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Clara’s Visitor is the name of a one-woman drama written and performed by Stephanie Wendt . It will be performed at Holy Trinity this coming Sunday, November 7, 4:00 pm. There is no admission charge. This program is made possible by the generous support of the McKnight Foundation, which recognizes and supports Minnesota performing musicians through its Artist Fellowships of Performing Musicians program. There will be a free-will offering. Proceeds will be given to the Trinity-on-Lake Mental Health Fund. The prodigious ability of pianist Clara Schumann (1819-1896) awed even skeptical audiences. Her brutal and ambitious father, Friedrich Wieck, had been determined to turn young Clara’s talent into fame and fortune. His formula worked wonders, but he did not count on another force growing to compete with his own: Clara’s love for one of his piano students, Robert Schumann. Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was nine years older than Clara. He showed tremendous promise as a composer, and was in the vanguard of musical romanticism. However, Robert’s moodiness and lack of a stable income were not ideal characteristics for a potential son-in-law. For rational and irrational reasons, Friedrich Wieck fought to keep Clara and Robert apart. The lovers took their case to court and were eventually granted the right to marry. At its best, marriage spurred them to great artistic achievement. Clara’s love inspired Robert’s forays into new forms. Robert’s encouragement led Clara to stretch herself as a composer and she saw herself as a champion of his music. Their marriage was at its worse when Robert was depressed and Clara was deprived of the approval she craved. They had eight children together, one of whom died in infancy. Clara and Robert were delighted when a good-looking young pianist and composer called Johannes Brahms presented himself at their home one day in 1854. Brahms became a daily visitor to the Schumann’s home. Robert Schumann attempted suicide in 1854. He asked to go to a mental institution. Brahms then supported Clara in every way he could and reported to her on his visits to Robert. Clara began concert tours again with fervor, leaving her children in the care of family friends and schools. Clara’s Visitor weaves together Clara Schumann’s own words and compositions with music by her luminary loved ones. It is a story of love and loss, courage and frailty. It is a story that is old and new. It is unforgettable. Stephanie Wendt, born in New Zealand, began her piano studies in Australia at the age of 5. She is the winner of numerous competitions, and has performed as soloist and chamber musician on five continents. Her concert venues have ranged from Avery Fisher Hall in New York to a maximum-security prison. Stephanie is perhaps best known to this area through her hosting of Classical 89.3 WCAL. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor The Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to have no end. It has been overshadowed by the war in Iraq. Not only are the headlines almost always devoted to Iraq, but there is evidence that the attention of policy makers has been turned away from the Israeli-Palestinian issue. This has become increasingly true as the war in Iraq becomes more difficult. The irony is that settlement on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is key to stability and peace in the Middle East. At issue is land and the right of each side to live with a sense of security. Each side claims the same land. The Palestinian claim is rooted in an uninterrupted life in the land for a great many generations, more than two thousand years. Palestine is the land of their ancestors and the place of their cultural developments. Muslim and Christian Palestinians recognize the land as holy. The Israeli claim is said to be rooted in a relationship that extends back to the beginning of Israel with the family of Abraham. This claim is also built on the action of the United Nations in creating the State of Israel in 1948. It seems fair to say that each side in this dispute has a legitimate position. While there are no doubt many people on each side who believe it possible to have two autonomous nations established in the region, there are those who deny the right of the other side to exist. Some of this is rooted in the principle of rejection and some of it is a matter of fear. Terrorism has been an instrument used by both sides. There is an understandable fear that adequate protection against this use of violence cannot or will not be provided. Israel functions in this dispute with enormous strength. This strength is largely the result of political, military and financial support from the United States. Palestinians, by contrast, are relatively poor and do not enjoy strong and effective support from other governments. Support from other Arab nations for the Palestinians has been mixed. It seems clear that any enduring solution to the conflict must involve the United States. There is little cause for hope at this point. The current Administration is not even-handed in its dealing with the conflict. The religious right is exercising a very strong influence. This influence is based on an uncritical acceptance of Israeli claims and a rejection of Palestinian claims. One of the most destructive current developments is the construction of a separation barrier. The Israeli government justifies this in the interest of protection. What makes this separation barrier particularly harmful is that at many points it is being constructed on Palestinian land and in ways that disrupt Palestinian life. