The title of this blog post is only cute if you are familiar with a children's book by Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) titled The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. I always thought it was some ancient folk tale that he put into words and illustrated- but in fact, the story is entirely Geisel's own
This afternoon and tonight, I have the happy task of playing piano for the Racine Theater Guild's Spotlight Series Christmas concert, "A Very Merry (Guild) Christmas." The program, organized and directed by Robert Kroes, gathers together a talented group of RTG stalwarts to sing a delightful array of Christmas songs. And all I have to
You can describe it in painstaking detail - and you can post hundreds of photographs of it - but unless you have sat in the sanctuary and experienced it yourself, in person, there is no way that you can fully grasp the joy and poignancy and color and pageantry and heart of Holy Communion Lutheran
The stage of the Racine Theater Guild is ablaze right now with the magic of A Christmas Carol: The Musical. I know of several different musical versions of this timeless classic (and I'm sure there are more than that) but this is the one I like the most. A lot of people might argue that
Earlier this fall, Kathy and I got to see a dear friend of ours, Elizabeth Rude, perform the lead role in what has come to be my very favorite play above all others - Doubt: A Parable by John Patrick Shanley. Liz, whose friendship with Kathy goes back to their student days at Carthage, is
This is my most recent composition for the Lincoln Chamber Singers. So small the stable- so dark the night- but up in the sky shines so brilliant a light. Follow that star and a Babe you will find who offers salvation to all humankind. It's the One named Jesus - the One named Jesus -
At a glance, there is nothing imposing about it. It is a modest-looking church that blends easily into the residential neighborhood in which it is nestled. There are no fancy stained glass windows - no towering steeple - no architectural grandeur whatsoever. It's small. It's simple. And yet, I think it's as beautiful as any
By my count, I have presided over 17 different opera workshop productions at Carthage- everything from more or less complete performances of operas such as Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, The Beggar's Opera, Cosi fan tutte, Il Trittico, and The Elixir of Love ... galas celebrating the works of Gilbert &
The holy gospel according to Mark, the 12th chapter: "As Jesus taught, He said "Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and
Lately, I have been thinking about some simple words that are part of the opening prayer in the Lutheran funeral liturgy: O God of grace and glory, we remember before You today < their name >. We thank you for giving him/her to us to know and to love . . . " These words
