A good article: Beyond Blind Faith

There's a website called EveryStudent.com which has a good article called "Beyond Blind Faith," which asks "Is Jesus God? Here is a picture of the life of Jesus Christ and why it's not blind faith to believe in him..."

You can read it online or listen to it from the link on the left side of the page, or you can even download the mp3 of the article, also.

It's 21 minutes long, but a good article to listen to, to be sure! Simply click HERE.

Rose Bushes: Tiers and Feedings

If you've noticed, there's been some work done on the tiered section of the Rose Bush Garden. We are adding a stack of bricks to each tier, so as to both boost up and beautify the garden.

The first tier has been secured and put in place. We now have but three more tiers to do. If you would like to purchase a "tier-full" of bricks, let us know, and we'll buy the bricks and install them.

On another note, you may also have noticed that most of the bushes were a bit "fallow" for the last month or so. I am told it was because of the heat. I suppose that's true, but it was also from the bushes not being fed the nutrients we usually put on them every four weeks or so.

In this regard, we're a bit like the rose bushes, as we need to be fed systematically, also. Although the bushes have no choice but to wait to be fed, we humans have complete control over whether or not we're fed by the Sacraments of the Church, which enable us to grow spiritually in the Lord's grace and blessings.

How? By choosing to come to the Lord's Church on the Lord's Day. If we don't, at best we simply won't blossom, while at worst, we shrink, inevitably dry up and die, spiritually.

May that not occur to any of us. Especially since we have God's Lovely Garden called Saint Luke's through which we are fed, and subsequently blossom and flourish - all for His greater glory, of course!!

See you in His Church!

On Abortion, et al

This is a very good video interview of the Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles J. Chaput on a plethora of subjects, including abortion, Catholic politicians/Democrats Nancy Pesoli & Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, and also on Vatican II and the Catholic Church in the last 30 years.

Again, this is an outstanding interview, although it is 40 minutes long; so, get a cup of coffee and spend the time to see the whole thing!

New Jim Martinez Album

Jim has released the 4th in a series of Jazz Praise CDs. The music was recorded at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival a few years ago, and the music includes musicians bassist Christian McBride, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, together with vocalists Dee Daniels and Julia Dollson and guitarist John Stowell.

The music is all GREAT, and includes "Holy, Holy Holy," "The Good News Blues," "Fairest Lord Jesus," "How Great Thou Art," "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," and nine other great pieces.

You can purchase the CD on Jim's site.

And don't forget that he and Laura Didier will be with us in January 2010, for their "Tribute to Doris Day" concert - a fabulous kick-off for the new year of our"Sedona Jazz at The Church" concert series, eh?

Live streaming of the Sunday Mass

Several weeks ago we said that something new was on its way, here at Saint Luke's... and it is almost here. We are working toward the "live" streaming of the early Sunday Morning Mass on the internet.... yes, live!!!

Since we're new at this, it will be a bit of time before it's "up and running," smoothly, but rest assured - within the next three weeks the hardware will all be in place and ready for testing, and then we'll have it fully functional soon thereafter. In fact, our goal is to begin streaming the masses by the end of September.

So, for now, please keep this new ministry in your prayers, that it proves to be a powerful tool that is filled with the presence of God's grace for all who find it on the internet.

When the testing is complete, we'll announce it through the blog, and give you the URL where you will be able to pick up the live streaming of the liturgy.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Picture of the Week: I'll Fly Away

This is a great picture (click to enlarge!) of a "visitor" to our hanging flower baskets this past week.

Along with the butterfly, there was a hummingbird flying around, as if the two of them were 'counsins' on a mutual endeavor! God made His creation magnificently beautiful, eh?

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon, and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,

For the heart and mind's delight,

For the mystic harmony

Linking sense to sound and sight,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

For all gentle thought and mild.

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For each perfect gift of thine

To our race so freely given,

Graces human and divine,

Flowers of earth and buds of heaven.

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Amen! Amen!

How does that sound? Here are two versions from our hymnal - one using the tune "Dix" and the other "England's Lane."

[note: you must have the plug-in "Scorch" - otherwise you won't see or hear the song. But take the time to install it, because it'll be worth it!]

