SWS: Celtic Prayer for Inner Peace

Dearly Beloved,
I came across this Celtic prayer recently and thought it was Something Worth Sharing. You might want to print this one out and keep a copy at your bedside, in your purse/wallet, on your desk, etc. It is a prayer that all of us need! ♥cap

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Lord, help me to relax. Take from me the tension that makes peace impossible. Take from me the fears that do not allow me to venture. Take from me the worries that blind my sight. Take from me the distress that hides Your joy. Help me to know that I am with You, that I am in Your care, that I am in Your love, that You and I are one. Amen.

August Newsletter: Hootenanny!

Dearly Beloved,
The following is my Pastor's Column for the August 2011 church newsletter. I thought I ought to post it right away, since the hootenanny is just a little more than 2 weeks away. ♥cap

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From Your Pastor…
Many people are surprised to learn I’ve been playing the banjo for only 6 years. Some folks figure I’ve been playing all my life. Well, I haven’t—but not because I didn’t want to. I remember as a kid seeing people play banjo on The Gong Show, Captain Kangaroo, and other TV programs. The banjo looked like a lot of fun, but I guess the timing wasn’t right. Other instruments came my way, and by high school I was dedicated to playing trumpet and flugelhorn. (I did play piano, guitar, and harmonica a little bit, but they were never my main squeeze.)

Fast forward to Memorial Day weekend 2005. Rebecca and I were attending the arts festival in downtown Hannibal. A group of musicians who called themselves “Black Hairy Possum” were playing in front of the Jam Factory music store. Chris Foss, owner of the store and leader of the band, was playing banjo that day. As I watched Chris play, I was bitten by the banjo bug. In the weeks that followed, I visited Chris’ store several times and checked out the banjos he had for sale.

While I was away at a men’s Walk to Emmaus weekend in August 2005, Rebecca went to the Jam Factory and bought the banjo Chris had recommended. What I surprise I had waiting for me when I came home from the weekend! It was love at first sight. I gradually began teaching myself to play, and had my first public performance at Monroe City Manor on February 15, 2006. Since then I’ve played at other nursing homes, nutrition centers, churches, parades, community events, parties, jam sessions, meetings, conventions, and Walk to Emmaus events.

In addition to the joy of making music and bringing smiles to people’s faces, I’ve been amazed at how playing the banjo has helped me make many new friends. One special friend I’ve made is musician, professor, author, and potter Al Beck. I met him by accident at the Monroe City Arts in the Park, October 2009. I was walking around the park, playing and singing. A gentleman at one of the booths got my attention asked if I knew such-an-such a song. I said yes and started to play. This man—Al Beck—promptly began to sing along. We sang several songs together that day, and decided that we needed to get together again and make some more music.

This came right before hand injuries “benched” me from playing banjo for several months. Scheduling conflicts prevented us from participating in the 2010 Arts in the Park. So our “reunion” concert didn’t take place until January 2011. Coinciding with the 6th month anniversary of my hand surgeries we held a hootenanny, “How Can I Keep From Singing: a Folk Music Celebration to Beat the Winter Blues.”

Al and I both love the rich tradition of American folk music. Our country’s history is filled with many wonderful songs that tell the stories of our struggles, triumphs, and faith. Unfortunately, many of these songs are not being sung by children today. And unless we pass these songs along to future generations, this rich tradition of American heritage could be a forgotten relic of the past.

You can help keep America’s folk music alive. Attend the hootenanny Al and I will be holding on August 7 at Monroe City UMC. But don’t just come by yourself, bring some children with you. Bring your children, grandchildren, the neighbor’s children, or just nab some kids off the street (but be careful—we don’t want to break any laws!) The August hootenanny is not a fundraiser. The offering plates will not be passed. It is completely free, and you won’t be asked to contribute a cent. Al and I just want to have a fun, family friendly program of American folk music. So mark your calendar and tell your friends. We’ll see you on August 7 at 3 p.m.!

Grace and Peace,
Clayton

SWS: A Matter of Perspective

The following quote reminds us that it's all of matter of perspective. The next time you find yourself in a crisis, please take these words to heart! ♥cap

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"The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow."
—H. G. Wells

On Solitude

I about fell out of my chair when I read this one!
See what you think! ♥cap

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Solitude is often the hardest discipline, because none of us wants to be with someone we don't love, namely ourselves.
—Jim Warner

SWS: Following in Jesus' Steps

Dear Beloveds,

I came across the following quote today and thought it was Something Worth Sharing (SWS). ♥ cap

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It is so encouraging to know that Jesus experienced every negative emotion we go through. He also defeated them all, which gives us hope and confidence to do the same."
—Creflo Dollar

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The Star Spangled Banner - All Four Verses

This morning I played a program of patriotic music at the Monroe City Manor Care Center in Monroe City, Missouri. Instead of beginning the program with my usual opening theme song, O Susanna, I played the Star Spangled Banner. Many people sang along on the first verse. When I continued with the second verse, a few folks were surprised--especially my wife Rebecca. Now those who've been at the Manor long enough, know that whenever I sing the Star Spangled Banner I usually sing at least 2 and sometimes 3 verses. My wife Rebecca posted a note to Facebook, however, saying that she never knew the Star Spangled Banner had more than one verse. So for her benefit--and anyone else--here are all the words to all four verses.

Star Spangled Banner
Words by Francis Scott Key, 1814


Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!