Just shared with a parent who struggles with the hypocrisy of some of our fellow Christians. Her son is gay and was a student of mine. I told her to Google you. She has thanked me. I know you will help her re-meet Jesus. This old lady cheers for you and prays for you.
Gotta admit, the "what are you into" question is a hard one right now. Anxiety and depression are creating that perfect storm they sometimes do of deep apathy that can feel like it's cloaked every part of my life. But I know that this will pass, so I'm continuing to tend my garden and open my books and eat good food with a sort of hope that one day I'll be into them again. And in the meantime I'm watching a lot of Golden Girls, if only because I have seen the series so many times that I find comfort in its predictability.
May 25, 2023·edited May 25, 2023Liked by Nadia Bolz-Weber
The JOY and tears I get from Somebody Somewhere... I watch every episode at least twice because it just feels real and right. So glad you're spreading the news.
Things I'm into right now:
PODCAST: Chinwag with Paul Giamatti (if you like quirky)
MOVIE: You Hurt My Feelings starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus
BOOK: Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
HOME: Our 15-week-old kitten, Arlo and the joy she brings to our 3 YO poodle, Winnie, who recently lost her playmate, Loki (14 YO and a good, good boy)
Kinda took my breath away when the guy took off his shirt to reveal a massive Klan tattoo on his back. But to hear him say that living in hate is not the way to live - I tell you - GOD IS WITH US. No way that happens without God in here somewhere, pushing ever so slightly. Definitely gonna watch the film
Here's video from the 2023 Western Mass Sacred Harp annual convention! This guy did an amazing job cutting up the footage into separate videos for each song -- it looks and sounds great, too. (The back of my & my bf's head are visible in practically every video haha). It was extra-amazing to do this after all the conventions and sings were cancelled for so long
I grew up in Northeast Alabama on Sand Mountain. There was a period of time that Sacred Harp Singing kind of settled geographically in Alabama, mostly on Sand Mountain. So I’m curious...Did your great grandfather live in NE Alabama? Sand Mountain is actually a long plateau and the epicenter for shape note singing was on the less populated NE area where the church in the video is located.
Thanks for replying (I am a big fan). I did see that, unfortunately Floyd is in SW Virgina, about a 5 hour drive for me here in NoVA (just outside Washington DC) so not realistic. There is a LOT of traditional music down there in Galax and Bristol, just over the border from Kentucky and Tennessee. A lot of the iconic country/bluegrass musicians come from around there (like the Carter Family for starters). I hope to visit someday.
I sing in an Episcopal choir and we have a number of tunes from the southern harmony in our hymnal so I’m familiar with them. I’ve also downloaded copies of the Southern Harmony and sacred Harp and read through some of the pieces but unfortunately, there are no groups around me in Northern Virginia, so I’ll just have to listen to you all on YouTube. The harmony on a lot of those makes my music major head explode, but it certainly has a place in American music history.
May 27, 2023·edited May 27, 2023Liked by Nadia Bolz-Weber
Hi Jim! You're welcome to join us for the regular singing at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church in DC every third Wednesday night. You can find information about other singings in the region here: http://dcshapenote.squarespace.com/
Hi Mary Helen, thanks for the info. I’m normally singing two or three times a week already but my regular choir is off for the summer so I may be able to stop in the Capitol Hill session.
Some folks sing in Berryville, northern Shenandoah Valley. Also around Lancaster, PA. The Potomac convention was held in April, and should return next year! Warning: if you get hooked you can find yourself driving 5-6 hours and more to go to an all-day sing, or 2 hours for a local sing. I started singing in 1999 and find it the most wonderful activity and awesome community.
On the subject of shape notes, “Sherburne,” also known as “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night,” is one of the most joyous Christmas hymns I’ve ever heard.
What a coincidence-I’m putting together a set of sharp note singing from the 78 era for the Old Time String Band Radio Show I do. I have Allison’s Sacred Harp Singers - Sweet Rivers and FA Sol La Singers - I’ll Stay On The Right Road Now so far (both are available on YouTube if you wanna hear them) must be something in the air
Omg...Dopamine in the Corners. 😍. Some of those songs I had long forgotten and wow, have some given me JOY! Like “Joy”... lol. I hadn’t thought of that song in AGES. Thank you for your brain that thinks of all of this cool stuff. 🩷. You make my life exponentially BETTER. I hope you have a “you” in your life. 🩷
Oh and I met a Corner Dweller last night at the singing in Bloomington! It was very sweet. xo
It was great to meet you and sing with you last night! May our paths cross again!
Nora! It filled me with joy. So fun. Loved meeting you!!!
Just shared with a parent who struggles with the hypocrisy of some of our fellow Christians. Her son is gay and was a student of mine. I told her to Google you. She has thanked me. I know you will help her re-meet Jesus. This old lady cheers for you and prays for you.
Gotta admit, the "what are you into" question is a hard one right now. Anxiety and depression are creating that perfect storm they sometimes do of deep apathy that can feel like it's cloaked every part of my life. But I know that this will pass, so I'm continuing to tend my garden and open my books and eat good food with a sort of hope that one day I'll be into them again. And in the meantime I'm watching a lot of Golden Girls, if only because I have seen the series so many times that I find comfort in its predictability.
