In Memoriam: Pete Fountain

Pete Fountain

1930 - 2016

And now they are jammin' again. What a sound in heaven today!

Calendar of Saints: Absalom Jones

Periodically I post a quote from a saint from the Episcopal Calendar of Saints that week. I connect it with a picture that I have taken as a kind of poster. These are meant to be meditative and mindful, playful and thought inducing. I hope they are helpful in your spiritual journeys.

Absalom Jones (1746 - 1818)
Abolitionist and Priest
February 13

Born into slavery then granted his freedom, Jones became a lay minister at the interracial congregation of St. George's Methodist Church. Together with Richard Allen, he was one of the first African Americans licensed to preach by the Methodist Church.

In 1772, while at St. George's Methodist Church, Absalom Jones and other black members were told that they could not join the rest of the congregation in seating and kneeling on the first floor and instead had to be segregated first sitting against the wall and then on the balcony. After completing their prayer, Jones and the church's black members got up and walked out.

As 1791 began, Rev. Jones started holding religious services at the Free African Society, which the following year became the core of his African Church in Philadelphia. Jones wanted to establish a black congregation independent of white control, while remaining part of the Episcopal Church. After a successful petition, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, the first black church in Philadelphia, opened its doors on July 17, 1794. Jones was ordained as a deacon in 1795 and as a priest in 1804, became the first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church.

Famous for his oratory, Jones helped establish the tradition of anti-slavery sermons on New Year's Day. His sermon for January 1, 1808, the date on which the U.S. Constitution mandated the end of the African slave trade, called A Thanksgiving Sermon was published in pamphlet-form and became famous. [Note: The words above were part of a hymn written by Michael Fortune and used for the occasion.] Nonetheless, rumors persisted that Rev. Jones possessed supernatural abilities to influence the minds of assembled congregations. White observers failed to recognize his oratory skills, perhaps because they believed rhetoric to be beyond the capabilities of black people. Numerous other African-American leaders faced similar rumors of supernatural activities.

-Link

Mardi Gras II

Mardi Gras Fun

Here's my new video- a celebration of Mardi Gras for 2016. Pictures and video from Fairhope, Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores, Alabama, and naturally, New Orleans.

Enjoy.

(Lent) Easter Picture A Day (47): Go!

Lent Picture A Day (40): Sixth Sunday- Palm Sunday: Celebrate

Lent Picture A Day (34): Forgive

Signs of NOLA

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign (Five Man Electrical Band)

And I love signs.
They catch our attention,
They make us laugh,
They tell us where we are.

Some are iconic signs. Just seeing them brings all kinds of images and strike the imagination with richness.

Others seem to move in their own light.

Some raise more questions than they answer.

Many have a theological agenda.

Some make you wonder which theology they are offering

Signs in New Orleans, just around the French Quarter,

catch our attention-

which is the purpose, of course,

But the colors are striking,

day or night.

I'm not sure I even want to try to translate some of the signs.

Some, are just right, as the neighborhood

must be reminded that life is more

than just what is going on

on the streets.

I don't look for signs. 

But when things happen, I say, 'OK, something must be right.' 

Or 'OK, something must be wrong.'

-Lil Wayne

Just Because It Gives Hope

In the Garden District

New Orleans, LA

February 19, 2014

Ready for Mardi Gras

During last month's visit to New Orleans, I took a bunch of pictures of Mardi Gras decorations. Not one to leave well-enough alone, I decided to take the pictures and make a video of them. What better way to celebrate Fat Tuesday tomorrow than to get ready along with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band's version of the Jelly Roll Morton original, New Orleans Blues.

And for my Pennsylvania Dutch/German friends- don't eat too many "fastnachts" tomorrow!

What a Great National Park

Only in New Orleans!

A National Historical Park.

On New Orleans jazz. Yep!

Found it just in time for an hour long performance of piano jazz history in New Orleans. The leader was nothing short of remarkable. He played that stride piano style as if he was born playing it. He had tons of interesting information to add to the music- all of which was played without music.

Personally, I am excited by the whole idea that this American native musical style has its own national park!

Naturally there is a quote from Pops himself on the wall.

And outside, just up the walk, is a diorama-type sculpture.

Here's the trombone!




New Orleans is THE place for this park- and for another one just the other side of the French Quarter.



The Louis Armstrong Park along
N. Rampart St.

A Dixieland Band sculpture greets you when you enter.

Of course.

And, larger than life, which is a perfect description of the man himself, a statue of Pops. Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong.

And that's only a beginning. What a joy of a city.