We Shall be Free (and not Lonely)

Some weeks it is a struggle to come up with a music video idea corresponding to the lessons of the day. The parable of the wedding feast (Lectionary 28 (Pentecost 17A) October 9, 2011) is a challenge to say the least. So do I choose to focus on the ungrateful invitees who turn into a murderous mob, the king who decides upon a last minute dress code for the banquet, or the poor slob who shows up underdressed and ends up weeping and gnashing his teeth? So I figured I’d look in on those who got the last minute invite, accepted gratefully and showed up the banquet dressed and ready to party: the lonely people. Jars of Clay covers the 1970’s America song Lonely People.

 

For the Narrative Lectionary users, the Biblical story turns to the giving of the Law in Deuteronomy and the command to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might. Why Torah? Why law? So we can be free, free to be the human beings we were created be, a people living with and for the other in community. Garth Brooks’ “We Shall Be Free” might well have been written by a rabbi interpreting Torah, maybe even a rabbi named Jesus, who summed up the Torah, “to love the Lord your God with your heart, soul and might and your neighbor as yourself.” Therein lies freedom.

As we shall be free, so too are these videos for personal and worship use. Wolfie’s just about given up trying to sell them— just not much of a business person. So if you like the product and wish to express that in a monetary way, please make a donation to First English Lutheran Church 1015 East Main St. Columbus, Ohio 43205. Tell them wolfie sent you.

 

Rejects and Castaways

Jesus does not fit. He does not fit now and he did not fit then. He does not fit into our easy categories. Liberal? No. Conservative? No? Non Partisan? Hell no. The Pharisees could not make him fit either and to their disaffection with him, Jesus offers a midrash on Psalm 118: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” For Lectionary 27, Pentecost 16A “The Stone” by Jars of Clay.

And for those of us enjoying the ongoing tales and triumphs of the Narrative Lectionary, the 103rd Street Gospel Choir’s rendition of “Let My People Go.” By the way, this is our third week with the NL, and wolfie thinks its great! Might be too late to implement this year, but come next September, why not?

Both videos are available for $15 at sacredsegues.com.

 

Do the right thing: Have the mind of Christ

Derek Webb

For Lectionary 25 (Pentecost 15A) a focus on Philippians. Having the mind of Christ is to stand beneath the cross, seeing in it not only a means to salvation but also a way to aauthentic human life. Derek Webb and his wife Sandra McCracken team to present “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.”

For those like us at wolfies’ place who are following the narrative lectionary, there is Do the Right Thing by Nashville based Steve Ivey and his bluegrass band. In the first of a series of stories of sex, lies and murder good looking Joseph gets entangled in the deceitful web of Potiphar’s wife. Doing the right thing is hard especially when its not good for your career. The video features a series of ethical dilemma’s facing young people.

Speaking of doing the right thing, if you use these videos for worship, you can pay $15 for them at sacredsegues.com. If you just like to watch them or use them for devotions, heck, they’re free.

 

Divine Humor

For Lectionary 25, Pentecost 14, September 18, two video offerings both dealing with God’s apparent sense of humor. God was more of a prankster in the Old Testament: Take poor Jonah, that most reluctant prophet whom God drags to Nineveh to preach repentance. It is divine comedy at its best. The video features Drift’n Slim and His Blues Band telling the story and Mrs. Harkin’s Fourth Grade Class animation project for the pictures. Who is Mrs. Harkin and where is her fourth grade class? Wolfie has no idea. Found it surfing through You Tube.

Driftin’ Slim  was an African American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. Born Elmon Mickle in Keo, Arkansas, he not only recorded as Driftin’ Slim, but also as Model ‘T’ Slim and under his real name. By the turn of the 1970s, ill health had forced Slim to retire from the music industry and when he died, a chapter of American music — that of the one-man band — had virtually died with him. Slim died in Los Angeles, California, in September 1977.

For a change of pace we will begin using the narrative lectionary, and for those other congregations that might be doing the same, Sarah Laughed is a video featuring, you guessed it, lots of laughing. Mary Poppins’ music “I Love to Laugh” is the backdrop for just a whole bunch of giggles, guffaws and roll on the floor laughing, some of it from a group laugh therapy session, in which people laugh for the hell heck of it. (Some might not find that funny.) Sarah gets it. She nearly died laughing when told she would have a baby at a hundred. What are you laughing about these days? Not laughing much? Better watch this:

Isaac, by the way is the Hebrew word for “he who laughs”. Wolfie would be smiling like a butcher’s dog if you might consider paying $15 for these videos if used in worship. You can do this at sacredsegues.com.

