Memorial United Methodist Church

In the Midst of Winter

Written by Joyce Sohl

Monday, 15 February 2010 10:03

There has actually been winter in Nashville this year with snow, ice and cold temperatures. Of course it is nothing like the feet of snow that has fallen in other parts of the country. In spite of the weather the campus is welcoming and warm. In early January we held our first Elders for Today event around the theme “Memories, Dreams, and Reality: The Civil Rights Movement 1960-2010. Attendance was small, but content was powerful. Rev. Bill Barnes shared his experiences of working for an inclusive community in Nashville; Carlton Young and Ralph Simpson discussed the music of the civil right era; and Robbie Pinter helped us understand writing of memories as a tool for healing and growth. Conversation and sharing were central components of the event. Many concerns were expressed regarding where we are today and what the future holds around the issue of multiculturalism. On the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, a seminar entitled “Peace and Community: King’s Vision of Peace” was held. Rev. Joe Agne from White Plains, NY was the leader. Participants came from the Nashville area and brought with them a variety of perspectives but a strong commitment to being peacemakers. Joe did a great job!!!! The winter series of Tuesdays in the Chapel continues to challenge and inspire. It is interesting to note that we average 3-4 new people each week that drop-in to worship with us. We are also actively working toward a jazz worship service to be held on Sunday nights starting in mid-August. It will be called Vespers and All That Jazz. The planning and preparation of these vespers is fun, challenging, but very time-consuming and is involving a number of staff and consultants. Sadness and sorrow have also been on our hearts during this last month as the earthquake in Haiti devastated the capital and many rural areas of that poverty-stricken country. The pictures of the suffering and death of thousands of people remain with us. I especially want to remember Sam Dixon and Clint Rabb, former colleagues of mine at the General Board of Global Ministries who were killed in the earthquake. They were committed to God’s mission in our world and will be greatly missed. Staff and guests participated in several prayer services for Haiti and continue to pray for the relief efforts. I will be teaching a Lenten study on the resurrection for three nights in March. We will be looking at the various resurrection and post-resurrection stories in the gospels; the depiction of the resurrection by artists and musicians; and strengthening our own understanding of the meaning of the resurrection for the individual/community. Music will be filling Wightman Chapel on March 21 as we have a musical worship experience celebrating women hymn writers. A special segment will be newly discovered hymns by Fanny Crosby set to a variety of international music – this to celebrate her 190th birth year. Carlton Young has arranged a medley of contemporary hymns by women that will conclude the service. If you are in Nashville on that day, I hope to see you and have you join in the singing. To be involved in helping people experience the spiritual nature of living is fulfilling and challenging. We are trying to do that through worship, music, art, the labyrinth walk, and a variety of other means including providing space for dreaming. It is good to be in my second year as Laywoman-in-Residence as I observe and participate in the activities of this sacred space. Joyce D. Sohl, Laywoman-in-Residence

 

Frost is on the Pumpkin

Written by Joyce Sohl

Thursday, 22 October 2009 09:26

Frost was on the grass and roofs thismorning; there is color in the trees; the squirrels are gorging themselves on the huge acorns; and the flowers are beginning to show signs of shutting down for the winter. I think all of God's creation is preparing for winter, even here in Nashville. We humans are also looking for spiritual nourishment to sustain us in the midst of our daily activities and anxieties. During these last months of summer I have found several instances of spiritual nourishment and enrichment in my work on campus. First are the gardens. We had "surprise lilies" with a spidery red bloom appear in unexpected places in September. Then just last week the fall blooming crocuses came up around several of the trees and the newly planted fall blooming azaleas are showing their beautiful pinks, reds, and whites. It is awe inspiring to see these beautiful flowers when much of the garden is dying down. Second, the Tuesday noon chapel services of words, music, scriptures, and silence continues to enrich our spiritual journeys. These services are becoming a part of who we are and will continue into 2010. Is it possible to find strength for the spiritual journey in the midst of 32,000 people sharing in Celebration of Cultures? I know it is, for the many cultures represented on October 3 in Centennial Park illustrated for me, once again, God's amazing and beautiful plan for all God's children - a plan that includes singing, dancing, eating, sharing of crafts, etc. All of these things helps build community, respect for each other, and tolerance of our differences. A fascinating conversation took place recently here on campus among a group of musicians as they discussed "music and spirituality." What happens spiritually when they perform, compose, or listen t music? How do they communicate the spiritual through their music? These questions and many others sparked a wonderful conversation. The group will be meeting again to share not only conversation, but their music with each other. The spiritual journey is never finished. Old habits and practices at times must be discarded. New ways of experiencing the presence of God can be found if one is willing to be open to God's Spirit. Here at Scarritt Bennett Center I find my journey continues. See you at Christmas. Joyce Sohl

 

