Through The Eyes of A Song

Celebrating American History Through Spirituals Kimberly Banks-Brown, Soprano Come and celebrate American History through this Rich Experience of Music Sunday February 21, 2010 2:30 pm Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ 826 Union Blvd St. Louis, MO 63108 Tickets: Individual: $10 in advance---$12 at the door Family of 4: $35 in advance--- $42 at the door Contact Pilgrim UCC to purchase tickets 314-367-8173 Children 10 & under are free when accompanied by an adult. Pilgrim is located on Union Blvd. two blocks north of Delmar Ave. Guarded parking lot behind church www.pilgrimuccstl.org

Kimberly Banks-Brown is a native of St. Louis, MO. Her affinity for music was ignited in her grandmother’s kitchen as she listened to the luxurious voice of Mahalia Jackson on the radio. As time went on and Kimberly’s musical interest grew she became mesmerized by musicians such as Leontyne Price, Jessye Norman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Renee Fleming. Kimberly began studying vocal music privately at age 15 under the tutelage of Christine Chase-Chittison. She obtained a BA from Missouri Baptist University in vocal performance. After 10 years of teaching private voice, Kimberly closed her studio at Clayton Academy of Music to begin studies at Eden Theological Seminary, where she completed her Master of Divinity in 2008. This is Kimberly’s first concert in over 7 years and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to share with others through music. She is also honored to be able to use her talent in service to her church, Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ. The concert will offer moving music, guest vocalists, an occasional laugh and perhaps a deeper glimpse into the world of Negro Spirituals and how they have come to shape the history of America.

My Blog about Obama's Nobel acceptance lecture

I mentioned in my sermon this morning a blog I wrote about the speech. Here is a link to it.
http://www.creativeconflictresolution.org/jc/2009/12/the-obama-doctrine.html.

The experience of working with other members to create worship for us reminds me a bit of my days as a Boy Scout.  I was really proud of what my patrol was able to do on a campout... and I was really glad to get home to clean dry clothes.  It was a wonderful and spontaneous morning and it will be good to have our staff return.

Rehearsing Baptism

Yesterday at Pilgrim we remembered the baptism of Jesus and our own baptisms as well. We enjoyed a largely pot-luck luncheon (with thanks to the Morris’s and to Karyn Taylor for work in kitchen on the lasagna and French bread). And we passed the 2010 budget.

I wish I had brought my camera to worship. A central part of the service was a rehearsal of our baptism as Cindy washed our foreheads with the sign of the cross. There were many beautiful moments.

Jenny asked the kids during Children’s Time about how we remember things and how one way is to rehearse them. She asked about when we rehearse our baptism and I thought of my morning shower. The ancients thought of sin in terms of cleanliness and so bathing was actually about restoring one’s place in the community by washing away sins. We don’t normally think of it that way…but we could. What if every shower were a sacrament—an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace—by which we remembered that there is nothing we have done, and there is nothing that has been done to us, that can separate us from God’s love. Everyday is a new opportunity for manifesting the love of God to others and we are all a part of the Beloved Community.