The Pilgrim - June 25, 2017

Heard's Words: Music on Sunday

I've been spending a lot of time at church lately! My recent calendar looks like this:

June 8      Choir practice
June 9      Wilson High School Choral Awards Banquet in Patterson Hall
June 11    Sunday worship and Young People's Concert
June 13    Rehearsal with the soloist for the Fauré concert and rehearsal for the upcoming Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company gala (July 15)
June 14    Full rehearsal with choir, soloists and instrumentalists for the Fauré concert
June 15    Choir practice
June 16    Concert featuring the Fauré Requiem and the St. Claire Mass for Social Justice
June 17    Rehearsal for theatre gala and DAYS Long Beach “Summer in the City” fundraiser
June 18    Sunday worship
June 19    Rehearsal for theatre gala
June 20    Rehearsal for theatre gala
June 21    Worship staff meeting

The common element in all these is, of course, music. Music, as you are well aware, plays a big role in the life of First Church, and I feel extremely fortunate to be one of the people leading this ministry. I am also blessed to have a talented and resourceful group of colleagues to work with: Dr. Marc Dickey - organist, Tracy Halter Balin - bells/youth choir director, Lisa Bode Heard - alto soloist, Carlos Carlos - tenor soloist, Carver Cossey - bass soloist, Megan O’Toole - soprano soloist and co-director of the Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company (LBLTC), Mark Wheeler - the other co-director of LBLTC, and Karen Miller – director of Una Voce. All these folks have job titles, but we work really well as a team, stepping in to support each other and bounce ideas around to keep the music ministry thriving. None of this would mean anything, however, if it weren’t for the dedication of the many volunteers who sing in the choir or ring in the bell choirs. Many of them have been at a lot of extra rehearsals and events lately too!

This Sunday, we will recognize the music department of First Church for the many ways in which it contributes to the life of the church. I personally send my thanks to everyone who participates and who appreciates our music program. Your support is what makes it all possible!

Curtis Heard, Director of Music and Composer-in-Residence

Kindred Spirits This Saturday, 4 PM

Kindred Spirits’ next meeting will be 4 pm on Saturday, June 24 at the home of Steve Crow and John DeCarvalho at 3061 East Second St (near Paloma) in Long Beach. Bring a dish that will feed several people. The last two meetings have had 20 in attendance. For questions or further information please contact Ron Ellwood (310-850-0594; Ronellwood1@gmail.com).

Summer Camp Wish List

The Cranes of August: Vital Symbolic Expression, Not Decoration

Over the past several years, many of us have experienced the hanging of origami cranes in our sanctuary in the month of August. This was first begun in 2009.The Board of Social Justice and Outreach wants to make sure that we never lose sight of the reason and important significance of doing this.

The initial decision to begin doing this stems from the story of 12-year-old Sadako Sasaki (“Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes”). Sadako lived in Hiroshima, Japan, and was only two years old when the U.S. atomic bomb was dropped on the city. The resulting destruction, death, and suffering was completely unconscionable; the likes of which had never been witnessed before. It seemed that Sadako and her family miraculously survived this devastating horror. But when this vibrant, lively, athletic 12-year-old girl fainted while practicing for her school relay race, it was soon discovered that Sadako had been stricken with the greatly feared “bomb disease” which had been taking the lives of countless people ever since the atomic explosion. Of course, this still not well understood “bomb disease” was radiation caused cancer.

While the terribly frightened Sadako was in the hospital, her closest school friend, Chizuko, reminded her of the legend of the Thousand Paper Cranes, which says that anyone who can fold 1,000 paper cranes, is granted a wish. Chizuko told Sadako that she could be healed from the “bomb disease” if she could fold 1,000 paper cranes. Even with all the terrible headaches and pain Sadako endured, she tirelessly folded paper cranes each day in the hospital. It is said that she folded 644 paper cranes before she died October 25, 1955. Her friends and classmates folded 364 more paper cranes, to make a total of 1,000. These cranes were buried with the beloved 12-year-old Sadako. Today there is a statue of Sadako at the Hiroshima Peace Park, with this inscription: “This is our cry, this is our prayer; peace in the world.”

When I look upon the vibrant, lively children who gather in the front of our sanctuary each Sunday morning, I see beautiful children like Sadako. I smile to these fun, free, curious spirits. They, like the children of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the children all across this planet, must be made safe from the catastrophic devastation of nuclear weapons and war of every kind.

So no, friends, the Cranes of August are not simply a decoration. They are a vital symbolic expression - a prayer of remembrance, a prayer of hope, a call to work for a world of peace. We hope you’ll join in creating this expression!

Drop-In Center News

Parish Concerns

Your thoughts and prayers are requested for Jim Snelling; Ivy Bottini; the family of Abraham Cervantes (Ruth Keller's student).

Names on the Parish Concerns lists appear in two consecutive editions of the newsletter. To share a Parish Concern or a Parish Joy, put a note on the board on the Third Street landing or contact Ruth Warkentin in the church office.

Pilgrim and Bulletin Deadline

Online Calendar

Don't miss out! Check the online church calendar for details about all church events. You can use the online calendar to email invitations to friends to church events and to set up emailed reminders to yourself. Just click on any event to see more information.

To place an ad in this newsletter, please contact Ruth Warkentin in the church office.