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The two final concerts of the Beverly and Fred Dukes Memorial Concert Series should be exciting. As always, the concerts are free of charge, and the public is invited.

On Sunday, April 29 at 4 p.m., the 14-member Classicus Clarinet Choir will be presenting an exciting program. Composers in the upcoming concert include Mozart, Ravel, Back and Bartok. The group will also feature “Variations of an African-American Folk Song by William Schmidt and a medley from “The Producers.” The clarinet choir began in about 1990, according to founding member, Mary Moore, who is principal clarinetist and manager of the Bakersfield Symphony. She compares the sound of 14 clarinets to the sound of a pipe organ.

Then the final event of our first season is a special group from the Los Angeles area, the Great Notes Woodwind Quintet. Their concert is at 4 p.m., May 6.  (If you look at the picture of this group in the concert series display case, you will see oboeist Tom Williams on the far right. Tom, a resident of Long Beach, happens to be the nephew of our own Ann Williams!)  On the program will be several lighthearted numbers, including a special rendition of “Lullaby of Birdland” and another composition by local retired music teacher Dick Southwick.  An article should be forthcoming in the week before the concert in the “Bakersfield Californian.” We know this is a busy weekend, but please join us in the sanctuary for what promises to be one of the highlights of this year’s concert events.

TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph, Woodcrafters Shop, Nazareth
FROM: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem
SUBJECT: Staff Aptitude Evaluation

Thank you for submitting the rÈsumÈs of the 12 men you
have identified for management positions in your new organization and making
the applicants available to us for interviews. All of them have now taken our
battery of psychological tests. In addition, each has met with our vocational
aptitude consultant.

Based on this data, we have concluded that your nominees
lack the requisite background, education, and temperament for the enterprise
you propose. We recommend you continue your search for persons with more
appropriate experience, more relevant education, and at least a modicum of
proven managerial capability.

More specifically, our analysis shows that:

• Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of
  temper.
• Nathanael has absolutely no leadership qualities or
  experience whatsoever. (Where did you find him anyway? Under a tree?!)
• The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
  place their interest in personal power above company loyalty. In addition, best
  organizational practice dictates that family members not serve together in the
  same chain of command.
• Thomas demonstrates a skeptical attitude that would tend
  to undermine morale throughout the organization.
• Our background check shows that the Greater Jerusalem
  Better Business Bureau has blacklisted Matthew. This is a major red flag.
• James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have
  radical leanings, and they both score abnormally high on the manic depressive
  scale.
• Three of the remaining candidates have done nothing
  noteworthy in their careers to date. In fact, itís hard for most of us even to
  remember their names.

Having had so many negative things to say about eleven of
your candidates, it heartens us to be able to tell you we believe one of the
twelve shows great potential. Resourceful, emotionally intelligent, and
possessing a keen mind for business, Judas Iscariot has many influential
contacts potentially beneficial to your organization. He is highly motivated,
ambitious, and innovative. We recommend you sign him on at once as your
organizationís comptroller and as chief advisor to the CEO.

We wish you every success in your new venture, but quite
honestly see no future unless and until you approach staffing issues more
astutely.

Rev. William Sloane Coffin, a United Church of Christ minister
known globally for his peace and justice advocacy, died April 12 at his
home in rural Strafford, Vermont. He was 81.

According to Associated Press, Coffin had been suffering from congestive heart failure and had been under hospice care.

ìBill was an exuberant prophet who had the unique capacity to love
us toward our better selves,î said the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC General
Minister and President. ìHis prophetic vision brought the imagination
of the Biblical prophets and of Jesus to life in our time. He was
urgent and clear, but never stern. His love for life in the world that
is, never blinded him to a yearning for life in the world that ought to
be.î

Ordained in 1956 and long active in his support of the United Church
of Christís justice and peace agenda, Coffin keynoted a UCC convocation
in 2003 on how to revitalize its ìjust peace church movement.î One of
the UCCís most widely recognized clergy, he was a member of the United
Church of Strafford.

ìBill understood that a minister was always pastor and prophet, and
his gift for language reminded us that, at our best, pastors and
prophets are always poets,î Thomas said.

During the 1960s and 70s, he served as university chaplain at Yale
where he spoke out passionately in favor of Civil Rights and against
the Vietnam War. In the 1980s, Coffin headed the anti-nuclear
SANE/Freeze campaign, where he became a major voice in opposition to
the U.S. nuclear weapons buildup.

