UUFR Adult Religious Education Archives: July 2005

July 17 and 24 "The Ascent of Man"; Volume 1: Lower Than Angels

An American Film Festival Award winner, this 13 volume series attempts a massive survey of science, from flint tools to the theory of relativity.

Volume 1: Lower Than Angels
A multitude of evolutionary changes - anatomical and intellectual - gives rise to man’s superiority among the animals. New computer techniques illustrate humanity’s evolution, while x-ray and slow motion photography of an Olympic athlete in action show the complex interweaving of mind and body.

It consists of 13 volumes or episodes, with a total running time of 11 hours and 16 minutes.

The series, a co-production of the BBC and Time-Life Films was made as a science counterpart to “Civilization”. It is given superb technical support, with two crews using innovative filming techniques, shooting in 27 countries. Dr. Jacob Bronowski makes for an unorthodox narrator, his non-scripted delivery ranging from hushed awe to trembling passion. He uses the crawling infant, the performing athlete, the development of the hunt and the discovery of fire to illustrate the most distinctive feature of man: imagination. His Scientific-Humanism is often spectacular, always provocative.

For More Information see http://www.documentary-video.com/displayitem.cfm?vid=860

Sunday July 10; Gospel Music

Adult Re presented the service for the Fellowship on Gospel Music.

Information from the following sources was used in this service:

History of Spiritual Anthem Genre:
http://www.kusp.org/playlists/crosscurrents/history.html
http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/1998/01/19/newscolumn7.html

History of Mountain Gospel Genre
http://www.bluegrassgospel.ca/history.htm
http://www.island.net/~blues/gospel.htm

History of American Folk Music
http://www.island.net/~blues/gospel.htm

A.E. Brumley:
http://www.brumleymusic.com/bio.html

Hank Williams:
http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1498991/03242005/ nelson_willie.jhtml

Sam Cook:
http://www.songsofsamcooke.com/songlist.htm
http://www.songsofsamcooke.com/soulstirrersdisc.htm

Thomas Dorsey:
http://www.honkytonks.org/showpages/tadorsey.htm
http://www.southernmusic.net/thomasdorsey.htm

From the Service:
Rise Like The Song Within
By Mary King

I’m traveling through this life
I don’t know how I got here
I don’t know where I’ve been
Or where I’m going

I am afraid, Oh so afraid

Then the words of a song
Rise up within me
Like a fountain of water
Clean, sweet, comforting water.
Washing away my fears

Every move I make
Is based on history
Every step I take
Is shrouded in mystery

I’ve not an able helper
Nor a trusted friend
Because my fate is bound
By an invisible wind

I am weary, Oh so weary

Then the words of a song
Rise up within me
Like a bridge over despair
Strong, firm, and unmovable.
Helping me to take the next step

Life is filled with oppression and fears
And striving beneath this veil of tears
But in it, I am not left entirely alone
God has provided power in a song

For there are special songs
Planted deep inside my mind
Songs with specific words
Waiting for specific times

I remember songs
I heard at my father’s feet
Songs of power
He meant for me to keep

With moaning, wailing
And outcries of pain
God gave us dirges,
So that’s what we sang

When oppression was weighty
And the yoke was cruel
Songs of hope became
A faith saving tool

In the good times when
There was rejoicing
It was happy songs
That we were voicing.

These songs have established roots
Deep within my heart
These songs that, from me
Will never depart

So go ahead and ask me
Why I roar and why I shout
I do it because there’s power in the song
And the singing works things out.

May the swords of powerful songs
Keep rising up within us

Like the Sun rising in the East
Never failing, but certain, always sure

That no matter what comes our way
We will ALL keep rising, rising,
Rising like the songs within us

MRWB-SPK.