Merry
Christmas 2012 Greetings from James and Dianne…
What a full and rich year we have shared since
last year’s letter: it has been a time
of music-making and ministry, spending time with family in celebrations and
sorrows, learning to take life a little bit slower and bringing a new puppy
into the mix! Here are some of the
highlights…
v In an act of love and generosity, First
Church Pittsfield celebrated the 30th anniversary of James’
ordination. Over 100 people came to a feast and “gentle
roast” including Jesse and Michal and their loved ones as well as Mark Clark
from Cleveland, OH and Linda and Larry Schloss from Tucson, AZ. Our band mates
created special songs in RJ’s (Reverend James) honor, don E and Stranger sent
words and songs from Tucson and the congregation presented James with a
scrapbook overview of his ministry and a collection of Mako Fujimura’s artwork
marking the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the
Bible. It as a sweet and sacred
time. We have also worked at strengthening
our confirmation process with young people – making it more of a family
commitment – and rethinking our entire approach to Christian Formation. The work of renewal continues to be
challenging but also profoundly satisfying.
(You can check out the church @ www.firstchurchpittsfield.org or search for “Sunday Street” on http://www.pittsfieldtv.org/ )
v In June we spent time at the Montreal Jazz
Festival – an incredible event – and Jesse had a chance to come visit, too. Every day there were
free events spanning the depth and breadth of jazz and we also took in two
special concerts at Club Soda: Bill
Frissell’s presentation of the songs of John Lennon, and, Victor Wooten’s
jazz/funk extravaganza. We discovered
sensational new eateries, spent lots of time at Marche Jean Talon (the local
farmer’s market) and celebrated our birthdays at Rumi’s (a 50/60 birthday gifts
from our children.) We then spent a week
in Ottawa – and later returned for time in the Eastern Townships (wine country)
– because we are smitten with this part of Canada. We hope to spend more time in this sweet
place and James longs to move here whenever retirement might arrive (not for a
few more years, for sure.)
v We both continued to make music in an
assortment of ways this year:
Sometimes it was with the Sister City Jazz Ambassadors – a local jazz
ensemble with whom we toured Turkey last year – in which we shared a number of
jazz workshops in schools throughout the region and continue to play a monthly
gig at Patrick’s Pub and Mission Bar and Tapas. We also were able to give a new
focus to our art in our own band: Between the Banks. Every week, we find new ways to create songs
of beauty and hope for Sunday worship.
What’s more, we hosted two benefit concerts raising thousands of dollars
for local ministries on Fat Tuesday and Thanksgiving Eve and created another Good
Friday music and arts liturgy blending prayer, lament, visual art, the cry for
justice and music. (If you’d like to
check out the music making, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/my_videos .)
v And there were family changes, too: James’ sister, Beth, died in early August
after an extended illness. Dianne had her second hand surgery in the fall. Jesse and her husband, Michael, are well and
continue to live in the highest point in Brooklyn (a real blessing after the
hurricane.) Michal and her partner, Winton, are well, too living in Plainfield,
MA and raising goats, vegetables and pigs on their sustainable farm. Casey, our old dog, is tired and hurting but
still mostly well – and he has a new little sister and sometimes antagonist,
Lucie, a wonderful but huge shepherd-hound mutt who came into our house in
October. Life hasn’t been the same since
she arrived and that is (mostly) a total blessing.
Like most of our country, we grieve the loss of
life and peace after the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings. James actually went to that school back in
the day and received his first Bible at the Newtown church. We pray that this tragedy will strengthen our
resolve not only to enact stricter gun controls but also to challenge the
American culture of violence.
Today we share love with you – and the fact
that there is always room for you at this inn should you ever find yourselves
in New England. Right now the days are short and darkness comes upon our com-munity
early; but soon that will change and the light will bring renewal – and eventually
warmth. Come see us when you can.
Some pictures to put the year into perspective, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment