Worship Service Sunday at 11 AM Cancelled Due to Weather
March 12, 2023
“God Thinks Differently than We Do”
Pastor's Corner
3-12-23
Reference Points
By John Wiederholt
Reference Points
By John Wiederholt
In February of 2022, singer Judy Collins gave a concert at Town Hall in New York City in which she repeated the playlist of her 1967 Album, “Wildflowers.” The world didn’t take much note of it, but reading about it was a special moment for me. In 1967, the year I graduated from college, I was already a Judy Collins fan and I bought “Wildflowers” almost as soon as it became available. All my vinyl disks were lost a couple of moves ago, but I have a copy downloaded, along with most of her work, from Apple Music. I’m listening to it now. In fact, I have gone back to Judy Collins and her music now and then since I first heard her sing in the early Sixties. Judy Collins and her music have always been a kind of reference point for me.
She has also become one of my heroes. Born in 1939 she is six years older than me. She is still doing concerts. She is currently touring Australia giving a concert nearly every week and in the fall she will be back in the States performing in Raleigh. I might even go to hear her if I can get tickets. Her concerts nearly always sell out well in advance. As I have kept working well beyond retirement age I have kept reminding myself that Judy is still keeping up a full schedule in her eighties. Now I tip my hat to her as I sit down in my easy chair at least for a while.
I identify with her because although she has been able to sing in a variety of styles over the years, she has continued to perform some of the folk music that brought her to prominence and her message has remained the same. Her songs remind me that life is always joy and sorrow both at the same time. “I’ve looked at life from both sides now,” is one of her best known lyrics. I look back on my life thinking that through a lot of different places and phases my message has remained about Jesus’ love for us in both joy and sorrow. Judy has been a reference point for me as someone who has gone through many changes without really changing.
Judy Collins is not really what you would call a “Christian singer,” though I am sure she is a believer. But the first song most people, who know who she is at all, think of is her rendition of “Amazing Grace.” She has recorded it over and over throughout her career and a great many people who do not know her name hear her voice in their heads when someone mentions John Newton’s beloved hymn. It’s the most popular version on YouTube. I know that I quote this verse often:
“Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come,
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
When I do, it’s always Judy Collins’ voice I hear in my head.
Judy Collins and “Amazing Grace” are reference points for me. They send me back through my memories and remind me of the joy and sorrow which comes from living with reference to God’s grace in Jesus our Lord.
Blessings,
John
By John Wiederholt
In February of 2022, singer Judy Collins gave a concert at Town Hall in New York City in which she repeated the playlist of her 1967 Album, “Wildflowers.” The world didn’t take much note of it, but reading about it was a special moment for me. In 1967, the year I graduated from college, I was already a Judy Collins fan and I bought “Wildflowers” almost as soon as it became available. All my vinyl disks were lost a couple of moves ago, but I have a copy downloaded, along with most of her work, from Apple Music. I’m listening to it now. In fact, I have gone back to Judy Collins and her music now and then since I first heard her sing in the early Sixties. Judy Collins and her music have always been a kind of reference point for me.
She has also become one of my heroes. Born in 1939 she is six years older than me. She is still doing concerts. She is currently touring Australia giving a concert nearly every week and in the fall she will be back in the States performing in Raleigh. I might even go to hear her if I can get tickets. Her concerts nearly always sell out well in advance. As I have kept working well beyond retirement age I have kept reminding myself that Judy is still keeping up a full schedule in her eighties. Now I tip my hat to her as I sit down in my easy chair at least for a while.
I identify with her because although she has been able to sing in a variety of styles over the years, she has continued to perform some of the folk music that brought her to prominence and her message has remained the same. Her songs remind me that life is always joy and sorrow both at the same time. “I’ve looked at life from both sides now,” is one of her best known lyrics. I look back on my life thinking that through a lot of different places and phases my message has remained about Jesus’ love for us in both joy and sorrow. Judy has been a reference point for me as someone who has gone through many changes without really changing.
Judy Collins is not really what you would call a “Christian singer,” though I am sure she is a believer. But the first song most people, who know who she is at all, think of is her rendition of “Amazing Grace.” She has recorded it over and over throughout her career and a great many people who do not know her name hear her voice in their heads when someone mentions John Newton’s beloved hymn. It’s the most popular version on YouTube. I know that I quote this verse often:
“Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come,
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
When I do, it’s always Judy Collins’ voice I hear in my head.
Judy Collins and “Amazing Grace” are reference points for me. They send me back through my memories and remind me of the joy and sorrow which comes from living with reference to God’s grace in Jesus our Lord.
Blessings,
John
Resources for Helping those Suffering Food Insecurity
Grace Network
City of Martinsville-Healthy Food Hub
Food Insecurity in Henry County
Many Hands Giving Food in Henry County
PCUSA – Hunger action Congregations
A letter from our partners at Grace Network, Martinsville/Henry County
A Sparkling Church
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