Sedona Jazz at the Church: Renee Patrick & a night of jazz ballads

We've posted more information on one of the September jazz concerts at the church. It's the September 25th friday evening concert, that features Phoenix-based vocalist Renee Patrick, who will be teaming up with our own Steve Sandner on piano for an evening of jazz ballads.

The posting has a video of Renee singing with the Judy Roberts Trio, while gigging in Payson, Arizona. So, enjoy the video and the other information, and be sure to mark your calendar - it promises to be a GREAT evening. (And rumor has it that there's even going to be a bit of dancin' on the terrace following the conclusion of Renee's concert! You've heard that rumor, too? Ooo la la!)

Click HERE for the Sedona Jazz at the Church Concert Series home page.

Pretty Rose - 7 Trinity '09

Yup, it's a beauty, isn't it! It's from the rose bush on the tiered portion of the rose garden. The bush was given years ago in memory of Sara Dean, and this particular rose simply "stands out," doesn't it! (click the pic to enlarge it!)

Don't forget that we're clipping and keeping rose buds, and will be replenishing and expanding our garden with them, as they are planted, cared for, and grown.

And please note: if you want to try your hand at planting a bud and raising your own rose bush, talk with the Gardener on any Sunday. He's the fellow with the big ring on his hand, the pectoral cross on his chest, and a great big smile on his face!

Sedona Jazz at the Church

As many folk know, we've a series of concerts at the church called the Sedona Jazz at the Church Concert Series. Along with the series, we've also put up a few really great jazz videos on our YouTube site playlist, "Great Jazz Videos - Trumpets, Flugels, Conch, Drums, et al."

There are new pieces from pianists Judy Roberts and Jim Martinez, trombonist Steve Turre playing the conch, and Dizzy Gillespie and the United Nations Orchestra doing a piece featuring three great drummers (Ignacio Berroa, Airto Moreira and Giovanni Hidalgo) and singer Flora Purim.

The videos point to the creativeness of jazz musicians, and that when folk use the gifts God gives them, stunningly beautiful things can happen, so check out the new postings, as I am sure you will enjoy them.

And, of course - remember to check our Sedona Jazz at the Church Concert Series schedule for updates and additions, and mark your calendar so as not to miss any of these great nights at Saint Luke's!

An upcoming evening includes not only a night of jazz ballads, but dancing under the stars, too! Ooo la la!!!!

Ama Deum et fac quod vis

That's a quote from Saint Augustine, and it means "love God, and do what you want." It was the title of last Sunday's video meditation, as posted on our YouTube channel and seen below. The videos continue to draw folk from all over the world, and last week they surpassed the 23,000 viewing mark.

If you've not seen them yet, perhaps now's the time to begin. They are posted each Sunday morning, and are based on the Sunday and/or feast Mass propers, or lessons, as designated in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

To visit the channel, and see any of the seventy-six videos that are already posted, just click on the link "Meditation Videos" - found under the title "Some Helpful Links" on the right side of our blog.

A Grand Witness in Sarasota

There is an Anglo-Catholic parish in Sarasota, Florida, that has a solid history of holding to the "Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints." The parish is Church of the Redeemer, and the Rector is The Rev. Fr. Fredrick A. Robinson, who is now into his 16th year at the parish.

Father Robinson and his lovely wife, Linda, were on holiday in Sedona last week, and on the 6th Sunday after Trinity he was the Celebrant at the ten o'clock Solemn Mass at our parish, and is shown in the picture which accompanies this article, standing with Bishop McMannes after the liturgy had ended.

Also in attendance at the mass was the retired Rev. Canon Ronald and Mrs. Brokaw, from Orlando, Florida.

As all who were in attendance can attest, the day was a lovely celebration of the Sacred Mysteries, and a grand time during the fellowship hour was also had by all.

