What is beauty? Is it only in "the eye of the beholder," or is there some larger truth about what is beautiful. In this On Being-style service Greg Johnson will engage in conversation with Richard Ace Way and Jennifer Mizenko about the concept of beauty to their work. Way is a local carpenter, who's work can be seen in beautiful cabinets, desks, tables, and shelves all around Oxford. Mizenko is a Professor of Dance at the University of Mississippi, whose dance performances and choreography have brought beauty to many productions.
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An intergenerational discussion. Jay will focus on the following three specific themes of beauty and poetry: the beauty of love, thought, and perception. Members of the congregation and friends are encouraged to bring a poem to share during the service. The guidelines for poems are: suitable for all ages, two-minutes or less to read, and connected to the theme of beauty. If you would like to bring a poem but would rather have someone else read it, there will be readers present. Also, you do not need to offer any reflection on or explanation of the poem.
This June 16th many Christians observe Trinity Sunday, a celebration of the doctrine of the Trinity: the concept of God as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, established as creed by the first Council of Nicea in 325 CE. Wendy Pfrenger and Greg Johnson (with Andy Pfrenger’s prepared remarks) will lead this service examining the historical origins of the Trinity and the early development of opposing Unitarian concepts. Music will be provided by the Oxford Viols (Susan Marchant, Ron Vernon, and Greg Johnson).
The philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, “In difficult times, carry something beautiful in your heart.” These are indeed difficult times. They require courage, commitment, hope and self-love. And all of them are sustained by beauty. We find the courage to fight after falling in love with a beautiful vision to fight for. We maintain our commitment only by finding the beauty that nourishes us. We hold on to hope because experiences of beauty remind us that something in the universe is on our side. We withstand dehumanization when rooted deeply in the beauty of our own dignity.
This weeks service is built around this question:How has beauty touched your life or given you hope in some way? Is there a source of beauty that sustains you? Come hear how several of our congregations find strength and hope in beauty. |
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