 

911 Remembrance: Heaven Help Us All

Cross at Ground Zero

In my estimation it is impossible for a worship service not to acknowledge in some way the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, Washington D.C. and rural Pennsylvania. The toughest part is doing so in an honest, reflective way that honors the dead, respects the living and is hopeful for the future of our world. I hope the following video accomplishes those three things. Charlie Pride and son Dion team up to cover Steve Wonder’s hit “Heaven Help Us All.” The video sets up with the otherwise normal aspects of that tragic Tuesday, followed by the shocking intrusion of terror into our lives.

 

This video is available for use in worship for $15 at sacredsegues.com. The ELCA website also offers some good printed resources for worship on September 11. Check it out.

 

Way of the Cross

A road less traveled

When last we left Peter he was the rock upon which the church would be built. Now he’s just a chip of the old human block. The way of the cross, it seems, has a way of getting in the way of things. Lectionary 22 (Pentecost 11) August 28, 2011 features The Way of the Cross, sung by Oklahoma’s Jami Smith. Remember too that intercessory prayer visuals are now available for each week.

 

 

 

A unique form of cross bearing would be to ante up $15 if this video is used for worship. This may be done at sacredsegues.com.

 

The Real Jesus

There is nothing like a direct question, huh?

Who am I?

“Who do you say that I am?” From this Jesus elicits Peter’s confession of his Messiahship, but the question is hardly settled. For Lectionary 21 (Pentecost 10/August 21, 2011) Downhere’s “The Real Jesus” explores the mystery of this Messiah who still confounds us as he inspires us, a messiah who refuses to be boxed into our neat, tightly reasoned theological or cultural categories. The end of the video features an extended quote from Albert Schweitzer, whose seminal work “The Quest for the Historical Jesus” turned upside down biblical scholarship with its stunning conclusion that the Jesus we think we know is really nothing more the a projection of the cultural and theological assumptions of the historian. Imagine that! The “real Jesus,” believed Schweitzer, is an ineffable mystery experienced by following this crucified Christ on the way of the cross.

The real Jesus probably would not charge for use of the video in worship. So neither will I. Have a good day!

 

Prayers of Intercession for Lectionary 21, 22

A new feature on wolfieproductions.com: visual accompaniment for intercessory prayers. These can be used while the lector/reader delivers the prayers. A light musical track is also included. The plan is to provide these two or three weeks ahead. To enhance the effective use of these visuals, we will be removing the printed prayers from the worship folders, leaving only the call and response portion as in, Lord in your mercy, (Hear our prayer).

Prayers for Lectionary 21 (Pentecost 10) August 21, 2011

Prayers for Lectionary 22 (Pentecost 11) August 28, 2011

If you would like to use these for worship and feel moved to offer a monetary offering of $10, you may do so at sacredsegues.com, the more or less commercial part of wolfie’s endeavors. Usually, less.

 

Walk on Water

For the preacher on Pentecost 8A there are two ways to approach the story of Jesus walking on water and Peter, not so much. The most common approach focuses on Peter not focusing on Jesus long or sharply enough to keep out of trouble. Our TRUST is the issue. David Lose (workingpreacher.com) suggests a road less traveled: What does Jesus do when Peter sinks like a stone: he reaches out and catches him. According to Lose, Jesus is not merely our life coach, but our savior.

The video features Walk on Water by Blue County. The song is from the Evan Almighty soundtrack, not exactly a repository of great theology for sure, but the lyrics do point to the impossibility of our walking on water even if we stared at Jesus morning, noon and night. It’s the whole ontological thing: we human types just aren’t made that way. Any way, homiletically and visually, wolfie is headed for the gospel side of the law-gospel dialectic, just for a week, just while the waves are high. The video features some worthy attempts at running on water, but never more than 20 feet.

Fortunately I do not have to walk on water to make these videos, but it does takes some time and effort, and for $15 dollars (on your honor) you can use this one for your worship service at sacredsegues.com.

 

Riddle

Here's a riddle for you...

Okay, so there is no direct scriptural reference for this video, featuring Five for Fighting’s Riddle. Yet, the song is dripping with scriptural themes regarding meaning, love and freedom. Wolfie is using it this Sunday ’cause he wants to. Five for Fighting is the stage name for Jon Ondrasik, who took the name from ice hockey, as in “five minutes for fighting.” Odrasik’s degree is in applied science and mathematics and he pursued music in his spare time. Wow. In 2007 Ondrasik created the first video charity website.The website allows fans to upload videos answering the central question, “What Kind of World do You Want?” (taken from his hit song, “World“). The charities the site raises money for include Augie’s Quest, Autism Speaks, Fisher House Foundation, Save the Children, and Operation Homefront.

 

Riddle me this: which quality worship video is available for $15 at sacredsegues.com?