Hosting the coffee and fellowship hour was Pat Campbell, who brought a veritable feast of culinary delights for consumption by the parishioners and visitors alike - an extravaganza which included pineapples, cantalopes, apples, egg salad and deviled ham sandwiches, ice tea, chocolate cookies, and the Bishop's notoriously "thick" coffee!

Father and Linda Robinson are still on holiday and will return to Sarasota on the weekend of August 7-9. Please keep them in your prayers for safe travel (yes, it's a "road trip" that they're on!). Pray also for the ministry of their parish, with which we share much in the Faith: you see they, too, are a kind of "Fort Defiance" outpost of catholicity in the midst of a wild and untamed territory we know as the fallen world in which we live!

Pray for the Church!

Almighty God, whose compassions fail not, and whose loving-kindness reacheth unto the world's end; We give thee humble thanks for opening heathen lands to the light of thy truth; for making paths in the deep waters and highways in the desert; and for planting thy Church in Sarasota, Sedona, and in all the earth. Grant, we beseech thee, unto us thy servants, that with lively faith we may labour abundantly to make known to all men thy blessed gift of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

- 1928 Book of Common Prayer, page 38

There they go again...

The above "clown-nosed" consecration of an ECUSA bishop occurred in 1996: however, the peculiarities continue, and what is now happening within ECUSA is far beyond mere bad taste.

Our former denomination is having their General Convention, and the end of the gathering is today. Taking place in Anaheim (Disneyland is there, you know), the convention has continued the heretical course begun more than 20 years ago.

One such example is this week's adoption (while their bishops call for the development of liturgies for "same-sex blessings") of a resolution which affirms the "openness" of any ordained ministry to gay and lesbian people.

If you would like to see more of what has taken place, then the following links will bring you up-to-date.

The Living Church Magazine

Episcopal Life Magazine

Meanwhile, pray for the Church - all denominations - that God's grace flows freely, that souls are won for Christ, and that all heresy be defeated.

O GRACIOUS Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldest be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, reestablish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy son, our Lord. AMEN. (1928 Book of Common Prayer, page 37)

(If you want to read about the above "clown consecration," click HERE, and for a postmortem on the 1991 General Convention - entitled "Requiem of a Former Heavyweight" - click HERE)

Sunday's Mass Propers (Trinity 6)

Sunday's propers (collect, epistle & gospel) are for the Sunday called the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. We continue learning the teachings of Jesus, this time from the 5th chapter of Matthew, in which our Lord speaks directly to the commandment "Thou shalt do no murder."

Jesus also gives us a parable regarding the importance of being ready to be reconciled with one's neighbour, before it is too late and judgment is given.

The day's epistle speaks of death unto sin and new life unto righteousness through Christ's death and resurrection, and the collect draws us to declare that God has prepared for those who love Him such incomprehensibly good things that they "pass man's understanding" and "exceed all that we can desire."

So, think about God's incomprehensible goodness, our calling to what the world would call an "excessive" righteousness, and the events we all, and Christ's people, go through: life, death, and new life in, by, and through Christ Jesus.

Click HERE for the day's propers.

From the Bushes...

Long time parishioner Robert Eis has given us some insight and possibilities regarding our beautiful Rose Bushes. It seems that when we cut off the fading flowers the bud is a vehicle for new life - we need only to plant it.

And, in fact, it is a very easy thing to do. Get a small potting plant - one of the little inexpensive ones - potting soil, and then plant the bud about 1-2 inches down in the soil, and then water and care for it. In a short time, you've a rose plant ready to be placed into the ground.

We're keeping the buds from our "Mr. Lincoln" bushes, and will be planting them as described above. If you want to try your hand at this for your own rose garden, simply talk with the Bishop on Sunday, and he will give you a bud or two of your own!

Beauty, after all, needs to be but cared for and shared.

Incidentally, the above picture is of the rose plant that was placed in the garden but a few weeks ago, in memory of Robert's father. (Click HERE for article regarding the planting.)

