Oct. 13 - St.
October 31, 2001 (Fall Issue)
Table of Contents:
1. Lee's Musical Itinerary Through Feb., 2002
2. Lee's Corner -- "He Sings For Thousands!"
3. Lee's Talented Friends -- "Introducing: Greg Trafidlo"
4. A Search For Mystical Stories
5. "Terrorism Is Different Than War" -- an editorial
6. Quarterly Quote
1. LEE'S MUSICAL ITINERARY THROUGH FEBRUARY, 2001
(UMC is abbreviation for United Methodist Church)
- Nov. 2-4 -- Faith UMC, Austin, TX 512-444-6781
- Nov. 11 -- UMC, Osage City, KS am worship/pm concert 785-528-4443
- Nov. 18 -- Bay View UMC, Milwaukee, WI am worship 414-744-4036
- Nov. 25 -- Walker Chapel UMC, Arlington, VA worship/pm concert 703-538-5200
December -- work on new rock album (no, you're not "seeing things") -- Grace Slick of the old Jefferson Airplane turned 62 yesterday. I consider that a wake-up call -- I'm determined to do my first rock project before I'm 60!!!!!!!!
- Jan. 9 -- First UMC, Pulaski, TN 6:00 pm concert
- Jan. 13 -- Montebello UMC, Montebello, CA
worship service 323-728-8179
- Jan. 13 -- Sage Grenada Park UMC, Alhambra, CA
afternoon concert 626-284-3229
- Jan. 13 -- Crescent Heights UMC, West Hollywood, CA
pm concert 323-656-5336
- Jan. 20 -- New Market UMC, New Market, MD
am worship/pm concert301-865-3530
- Feb. 3 -- Lacey's Spring UMC, Lacey's Springs, AL
6:00 pm concert 256-776-4598
- Feb. 17 --UMC, Brookfield, MO am worship/pm
concert 660-258-7719
- Feb. 24 --tentative: First UMC, Alexander City, AL
am worship 256-212-1426
2. LEE'S CORNER -- "He Sings For Thousands"
On Friday, October 12 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis I got a chance to play for 11,000 people -- and, yes, all of them at the same time! It may never happen again, but it happened that night and it was a wonderful experience. Thanks to Gloria and Bill Gaither. How it happened: Gloria has been a really strong supporter of "Howard Gray" in the past few months. I received a call a few weeks before their "Praise Gathering 2001" and was invited to sing the song at the close of Friday night's session. My singing immediately followed Gloria's onstage interview with Frank Peretti, author of THE WOUNDED SPIRIT. In that book Frank shares his painful experience of growing up with a physical disability that elicited taunts and ridicule from his fellow classmates in his early years. It was a very moving experience for me and for many others both on and off stage. The Gaithers and their staff are exceptional people and I'm humbled to have been a part of the event. Thank you so much, Bill and Gloria. (I have to confess I never looked at the giant t.v. monitors while I sang. I was afraid I'd totally freak-out and forget the lyrics!)
3. LEE'S TALENTED FRIENDS -- "INTRODUCING: GREG TRAFIDLO"
About three years ago I played one Sunday evening at Main Street UMC in Bedford, VA. After the presentation a guy came up and said he had enjoyed the music and that he was a songwriter, too. Before we parted company that night he gave me a cd of his album, "Old Dog, New Tracks." On it were two songs I have been playing ever since. One is "Whatcha Gonna Leave When You Leave" (which was co-written with Neal Phillips and also appears on my last cd, GOSPEL TRAIL). That song has also been recorded by none other than Pete Seeger. The other song has been one of my most requested, "The Tumbler," a parody of the Kenny Rogers hit, "The Gambler." I'm SURE those of you who have heard it remember it...unforgettable in an odd kinda way, right, Greg?!
Since that time Greg has become a very dear friend and I encourage you to get to know him, too, through his wonderful music. For more information contact Greg at 540-586-5000, write him at 1137 Kira Lane/ Bedford, VA 24523, or e-mail him at kirasongs@aol.com. Many of you have asked where you can get "The Tumbler." Now you know!
4. A SEARCH FOR MYSTICAL STORIES
A new friend and fine writer, Rev. John Sumwalt of the Wauwatosa UMC in Wauwatosa, WI is seeking personal faith stories for a new book. In John's words:
Dear friends,
I am collecting personal stories for an anthology of mystical experiences. The title of the book will be Mystical Stories: A Lectionary of Visions & Miracles For Cycle B. It will be published by CSS Publishing Company in the summer of 2002. I plan to do two more books following the Lectionary for Cycles C & A in 2003 and 2004. I need stories for the first book by the end of this November.
In these "Chicken Soup For the Soul" type vignettes, ordinary people from all walks of life tell of extraordinary experiences with the holy. A recent study showed that as many as 44% of Americans have had some sort of mystical experience. Many of them have been afraid to talk about it. I have discovered that when I share the program of mystical stories I have been developing along with this book, people always come up to me afterwards with their own mystical tales to tell. Often they come with relief in their voices, because at last they know that they are not alone.
If you have a personal experience you are willing to share, I can be reached at jsumwalt@naspa.net or at 414-257-1228. I will be glad to answer any questions you have about the book. My address is 2044 Forest Street/ Wauwatosa, WI 53213.
5. TERRORISM IS DIFFERENT THAN WAR -- an editorial
Since September 11 we have all been exposed to hundreds of viewpoints regarding the world's present precarious situation. I'd like to share with you a letter to the editor which appeared in the September 13 edition of Nashville's CITY PAPER. Thanks to the writer, Eric Grasman, who has given me the okay to reprint it here. This is for me the most profound thing I've read or heard in these past few weeks...it puts some meat to the popular bracelet inscription, "What Would Jesus Do?"
TO THE EDITOR: I am a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Gulf War. I was horrified at what has taken place on our own soil. My warrior instinct tells me to strike back hard and fast. I assure you, that will not work.
I am convinced we can accomplish more with peace and love. Let's take a million of our citizens, mothers, grandmothers and children included, arm each with a loaf of bread, a jar of preserves, a soccer ball and a personal photo album. March into their camps and cities and sit down with them. They will respond in a way you will not expect. Most Islamic people I know are peace loving. Peace and love are the core of their faith.
My plan sounds silly but has a higher probablility of success. I have tried the more conventional method of retaliation in Iraq. I expended thousands of bullets there and killed people I could have just as easily befriended. Last I saw, Saddam is still there and I paid $1.65 for gas today.
In conventional war the victory comes to the country who holds the ground in the end. It comes when the other side throws down their arms and raises their hands in the air. History shines favorably upon them and they get to prosecute criminals.
Terrorism is different. The victory is in a change of heart. Terrorists win when they cause us fear and when we stop loving.
We must see beyond our anger.
ERIC GRASMAN
6. QUARTERLY QUOTE
"The man who goes into war having seriously thought his way to that decision is on a higher moral level than the smug pacifist who has no notion of the ambiguities and contradictions the decision involves."
-- A.J. Muste, 20th century pacifist