In a local restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference--just imagine the coincidence.
When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.
I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.
I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
What kind of liturgy do young adults like?
There was an interesting article posted on the Daily Episcopalian blog last week entitled "Yes, young people do like traditional liturgy." I encourage you to read it, if you have a chance, and maybe some of the comments that follow it. I've often wondered if St. Stephen's could attract more students to its regular worship services if they had a more traditional liturgy. I have heard that mentioned as an issue by some former students, but then I wonder how much of a difference that really makes. What do you think?
Interestingly, St. Stephen's has started a new Sunday evening worship service focused around a lectio divina study of scripture. Having attended the first one this past Sunday evening when I was back in town, I found it very enjoyable and a good way to get into the scripture passage read and think about how it applies to my own life. This could certainly be considered a contemporary liturgy (vs. a traditional one), though I would call it a contemplative liturgy. I have also heard that young adults like contemplative worship.
At Virginia Theological Seminary, where I attend, we have a service of Evening Prayer each weeknight at 5:30pm. Each day of the week has a different flavor of Evening Prayer: Monday uses the Evening Prayer service from the New Zealand Prayer Book, Tuesday's service is a chanted Evensong, Wednesday is Evening Prayer read from the 1979 Prayer Book, Thursday is an Evening Prayer service with contemporary praise music, and Friday is spoken Evening Prayer, sometimes in a foreign language (Spanish or French). There is no required attendance for these services. The two services that have the most regular attendance are the Tuesday Evensong service (which could be considered 'traditional') and the Thursday Evening Prayer & Praise service (which could be considered 'contemporary'). About half of the student body at VTS is under 35 years old. Both of the two services mentioned usually each get about 20 attendees, most in the under-35 age group, and I think I'm the only student that regularly attends both of these Evening Prayer services.
Do college students and/or young adults prefer traditional or contemporary worship? Does it depend on their background, what they grew up with? Or does it depend on the quality of the worship? If the worship is authentic and well-done (not boring, sloppy, or joyless), is that what makes it more attractive to young people? What do you think?
Interestingly, St. Stephen's has started a new Sunday evening worship service focused around a lectio divina study of scripture. Having attended the first one this past Sunday evening when I was back in town, I found it very enjoyable and a good way to get into the scripture passage read and think about how it applies to my own life. This could certainly be considered a contemporary liturgy (vs. a traditional one), though I would call it a contemplative liturgy. I have also heard that young adults like contemplative worship.
At Virginia Theological Seminary, where I attend, we have a service of Evening Prayer each weeknight at 5:30pm. Each day of the week has a different flavor of Evening Prayer: Monday uses the Evening Prayer service from the New Zealand Prayer Book, Tuesday's service is a chanted Evensong, Wednesday is Evening Prayer read from the 1979 Prayer Book, Thursday is an Evening Prayer service with contemporary praise music, and Friday is spoken Evening Prayer, sometimes in a foreign language (Spanish or French). There is no required attendance for these services. The two services that have the most regular attendance are the Tuesday Evensong service (which could be considered 'traditional') and the Thursday Evening Prayer & Praise service (which could be considered 'contemporary'). About half of the student body at VTS is under 35 years old. Both of the two services mentioned usually each get about 20 attendees, most in the under-35 age group, and I think I'm the only student that regularly attends both of these Evening Prayer services.
Do college students and/or young adults prefer traditional or contemporary worship? Does it depend on their background, what they grew up with? Or does it depend on the quality of the worship? If the worship is authentic and well-done (not boring, sloppy, or joyless), is that what makes it more attractive to young people? What do you think?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Lightning Crashes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD8DvkVB7rk
Lightning crashes a new mother cries
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyes
The confusion sets in
Before the doctor can even close the door
Lightning crashes an old mother dies
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyes
The confusion that was hers
Belongs now to the baby down the hall
Oh now feel it, comin' back again
Like a rollin', thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it.
Lightning crashes a new mother cries
This moment she's been waiting for
The angel opens her eyes
Pale blue colored iris
Presents the circle
And puts the glory out to hide, hide
Oh now feel it, comin' back again
Like a rollin', thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it.
Oh now feel it, comin' back again
Like a rollin', thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it.
Is anyone else reminded about abortion when they hear this song?
Unfortunately, according to Wikipedia, those who do are not correct:
Lightning crashes a new mother cries
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyes
The confusion sets in
Before the doctor can even close the door
Lightning crashes an old mother dies
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyes
The confusion that was hers
Belongs now to the baby down the hall
Oh now feel it, comin' back again
Like a rollin', thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it.
Lightning crashes a new mother cries
This moment she's been waiting for
The angel opens her eyes
Pale blue colored iris
Presents the circle
And puts the glory out to hide, hide
Oh now feel it, comin' back again
Like a rollin', thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it.
Oh now feel it, comin' back again
Like a rollin', thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it.
Is anyone else reminded about abortion when they hear this song?
Unfortunately, according to Wikipedia, those who do are not correct:
The band dedicated the song to Barbara Lewis, a 19 year-old friend of the band who was killed in 1993 by a drunk driver who was fleeing from the police after a robbery in York, Pennsylvania. Barbara had many of her organs donated including a liver to a 10 month old baby, and the song lyrics reflect how her death enabled others to continue living. After the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, Ed Kowalczyk would frequently dedicate the song to the victims at live shows.
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