670) "The bourgeois gentleman"
Le Malade imaginaire (1673) "The imaginary invalid" or "The hypochondriac"

Even if you don't read French, go find a translation and enjoy. These really are splendid plays. They're basically on the same level as Shakespeare's comedies (much as Racine's tragedies are in the same range as the Bard's).
Enjoy! (and you're welcome)

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Not Mel Tormé - 14 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 308

Micah 6:8
Genesis 2:5-9
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

I've been thinking about tragedy lately. Greek tragedy and its descendants, generally. A lot of my literary background comes from studying French in high school, using the spectacular two-volume Survey of French literature by Morris Bishop. (In fact, I managed to track down a used copy in the past few years, and I'm a bit impressed with myself that I'm still able to read much of that, lo these many years later.)
At any rate, one of the classic tragedies was about Hippolytus and Phaedra which was given a reboot by Jean Racine in 1677.
I've been a frequent critic of the current spate of reboots, citing them as evidence that there are no new ideas in Hollywood, and it looks as though there are no new ideas, even when it comes to recycling others' ideas!
At any rate, not only did Hippolytus and Phaedra get recast into Phèdre and Hippolyte by Racine, there's a later and even more outré version from the 20th century. More bizarre, certainly, but no less tragic and moving.
Enjoy!


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Hard Times Come Again No More - 13 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 307

Micah 6:8
Psalm 96
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is Stephen Foster Memorial Day, celebrating the composer of such classics as "Oh! Susanna,"  "Camptown Races," "Old Folks at Home" (also known as "Swanee River"), "Hard Times Come Again No More," "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," "Beautiful Dreamer," and countless other classics.

This celebration reminds me of the time that an Indian guru was touring the US - I  believe it was in th early 1970s - and when he came to Cleveland, he encountered a bit of a heckler on his walk through the downtown area. He did manage to keep his equanimity, at least generally, but the local was relentless, trying to get a rise out of the visiting holy man with insults at first, but then turning to jokes and teasing.
Finally the local security team had had enough (probably they saw the guru beginning to be upset). The head of the team radioed to the guard closest to the heckler, saying, "Johnson, weigh down upon the swami ribber."

I'm pretty sure that's a true story, and the order is recorded verbatim. You're welcome.

On 13 January 1913 The New York Times published an editorial belittling researcher Robert Goddard for saying rockets would be able to fly in space. This anniversary comes the day after Cadillac previewed flying cars at the virtual CES. In spite of the way that editorial has aged, I'm tempted to say it won't happen, but I'm also nearly required to state that I want my flying car!

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

What's in a name? - 12 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 306

Micah 6:8
Revelation 2:17
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

This staying apart is really wearing on me - especially the fact that we can't get together and sing as a choir or a congregation. This need to make music was brought home even more forcefully when I realized that on 12 January 1969 Led Zeppelin released their debut album. The album was imaginatively named “Led Zeppelin.”
Well, when we're allowed to be together, I'm forming a band called Eponymous. Our first album will be "Self-Titled." Take that, Zeppelin!

I also understand that today is Tim Horton's birthday as well as National Glazed Donut Day - what a fortuitous confluence of calendrical events! (Did you know that the first Tim Hortons donut shop was in Hamilton, Ontario, where you'll also now find Tim Hortons Field, home to the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats? Now you do!)

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Happy Landings - 11 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 305

Micah 6:8
Isaiah 40:28-31
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today marks the 86th anniversary of Amelia Earhart's solo flight from Hawaii to California. She wasn't just the first woman to make that flight - she was the first flyer to do it at all. No wonder she was the first lady of the air!

To celebrate, perhaps we should have a nice bowl of poke for dinner, or maybe a pizza with SPAM and pineapple. At least that's not controversial.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 10 January 2021 - Plague Journal Day 304

Micah 6:8
Acts 19:1-7
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

 

 

This Sunday we celebrate the baptism of the Lord.

With the current spike in COVID cases in Grosse Pointe, we've paused our in-person worship, probably for the rest of the year. We will only be streaming our services on YouTube until further notice, so please join us online.

Speaking of joining us online, we're back to having a small worship team in the Sanctuary to stream a live worship service again. In addition to the bell choir at the offertory time,Doug will be back at the organ for opening and closing voluntaries based on familiar hymns.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.