Come and experience some world class mandolin music performed by the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble in the sanctuary of Blakemore United Methodist Church, 3601 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37205 (Just two blocks west on West End Avenue off the I-440 West End exit).
After the concert refreshments will be served in Blakemore's Fellowship Hall.
Tickets for the concert are $10.00 each or 10 for $95 and can be purchased at the door or reserved by e-mailing soundartrecordings@comcast.net. For additional information, you may call Sinclair Baldassari at 615-292-0324.
Butch Baldassari, of the Blair School of Music, founded the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble in 1991, and they have made some amazing music through the years including four recordings. With its scintillating contemporary qualities, the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble has been hailed for revitalizing and reshaping mandolin ensemble music that enjoyed nationwide popularity at the turn of the 20th century.
Butch died this past January and the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, which swelled to 24 players for the occasion, played at his Blakemore UMC memorial service. Some musicians worried that this might be the group's final performance; however, the players involved with the Ensemble made a long-thought-out decision to go on. They have decided that their first public appearance since Butch’s passing will be on Sunday, May 17th, 7:00 p.m., in the sanctuary of Blakemore United Methodist Church.
You can hear music by the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and download individual numbers on the MySpace Music profile for the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble
http://www.myspace.com/nashvillemandolinensemble
To catch a video segment featuring the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble via Google click on the address below
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1310453621476447041
To order recordings by Butch Baldassari and the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble
http://www.soundartrecordings.com/allproducts.shtml
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Whiteside UMC - "The little church that CAN" !!!
By Joel Tompkins
We have all heard the story about the little engine that could... You know, "I think I can, I think I can"...
The families of Whiteside UMC have become "the little church that can" and here is how.
We held our regular board meeting on February 22nd and the following events were discussed.
Our website is progressing with awesome numbers. We didn't officially open the site until June 10th and since then we have passed 4,000 hits and cruising towards our next celebration which we will have once we pass 6,000 hits.
Also, our Pastors (Scotty Sorrells) sermons and our other videos can be found on what used to be called God tube - which is now Tangle. We have 40 videos on line and they have been viewed 19,850 times!!!
One of our youth members attended the meeting as well. He shared with the board that the youth's 1st campaign is to take donations for the local homeless shelter AND the food bank. The youth will also be out visiting the elderly in the coming weeks.
And finally...
We discussed our 2nd "Saturday Night Jams".
This time we are opening it up to bands and musicians of all types. Church choirs are even welcome to join us!!! The 2nd "Saturday Night Jams" will be held this Saturday, February 28th at 7 p.m. in our fellowship hall. Snacks will be provided.
Whiteside UMC used to be a very active church in our community and we are now FOCUSED on becoming active once again with the events you have just read about.
We are a church of 20 people and yes, we know we can make a difference. Yes, we know we can help our community and yes, in this time of hardship we know we can entertain our neighbors.
The big difference in the little engine and us???
He thought he could. We know we can!!!
If you are interested in helping our youth, jamming with us, or just visiting, please visit our website for further information.
www.ourchurch.com/member/w/whiteside_umc
We have all heard the story about the little engine that could... You know, "I think I can, I think I can"...
The families of Whiteside UMC have become "the little church that can" and here is how.
We held our regular board meeting on February 22nd and the following events were discussed.
Our website is progressing with awesome numbers. We didn't officially open the site until June 10th and since then we have passed 4,000 hits and cruising towards our next celebration which we will have once we pass 6,000 hits.
Also, our Pastors (Scotty Sorrells) sermons and our other videos can be found on what used to be called God tube - which is now Tangle. We have 40 videos on line and they have been viewed 19,850 times!!!
One of our youth members attended the meeting as well. He shared with the board that the youth's 1st campaign is to take donations for the local homeless shelter AND the food bank. The youth will also be out visiting the elderly in the coming weeks.
And finally...
We discussed our 2nd "Saturday Night Jams".
This time we are opening it up to bands and musicians of all types. Church choirs are even welcome to join us!!! The 2nd "Saturday Night Jams" will be held this Saturday, February 28th at 7 p.m. in our fellowship hall. Snacks will be provided.
Whiteside UMC used to be a very active church in our community and we are now FOCUSED on becoming active once again with the events you have just read about.
We are a church of 20 people and yes, we know we can make a difference. Yes, we know we can help our community and yes, in this time of hardship we know we can entertain our neighbors.
The big difference in the little engine and us???
He thought he could. We know we can!!!
If you are interested in helping our youth, jamming with us, or just visiting, please visit our website for further information.
www.ourchurch.com/member/w/whiteside_umc
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Jesus Did Not Speak English
West Nashville UMC has reached out to the West Nashville Hispanic Community, and fought against the English-Only vote being taken in Davidson County. Pastor Dennis Meaker reflects on what happened when the church’s sign said, “Jesus Did Not Speak English.” Article from the West Nashville United Methodist Church newsletter WITNESS, January 2009.