Sedona Jazz at the Church News: Billy Mitchell Trio to perform

Billy Mitchell, the outstanding jazz pianist and music producer who lives in Los Angeles, will be in Sedona for the weekend of September 25-27, and will perform at a concert on Saturday night, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Billy played the piano as a child, but didn't get serious about music until he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While pursuing a political science degree he joined the school jazz band and was soon playing gigs in and around Atlanta.

In 1970 Mitchell moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career and was soon backing up such artists as Gloria Lynn, Esther Phillips, Randy Crawford and Linda Hopkins, to name a few.

Billy has appeared at many international festivals including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Heineken World Music Festival, International Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, our own Sedona Jazz on the Rocks festival, and countless club appearances.

For more on Billy Mitchell and the great weekend of Jazz we'll be hosting, check out the home page of the Concert Series, by clicking on the link "Sedona Jazz @ the Church."

Judge Howard D. Hinson Guilty: steps down from bench

Judge Howard Hinson has resigned after having admitted guilt in a Commission of Judicial Review proceeding regarding "irregularities" while on the bench as a judge of the Yavapai County Superior Court.

Hinson was charged with failure to decide cases in a timely manner, repeatedly filing false affidavits, and failure to diligently administer his court.

Although the act of filing false affidavits constitutes perjury, as of this date no criminal charges have been filed asserting perjury, nor of the potentially associated crimes of fraud, theft and forgery.

Instead, Hinson has been censured and allowed to resign from the bench, effective September 30 - thereby keeping his pension intact while avoiding other sanctions/actions for his behaviour.

Apparently he will also be able to function in other judicial capacities in the future, such as the county's Superior Court civil mediation program.

Howard Hinson was baptized within the Episcopal Church while a small child, but left the denomination years ago for an undisclosed reason.

For more information, the following sites are helpful, along with "googling" Judge Howard D Hinson Jr:

• Commission of Judicial Review official proceedings/findings
• The local Prescott, AZ paper, The Daily Courier

Sedona Jazz at the Church News: 4 new videos & Marvin Stamm

We've added three new jazz videos to our playlist at YouTube.

There's one with the John Fedchock New York Big Band playing Caravan - featuring John Fedchock on trombone and Rick Margitza on tenor sax. When Steve Sandner gets back in Sedona, ask him about John Fedchock, as Steve played with him this Summer at a gig at Interlochen.

Second, our very own parish organist, Steve Sandner - who is in Michigan for the Summer doing gigs and playing "all over the place" - has a GREAT video posted, also. He's playing the standard Please Be Kind, at an oudoor concert in Northport, Michigan.

Finally, trumpeter Marvin Stamm's "Alone But Not" video is also posted. That's Marvin in the above picture (by Alan S. Orling), and he's an absolutely magnificent and world-class jazz trumpeter, having played with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, and a host of other jazz greats through the years.

AND HERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS... we are corresponding with Marvin and working to bring together a date for the Marvin Stamm/Bill Mays Duo to do one of our concerts in 2010. Sound fabulous, doesn't it!!

You can learn more about Marvin on his website, Marvin Stamm, Jazz Trumpet, and pianist Bill Mays also has a web site, which is linked HERE.

So for now, enjoy the videos, and I hope I see you in the Lord's House on the Lord's Day!

Sunday's Mass Propers (9 Trinity)

The mass readings, or propers - the collect, epistle and gospel readings - give us much to ponder.

In the collect we ask God for the spirit to think and do "such things as are right" and therefore live according to God's will.

The epistle gives us a warning against overconfidence, and the gospel narrative is the always-powerful parable of the prodigal son - which shows the joy that is attached with our repentance and return to the holy ways of Almighty God.

For your preparation for Sunday, think on your possible "over confidences" and what they mean, personally, in reference to a full and final return to God's bliss-filled presence and love.

The video meditation on these propers will be posted Sunday morning, on YouTube.

Supporting the Church via escripting

Have you signed up for escripting? It's a "painless" way to systematically give a bit of financial support for the ministry of our parish and diocese. Although it doesn't take the place of a pledge, it does help; so please sign up today.

Our escript group ID is 9609412. Click HERE to learn more and sign up!