Prettiest Rose This Week

One of the many blessings of our parish is the Rose Garden. With more than 50 bushes within the garden, there are always more than a few that keep the "beauty" flowing through the season - when some are losing their flowers, others blossom beautifully. Kind of like the Body of Christ, with it's times of full blossom and other times of rejuvination, when the beauty may not be as readily seen, but is there, nonetheless.

The rose that "wins" this week is truly salve for the sight! God be glorified in all the beauty He's created for us to enjoy!

Nuptial Mass Today

Today Crystal Kernan and Kyle Price are joined together as husband and wife. The Bride and Groom reside in Surprise, Arizona, and are familiar faces here at our parish, as they have attended the Sunday Masses on innumerable occasions. Their marriage and nuptial mass takes place this afternoon.

Please keep them in your prayers this day. Pray also for those who travel to Sedona for this holy event.

And to the two of you - Crystal and Kyle - congratulations, and may God constantly bless and strengthen the marriage vows you make this day in His most Holy Church!

O GOD, who hast so consecrated the state of Matrimony that in it is represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, Crystal and Kyle, that they may love, honour, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Those whom God hath joined together

let no man put asunder.

Sunday's Mass Propers (Trinity 5)

Sunday is the Fifth Sunday after Trinity, and we'll pray for a peaceably ordered world and for the Church to serve God in both joy and godly quietness. Sounds like our parish, doesn't it?

The epistle is taken from 1 Peter 3, and is the last of the series of the General Epistles that we've been reading since Easter. It speaks of patient and peacable endurance in the face of persecution.

The gospel reading is from Matthew 5, and begins with Jesus teaching the people by the lake of Gennesaret, telling them of the higher calling - don't be just good; rather, be gloriously godly - and then the reading finishes with the miraculous catch of fish on the lake with Peter's response to the miracle.

Within both the epistle and gospel, there's a common enemy that's identified. Can you identify it?

The propers (readings) are found HERE.

Sunday was a great day

Yesterday we had our Independence Day cookout after the 10am Mass. It was a grand and glorious gathering - first to worship and adore our Lord, and then to celebrate as His family the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.

Serving both parishioners AND visitors, Master Chef (and Senior Warden) David Dubois ably kept us in bratwurst and steakburgers, while the rest of the Vestry (Mary Schwartz, Pat Campbell and Shirley DuBois) supplied the rest of the day's fare.

It is good to resurrect our fellowship gatherings, and to spend time with the faithful of God's Church. Thanks to all who contributed, and especially to the Vestry!

Mark your Kalendar now - the next Parish Cookout will be on Labor Day Weekend: September 6!

And for those who really plan ahead, next Summer we'll have these gatherings on Memorial, Independence and Labor Day weekends!

George Washington's Prayer for the U.S.A.

ALMIGHTY God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in thy holy protection, that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplications, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

[Written at Newburg, June 8, 1783, and sent to the Governors of all the States. Published in the Army Navy Hymnal, 1942]

"Mere Christianity" Series on "hold"

After beginning the series of an audio reading of C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, we've come to the conclusion that the way the video/audio presentation was put together is not conducive to the educative approach we wanted to present.

The videos used were "cut" at around 10 minutes, as that's the limits that YouTube restricts uploaded Videos. What that did for the readings, however, was "stop" them in mid-stream, and did not allow us to have "one day" with - let's say - each chapter of the work.

So, we are going to suspend the series for now, and attempt to figure out a better presentation than using the posted YouTube videos. We'll spend the next few weeks working on this, and will report back on the blog as to what we have determined for the series - and that will be done by Thursday, July 23.

Hopefully we will be able to create a "re-vitalized" presentation, so please bear with us, as we struggle to bring C.S. Lewis' work back to our blog.

Laura & Jim

Our friends Laura Didier and Jim Martinez are giggin' and groovin' and sound absolutely great, as the TV interview below shows us. It's good to hear them, and we're hoping to have them back with us "early on" next year, to kick off our 2010 Sedona Jazz at the Church concert series for 2010. Here they are...

And if you like that, here's MORE.