“I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,...” Matthew 25:43a, NRSV
“How stupid! Of course, Jesus didn’t speak English. English wasn’t even a language in the first century!:”
That was the mildest comment I received for putting the title to this article on the church sign. The problem with the church sign is we only have three short times. Nuance is hard to convey in three lines. I didn’t have room to explain that Jesus, and indeed all of Scripture, instructs us to welcome the stranger. Yet, I suspect a number of people who complained about the sign understood exactly what we were trying to convey. I think they complained because they did not want to accept that their support for the English-only referendum could be contrary to Scripture. They wanted a Jesus who speaks English and who holds their view of the world.
It is easy to “proof text” the Bible: to choose portions of Scripture that support your views and ignore those to the contrary. Yet, one theme that is difficult to avoid in Scripture is the command to welcome the stranger in our midst, to treat the stranger with justice and fairness. This principle was rooted in God’s act of salvation for the people of Israel. God tells the people of Israel to remember they once were strangers in a strange land and that they were persecuted. God heard their cries and will hear the cries of those they persecute. Consider these verses:
.“There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.” (Exodus 12:49)
.“The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)
.“You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice, . . .” (Deuteronomy 24:17a
.“I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, . . .” (Matthew 24:43a)
The truly extraordinary thing about the God of Israel, and something Jesus wanted us to understand, is that God is the God of all people. Unlike the gods of other nations, who reflect the nationalism of their lands, God is the God of creation. All people are God’s children. God will judge us by how we treat one another.
Should the resident alien in the United States learn to speak English? Of course. Few ever have resisted doing so in our 233-year history. That, however, is a separate issue.
The issue at hand is one of hospitality and common sense. Government runs more efficiently if our law, rules and regulations are communicated effectively. Why would we hamstring our elected leaders by requiring them to act as if a language barrier did not exist?
Christians have one more thing to consider. Many of those aliens who would be affected by this law are our brothers and sister in Christ. Many already are baptized and profess Christ as their Lord and Savior. They may know the gospel in a different language, but it is the same gospel, the only gospel. The biblical command to extend hospitality is not limited to those of our faith. It is particularly ironic, however, that self-professed Christians are so willing to exclude their brothers and sisters in Christ by reinforcing the barrier of language.
As noted in 1 John 4: 20-21: “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
By the time you read this article, early voting will be open in Davidson County. The English-only referendum is not a political issue that the church is supposed to avoid. It strikes at the heart of what we profess to believe. As you go to vote, and please do vote, remember Christ is present in every person around us, even those who do not speak English.
--The Rev. Dennis Meaker
“I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,...” Matthew 25:43a, NRSV
“How stupid! Of course, Jesus didn’t speak English. English wasn’t even a language in the first century!:”
That was the mildest comment I received for putting the title to this article on the church sign. The problem with the church sign is we only have three short times. Nuance is hard to convey in three lines. I didn’t have room to explain that Jesus, and indeed all of Scripture, instructs us to welcome the stranger. Yet, I suspect a number of people who complained about the sign understood exactly what we were trying to convey. I think they complained because they did not want to accept that their support for the English-only referendum could be contrary to Scripture. They wanted a Jesus who speaks English and who holds their view of the world.
It is easy to “proof text” the Bible: to choose portions of Scripture that support your views and ignore those to the contrary. Yet, one theme that is difficult to avoid in Scripture is the command to welcome the stranger in our midst, to treat the stranger with justice and fairness. This principle was rooted in God’s act of salvation for the people of Israel. God tells the people of Israel to remember they once were strangers in a strange land and that they were persecuted. God heard their cries and will hear the cries of those they persecute. Consider these verses:
.“There shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.” (Exodus 12:49)
.“The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34)
.“You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice, . . .” (Deuteronomy 24:17a
.“I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, . . .” (Matthew 24:43a)
The truly extraordinary thing about the God of Israel, and something Jesus wanted us to understand, is that God is the God of all people. Unlike the gods of other nations, who reflect the nationalism of their lands, God is the God of creation. All people are God’s children. God will judge us by how we treat one another.
Should the resident alien in the United States learn to speak English? Of course. Few ever have resisted doing so in our 233-year history. That, however, is a separate issue.
The issue at hand is one of hospitality and common sense. Government runs more efficiently if our law, rules and regulations are communicated effectively. Why would we hamstring our elected leaders by requiring them to act as if a language barrier did not exist?
Christians have one more thing to consider. Many of those aliens who would be affected by this law are our brothers and sister in Christ. Many already are baptized and profess Christ as their Lord and Savior. They may know the gospel in a different language, but it is the same gospel, the only gospel. The biblical command to extend hospitality is not limited to those of our faith. It is particularly ironic, however, that self-professed Christians are so willing to exclude their brothers and sisters in Christ by reinforcing the barrier of language.
As noted in 1 John 4: 20-21: “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”
By the time you read this article, early voting will be open in Davidson County. The English-only referendum is not a political issue that the church is supposed to avoid. It strikes at the heart of what we profess to believe. As you go to vote, and please do vote, remember Christ is present in every person around us, even those who do not speak English.
--The Rev. Dennis Meaker
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)