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor For nearly two years we have been talking about the possibility of developing a Latino ministry. This conversation is the result of a growing Latino presence in our community. We also have participated in an inter-synod task force on Latino ministry. About a month ago, the executive committee of this task force made some recommendations. Among them was the proposal that Holy Trinity be a site for Latino ministry and that a proposal be made to the Division for Outreach of the ELCA. The startling thing was that the due date for submissions is December 1. Following a substantial discussion, the Church Council adopted a resolution authorizing the submission of a proposal for funding. Funding for the entire project would be from three sources: Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA, and Holy Trinity. The vision is that a Latino pastor be added to the staff. The development of a Latino ministry would require time. There is no assurance of success. There is the added reality that there is an existing Latino ministry (El Milagro) about two miles to the west and the possibility of a redevelopment at St. Paul’s Lutheran with Latino people as the focus. The model for development that was discussed at the Council meeting called for the initiation of yet another worship service, in the Spanish language. It would be much as is being done with the Swahili language service that we have had for more than ten years. No attempt would be made to have a multi-language worship service. There would be serious efforts to blend communities in terms of fellowship and service. The Sunday Church School would be in English and for all people, across language lines. This is possible since children living in the city and attending school would know English. Even if the ELCA were to approve funding, there would be many matters to be addressed prior to beginning the ministry. The most obvious one is the adoption of the proposal by the congregation. This will be an agenda item for the Annual Meeting. The Council believes that prior to proceeding with any initiative, it would be well for the congregation to have its share of financial resources for two years already set aside. This would be approximately $45,000. At any time prior to the calling of a Latino pastor for this ministry, Holy Trinity would be able to decline participation if the elements of the mission proposal did not seem to fall in place. The idea of Latino ministry is an attempt to be faithful to responsibilities for ministry within our community. The expectation is that it would strengthen the life of the congregation. Much needs to be done before we could actually begin such an expansion of ministry. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor Eschatology is a fancy sounding word. It refers to ‘the end,’ the end of things, like the end of the world, either literally or ‘as we know it.’ Sometimes ‘last things’ is a word combination used to provide explanation. If one were to examine creeds of the church, texts of hymns and biblical passages assigned for use in worship, there would be a lot of eschatological references. For example, in the Apostles Creed it is said that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. One rather representative hymn begins like this:
As to Scripture, the lessons assigned for Pentecost 24 are classic eschatological expressions. In spite of these multiple appearances in words we recite, sing and read, the so-called ‘last things’ are not commonly addressed in the teaching and preaching of at least main line denominations. We use the language of ‘last things,’ but we seldom take time to explore the meanings. There are three general ways to interpret eschatology. The first is to envision the coming of a Messiah who will establish a world of peace and justice. Advocates of this view believe that Christ will return and there will be a battle between the forces of evil and the forces of good. A new community will be established for the saints of God. Most people with this view believe the new earth will be beyond history. A second understanding of ‘last things’ places a focus on the fact the human beings are of limited life in this creation. “Seventy years is all we have, 80 if we are strong. Life is soon over and we are gone.” As to the future, there is modesty in saying what is beyond the grave. There is, however, the conviction that in death as in life, God cares for the created order including every human being. A third way of speaking of eschatology is to envision a new life for this world. It envisions freedom from economic injustice, political tyranny, and the terror of war. As to salvation, it is, at least in part, the kind of wholeness in life that Jesus said is God’s desire for all people. No matter what one believes about the future, whether in this world or beyond, it is clear that God calls us to faithful life and action in the present. As for the future, while we have concern for it and while we are called to contribute to its possibilities, the future is ultimately of God’s making; a time when, as the biblical writers have said, God intends to do a new thing. Ronald K. Johnson, Pastor |
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