Rock Mass 03/02/2025

Rock Mass

Rock Mass - March 2, 2025

Some Irish musicians in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

"Christ beside me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ within me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me."

~Saint Patrick

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

 

FAIR USE NOTICE

Not a New Year's Resolution

I like to start each new year, and actually each new day, thinking about focus. I ask myself what will I spend my time focused on this day? Will it be something important or a total time drain? Will I expend my energy doing something meaningful and worthwhile?

 

Time and energy are very much in short supply lately. I find myself distracted and pulled in so many different directions by the day-to-day demands of life, not to mention the distractions of multiple streams of media promoting the latest cause célèbre.

I recently saw an internet meme via The Clergy Coaching Network that I think will serve me well as opposing voices demand allegiance in this highly polarized world that we find ourselves in today.

"The work will remain the work.

To love your neighbor.

To be generous with a stranger.

To protect the water, the air, the soil.

To heal old wounds.

To not make new ones.

The work remains the work.

In fact it has all become,

suddenly, even more important."

So, the work will remain the work! It's not so much a New Year's resolution, I'm not one to make or for that matter keep New Year's resolutions. It comes as more of a resolve to stay on track, to keep on keeping on as we used to say.

Keep the faith and keep on truck'n

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 02/02/2025

 

Rock Mass

 

Rock Mass - February 2, 2025

Black History Month

In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all.

(Colossians 3:11)

"Liberty is equally as precious to a Black man as it is to a white one, and bondage equally as intolerable to the one as it is to the other."

Lemuel Haynes

(July 18, 1753 – September 28, 1833)

American clergyman, veteran of the American Revolution, and he was the first black man in the United States to be ordained as a minister.

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

 

Fair Use Notice

Rock Mass New Year's 2025

 

Rock Mass

Rock Mass - New Year's 2025 Edition

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. I see it as the very power of God working for the salvation of everyone who believes it, both Jew and Greek. I see in it God’s plan for imparting righteousness to men, a process begun and continued by their faith. For, as the scripture says: ‘The just shall live by faith’. (Romans 1:16-17 - Phillips Translation)

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

No Exclusions or Exceptions

Read the fine print, there are no exclusions or exceptions to "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus was quite clear, as were the writers of the New Testament, that we are called to love - even in the face of hate. We are told that if we don't love those around us how can we say that we love God.

Love is the higher law!

 “The most important commandment,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass - Christmas 2024

 

Rock Mass

Rock Mass - Christmas 2024 Edition

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

Jonestown Remembered

On November 18, 1978, over 900 people died in the jungles of Guyana at the People's Temple Agricultural Project, more famously known as Jonestown.

This tragic event disturbs me today as much as it did 46 years ago. At the time I was a young Hippie Jesus Freak leading a small group of Christians and seeing that horrible abuse of power changed my view of church leadership forever.

Jim Jones' "throne" in the Jonestown pavilion, scene of mass murder/suicide November 18, 1978

So Jesus called them all together and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others - like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

The Apostle Paul wrote... "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." (2 Corinthians 1:24)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9)

Jonestown - Wikipedia

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 11/03/2024 - Election Edition

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the month.

Rock Mass for Sunday November 3, 2024 - Election Edition

 

We usually think of paying taxes when we read Jesus’ words “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s” but I would suggest that here in the U.S. we can apply that to voting as well. We have the privilege and I might add a sacred duty to vote. We can’t vote for a perfect candidate, none exists, but for Heaven’s sake please vote.

Most of all I would suggest that no matter who wins in November that we all remember Paul’s words to Timothy:

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

 

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

 

Fair Use Notice 

 

VOTE!

 

This Tuesday be sure to vote!

Understand the issues, know who the candidates are and remember to get out and vote this Tuesday! This is your only true way to make your voice heard - not "Liking" and "Sharing" on Facebook but actually getting off the couch and participating in our Democracy. It's your right! It's your privilege! It's your duty! But if you ignore it, if you waste it, if you don't exercise it you will have no one to blame but yourself for the way our country turns out! And if you don't get out there and vote, in my opinion, you loose your right to complain about the government! So vote and make your voice heard - or just shut up!

 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Let Us Be One!

 

Rock Mass First Sunday of the Month

 

Rock Mass October 2024 - Let Us Be One!

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirt — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

Be Ye Kind!

 

Election season brings special challenges to our already divided and polarized society. We have been told by Jesus to love our enemies. We have a higher calling to accept those we disagree with. How we disagree with each other matters because we can disagree without hating each other. But if we do get angry, Paul says to not let it lead to sin. We are told to be kind with each other, tenderhearted, forgiving each other because we our selves have have had grace extended towards us and have been accepted and forgiven by God.

 

And be kind to one another,

tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God in Christ forgave you.

(Ephesians 4:32)

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

9/11

In the opening scenes of the 1973 movie adaptation of the musical Godspell, John the Baptist (David Haskell) crossed the Brooklyn Bridge while entering New York City. The nearly completed Twin Towers are in the background which were in several scenes of the 1973 movie Godspell.

Don't stop praying for peace!

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)