The End of Summer

Written by Joyce Sohl

Monday, 31 August 2009 08:53

The campus here in Nashville continues to be beautiful; the figs are ripening; the apples have been consumed by the squirrels; and every spider-web on the bushes are damp and visible. And here it is - the end of summer. Tuesdays in the Chapel for six weeks during June and July was a big success. Attendance was 50+ eac week and worshipper came from across the city. We start a 12 week series tomorrow (Sept. 1) and are anticipating more great preaching, excellent music, and good fellowship. Join us on Tuesdays at 12:30 if you are ever in Nashville. It was my privilege to participate in the Christian Scholars Conference at Lipscomb University on the theme "Power of Narrative." Speakers were outstanding and included Barbara Brown Taylor, Hubert G. Locke, Billy Collins and Marilynne Robinson. I especially enjoyed Ms. Robinson's analysis of the religious environment in the U.S. using old gospel hymns. I've led several retreats for United Methodist Women on the theme "Resurrection Women." The retreat uses drama, music, biblical stories, icon study, and other methods to focus on what it means to be a woman who believes in and has experienced the power of the resurrection. This is an excellent retreat and the content will soon be available on the website of the Women's Division. John and his family were here for a week and I spent almost 3 weeks in New York. It was good to see many of you. I also took an "ocean break" in CT. The leisurely pace of the summer is near an end, but it is good to be the laywoman-in-residence observing and participating in the activities of this sacred place. Joyce Sohl

 

A LAYWOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE, JUNE 2009

Written by Joyce Sohl

Monday, 06 July 2009 10:02

There is a hot wind blowing outside, but the cool of the air conditioner in my office at least gives me the illusion that I am cool. Even the birds are looking for a cool spot and the squirrels are stretched out on any shady tree limb they can find. Such is summer here in Nashville! Before the heat and humidity hit, we had a group of song writers here on campus. They had paid “big bucks” to improve their writing skills and attended lectures, participated in critical peer and leader review sessions, and became a community of people seeking the elusive lyrics and melody of a song. It was fun having them scattered around the campus with their guitars. I sat in on one of the review sessions where they critiqued each other’s songs. One young woman shared a song about not being able to find God in the church. At the end of her first verse she said something like: “But I was able to find God when the circus came to town.” No one understood her metaphor and she could not explain it so that others understood, but I got it! Remember the movie “The Parable” that portrayed Jesus as a clown that came to town with the circus? (Youth work days back in the 60’s) The girl was too young to have seen the movie, but she had a concept that spoke to her. The leader worked with her until finally the chorus of the song ended with God being found within. A spiritual moment within the midst of a secular class! I taught a course this month entitled “Spirituality of Protest”, talking to God in the midst of troubling times. We explored lament Psalms; the healing stories of Jesus; contemporary and ancient prayers and poems; spirituals and hymns; and art. We also wrote our own laments and talked about the need for honesty with God in our personal and public lives. The lament addressed to God can lead to justice, healing, and hope. Tuesdays in the Chapel, a half-hour noon-time preaching service started on June 16th with Bishop Melvin Talbert as the first preacher. This service is for the community as well as the Center’s staff and guests. We had great music and great preaching and are looking forward to sermons by Sharon Howell, Rami Shapiro, Beth Richardson, Kathleen Flood and Michael Waldrop. This may be the beginning of a “new tradition” and happen every week starting in the fall. Conversation with staff, guests, and visitors is still an important part of my time. One Saturday I explained all about the Center to a Seven-day Adventist couple that were taking their Sabbath walk through the grounds. Another time I shared with a guest the purpose of the labyrinth. And yet at another time I spent about two hours with a group of United Methodist Women telling them about the Research Library and its tie to the history of this institution. Conversations with one another is as important as conversations with God, I believe. This is my perspective as a laywoman observing and participating in the activities of this sacred place. Joyce D. Sohl, Laywoman-in-Residence

 

Writing a Song

Written by Joyce Sohl

Thursday, 04 June 2009 10:33

Last week we had here on campus (Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville, TN) a group of song writers who paid big bucks to improve their song writing skills. Their leaders/coaches were people from the music world that "have made it" and are sharing their learnings with others. It was fun to have the group scattered around the 10 acres with their guitars and computers working alone or in groups on songs. They attended lectures regarding skill building, had one-to-one conversations with the leaders, participated in critical peer and leader review sessions of their songs, and became a community of people (young and old) seeking the elusive lyrics and melody of a song. I was able to sit in on one session and observe a skilled teacher lead the group in critiquing each others songs and sharing her own insight. One man was trying to share a song about a very emotional experience. After everyone had made suggestions about melody, chords, and lyrics, the leader said to him: "Perhaps the hurt is too raw right now. You need to leave this song for awhile and then start over." She used the situation as a teaching moment regarding vulnerability and how much you may/may not want to share in your songs. Another young woman shared a song about not being able to find God in the church. The end of her first verse said something like this: "But I was able to find God when the circus came to town." The leader nor most of the group did not understand this metaphor, but sitting in my corner of the room, I got it! In the 60's there was a movie that we used in the more liberal youth groups called "The Parable." It that movie Jesus was the clown that came to town with the circus. I did not share that then, but did with several of the members and the leader later during the week. This young woman was too young for the movie, but she had a concept that spoke to her. The leader worked with her until finally the chorus of the song ended with God being found within. A spiritual moment within the midst of a secular class! Joyce Sohl