What's Happening
CHRISTIAN FORMATION EVENT
“GETTING ORIENTED”
February 28 through March 28
In the year 635 CE, a band of white-robed Christian monks from Persia arrived in the Chinese city of Chang-an. They had traveled eastward via the trade route known as the Silk Road. They bore not only crosses and icons, but a body of Christian teachings to share with the inhabitants of this distant and exotic land. Either en route or after their arrival, but certainly as a result of Chinese Taoist and Buddhist ideas that they had encountered along the way, these missionaries produced a novel and curiously Oriental rendering of the core teachings of and about Jesus. The written form of these was called The Jesus Sutras.
The itinerant Christian monks who spawned this remarkable historical turn of events seem to have ‘gotten Oriented” as a result of their east-ward journey in two senses of the phrase. First, they had intentionally encountered and engaged the prevailing faith traditions of the Far East in a way that made them profoundly appreciative of the exotic spiritual treasures that lay therein. Second, they had enriched not only themselves, but the faith that they had brought with them. (Paul Alan Laughlin, intro.)
As a body of seekers, we are about to engage in such a journey together. Books are already available for the study (cost to you is only $10, with scholarship stipend of $5 by CF Committee). Please see Bruce Goya or call the church office.
CHOIR WORKSHOP with BRADLEY ELLINGBOE
Composer Bradley Ellingboe will be arriving in Walnut Creek on March 4 to work with our Sanctuary Choir on his composition “Requiem” which the choir will present on Maundy Thursday, April 1st, with orchestra. Bradley has been on the faculty of the University of New Mexico since 1985, where he is Professor of Music and Regents Lecturer. He is a graduate of Saint Olaf College and the Eastman School of Music. He is a well known as a composer of choral music, with over 100 pieces in print. He is an active church musician having served 19 years as Director of Music at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Albuquerque. He will lead a choral director’s seminar for area directors on Friday and work with our choir again on Sat. from 10:00-2:00.
Choral Directors’ Workshop with Bradley Ellingboe, director, composer, soloist. 10:00 a.m.-2:00p.m. in the social hall $25.00 registration fee includes lunch. Deadline is Feb. 25. Contact Carol Morris for details.