Whole Life Living
Brokenness and wholeness are intimately and dynamically related. When we pick up the pieces of our lives – when we integrate the various voices and perspectives around us – when we bring together all that feels separate, disconnected, and distant in our lives – then we begin to move toward “Whole Life Living.” Come explore this with us on Sunday!
Sunday, March 6 is Sharing Sunday (ages 4 years to 5th grade attend first part of service).
Image: “Moonlight” by Alice Popkorn CC BY-ND 2.0
Order of Service: view March 6 Order of Service
Offering: Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (give here)
Listen to the Call to Worship and Sermon:
March Worship Theme: Wholeness
Wholeness is not perfection. Wholeness is not static. Wholeness is more akin to the push and pull of right relationship, alive and available at any given moment. Our Jewish cousins call wholeness, shalom. Although we often translate shalom as peace, a more fitting understanding might be patterns of right relationship, just and true, that render every life healthy and whole. This month we explore patterns of wholeness.
Guest Musicians:
Ernest Bisong
Ernest Bisong is a violinist, teacher, composer and arranger. In the maiden edition of Venture Career Journal Nigeria released in 2013, he was referred to as “arguably Africa’s foremost contemporary violinist.” He has opened concerts for such musicians as Mike Stern, Marcus Johnson, Marsha Ambrosius, and Anita Baker. His debut recording with Nigerian Rapper IBK a.k.a. “Spaceshipoi” titled “Bumble Bee” – which was based on the opening measures of Rimsky Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumble Bee” – remained on the No. 1 spot on the charts of the Detroit-based “Angels of Melody” radio show for an entire month. He has been a notable influence on the contemporary music scene of his country and his unique approach to teaching the violin earned him a scholarship to attend the summer 2013 edition of the Mark O’Connor Fiddle Camp in Charleston, South Carolina, where he studied contemporary teaching methods with the renowned violinist. He is currently doing graduate work in jazz violin performance at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Javier Santiago
Javier Santiago is a powerful young artist with a strong vision. Born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, he grew up surrounded by the deep artistic support of his jazz musician parents, as well as stalwarts of the local jazz community. While still in high school, he organized his own quintet and produced two albums. He also won the Schubert Club Jazz Piano Competition two years in a row. In 2011, Javier was selected to participate in the 14th Annual Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program. The intensive residency program took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It was there that Javier studied with Curtis Fuller, George Cables, Winard Harper, Dr. Nathan Davis, and other jazz heavyweights. Javier received his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Piano Performance in late 2011 at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC. Since then, he has been playing gigs regularly in NYC at venues such as Smalls Jazz Club, 55 Bar, The Iridium, and several others. He also was a finalist in the 2015 American Jazz Pianist Competition.