💜
Oh man this has been me so many times in my life. Riding the waves is hard but what else can you do? I hope you find some moments of joy again soon 🫶
Things I’m into:
1. Cabin vacay without cell reception
2. Wood fired pizza
3. The 5k I just ran (Women Run the Cities)
4. The smell of lilacs
5. My hydroflask water bottle that keeps my water cold even when I leave it in my car all day
The JOY and tears I get from Somebody Somewhere... I watch every episode at least twice because it just feels real and right. So glad you're spreading the news.
Things I'm into right now:
PODCAST: Chinwag with Paul Giamatti (if you like quirky)
MOVIE: You Hurt My Feelings starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus
BOOK: Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
HOME: Our 15-week-old kitten, Arlo and the joy she brings to our 3 YO poodle, Winnie, who recently lost her playmate, Loki (14 YO and a good, good boy)
Thanks for the recommendations!
Kinda took my breath away when the guy took off his shirt to reveal a massive Klan tattoo on his back. But to hear him say that living in hate is not the way to live - I tell you - GOD IS WITH US. No way that happens without God in here somewhere, pushing ever so slightly. Definitely gonna watch the film
Here's video from the 2023 Western Mass Sacred Harp annual convention! This guy did an amazing job cutting up the footage into separate videos for each song -- it looks and sounds great, too. (The back of my & my bf's head are visible in practically every video haha). It was extra-amazing to do this after all the conventions and sings were cancelled for so long
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2yH1i9HC4uil6eaYZpoR0aG5CDHXxMZS
1. My great grandfather was a shape singing leader. Wish I’d known then how special that was. Wish he was still with us to tell me more.
2. The dopamine playlist is giving me life rn. Thanks everyone!!
I grew up in Northeast Alabama on Sand Mountain. There was a period of time that Sacred Harp Singing kind of settled geographically in Alabama, mostly on Sand Mountain. So I’m curious...Did your great grandfather live in NE Alabama? Sand Mountain is actually a long plateau and the epicenter for shape note singing was on the less populated NE area where the church in the video is located.
Actually no...he & his people have lived in the mountains of NJ along the Delaware River fir centuries.
HI Nadia,
Thanks for replying (I am a big fan). I did see that, unfortunately Floyd is in SW Virgina, about a 5 hour drive for me here in NoVA (just outside Washington DC) so not realistic. There is a LOT of traditional music down there in Galax and Bristol, just over the border from Kentucky and Tennessee. A lot of the iconic country/bluegrass musicians come from around there (like the Carter Family for starters). I hope to visit someday.
Jim
I sing in an Episcopal choir and we have a number of tunes from the southern harmony in our hymnal so I’m familiar with them. I’ve also downloaded copies of the Southern Harmony and sacred Harp and read through some of the pieces but unfortunately, there are no groups around me in Northern Virginia, so I’ll just have to listen to you all on YouTube. The harmony on a lot of those makes my music major head explode, but it certainly has a place in American music history.
Hi Jim! You're welcome to join us for the regular singing at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church in DC every third Wednesday night. You can find information about other singings in the region here: http://dcshapenote.squarespace.com/
There is a big two-day, don't-miss singing coming up in Berryville, Virginia on June 3-4: http://dcshapenote.squarespace.com/big-singings
Hi Mary Helen, thanks for the info. I’m normally singing two or three times a week already but my regular choir is off for the summer so I may be able to stop in the Capitol Hill session.
Awesome! Hope to sing with you soon.
did you see the earlier comment with this link? https://visitfloydva.com/event/4th-tuesday-shape-note-singing/all/
Jim,
Some folks sing in Berryville, northern Shenandoah Valley. Also around Lancaster, PA. The Potomac convention was held in April, and should return next year! Warning: if you get hooked you can find yourself driving 5-6 hours and more to go to an all-day sing, or 2 hours for a local sing. I started singing in 1999 and find it the most wonderful activity and awesome community.
On the subject of shape notes, “Sherburne,” also known as “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night,” is one of the most joyous Christmas hymns I’ve ever heard.
Oh yes...different words here in this silly version:https://youtu.be/8VEQ1Z-e3h8
I’m a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, so I’ve been binge watching YouTube videos from his current concert tour (and yes, I sing along).
I’ve also been reading (and loving) Glennon Doyle’s books. As I wrote in my newsletter recently, thanks to her I have a new favorite acronym: https://wendigordon.substack.com/p/have-you-had-enough-afgos-recently
I listened to the dopamine playlist while I painted my hallway a few days ago. Many thanks!
What a coincidence-I’m putting together a set of sharp note singing from the 78 era for the Old Time String Band Radio Show I do. I have Allison’s Sacred Harp Singers - Sweet Rivers and FA Sol La Singers - I’ll Stay On The Right Road Now so far (both are available on YouTube if you wanna hear them) must be something in the air
Trying the Salad Pizza tonight!!!
Omg...Dopamine in the Corners. 😍. Some of those songs I had long forgotten and wow, have some given me JOY! Like “Joy”... lol. I hadn’t thought of that song in AGES. Thank you for your brain that thinks of all of this cool stuff. 🩷. You make my life exponentially BETTER. I hope you have a “you” in your life. 🩷