Coffinís likeness and passion were later immortalized as the
fictitious ìRev. Sloanî by cartoonist Garry Trudeau in his celebrated
strip ìDoonesbury.î

From 1976 to 1987, Coffin was senior minister of one of the UCCís
most prominent congregations, the Riverside Church in New York City.
More than 20 years ago, Coffin led Riverside Church in becoming the
UCCís first ìopen and affirmingî church, a denominational movement that
today includes nearly 600 congregations committed publicly to the full
inclusion of gay and lesbian persons.

Last year, when major networks first rejected the UCCís TV ad
campaign as ìtoo controversial,î Coffin authored a stinging op-ed
column. ìThe UCC properly implied that millions of American Christians
are at odds with the Christian Right,î Coffin wrote. ìÖ In reality,
there are no biblical literalists, only selective literalists. By
abolishing slavery and ordaining women, millions of Protestants have
gone far beyond biblical literalism.î

William Sloane Coffin received a Justice and Witness Ministries Life
Time Achievement Award last year during General Synod 25. Rev. Bernice
Powell Jackson presented the award to him at his home in Vermont.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Read a summary of a sermon delivered by Coffin at the installation of Rev. Rev.
Scotty McLennan as Stanford’s new dean for religious
life in 2001. Coffin had been McLennan’s mentor.

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A congregational workday is scheduled for Saturday morning, April 8, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. We invite everyone to join us for some spring cleaning as well as sprucing up the grounds for our Easter celebration.

Morning refreshments will be provided. Please bring rags, cleaning supplies, gardening tools, etc.  

When everyone pitches in, we see results quickly and experience the joy
of working together. Contact Vicki Philips if you have any
questions or need more information.

SEE YOU ON APRIL 8!

PRACTICE AND PIZZA PARTY:  FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 6-8 P.M.

    Please meet in the sanctuary at 6 p.m. to practice for our program.  
    After practice we’ll have pizza and watch a movie in the Sr. High Room.

SEE YOU FRIDAY!

photos of the Rag Dolls 2 Luv Sewing Bee last month.

more…

What is TaizÈ? Originating in TaizÈ, France, with Brother Roger, TaizÈ
services are now held in many locations throughout the world. Although
the practice originated with Brother Roger and a group of Catholic
Brothers, many other denominations now join in the practice of
scripture reading, prayer (both personal and intercessory), singing,
and contemplative silence.

ìPrayer is a serene force at work
within human beings stirring them up, changing their hearts, never
allowing them to close their eyes in the face of evil, of wars, of all
that threatens the innocent of this world.  From it we draw the
energy to wage other struggles, to transform the human condition and to
make the earth a place fit to live in. All who walk in the footsteps of
Christ, withholding themselves in the presence of God, remain alongside
other people as well.  They do not separate prayer and solidarity
with others.î
- Brother Roger

Wesley Methodist United Methodist Church
holds a monthly TaizÈ Service, a quiet, reflective service with prayer
and contemplative music to help re-center yourself after everyday
stresses, at 5:30p.m., the first Tuesday of every month. If there are people from our congregation who are interested in going as a group, the next service will be held on Tuesday evening, March 7. Contact Marty Steinman.

[Wikipaedia on TaizÈ]

Churches
in the northeast US are invited to pilot programs of the
“God is One” Project sponsored by the NCC and Islamic Society of North
America in Hartford and New York March 11 and 25. The goal is to improve
understanding and relationships between Christians and MuslimsMore
more…

Rosewood Retirement Center in cooperation with the Kern Senior
Collaborative will be hosting a Prayer Breakfast on Monday, February
13. This Prayer Breakfast is one of several conducted by the
Collaborative throughout the city during this week. The intent is to
have a sustained period of prayer that will focus on the concerns of
our community, our nation, and the individual needs of the
participants. Everyone is invited to share in this time.

The Rosewood Prayer Breakfast is
scheduled for 8:00 to 10:00 AM. Breakfast is set for 8:00 AM sharp.
Cost for breakfast: $5.00. Tickets must be purchased at Rosewood in
advance.

An inspirational program will follow
breakfast with Amberly Neese, as soloist and speaker. The last large
part of the time will focus on prayer giving participants adequate time
to fellowship in prayer. Please join us!

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Troop 16 has created a Cookbook
featuring nearly 200 outdoor cooking recipes. These recipes are great
whether you are planning a backyard cookout or planning a campout. The
cookbook is a convenient 8 1/2 x 11î spiral-bound book for easy access
while cooking. There is a handy index guide for quick reference to
favorite recipes.

This cookbook is a great gift for friends, family, scouts and adult
scouters, or anyone who loves to camp or picnic. The cookbook is $20.00
and all profits will support the summer camp program of Troop 16.

To order your copy, there is an order form on the narthex bulletin board or contact Ron Brummett at 322-3535.