Roadtrip

Well, the praise band from the Church of Peace was invited to play at Hope United Church of Christ in Moline, today, for the Western Association Fall Meeting. Above is the singing group sharing a song, and below is a photo of the boys in the band, who are in a corner behind the singers. The chapel of Hope Church is dramatic with orange windows in the chancel area, and that combined with the red shirts of the praise band gives a rosie hue to the pictures.

The band did a great job and sang some dozen pieces, some with congregational participation, and some without. I am always proud of the intergenerational quality of the praise band and singers, ranging from teens to grandmothers.

Three Classrooms

Today we had three classrooms working at the same time for the Lights ON for Learning Family Literacy Program. The first classroom was for parents who are learning English as a second (or third) language. That is the top photo. Katia, the ESL teacher from Blackhawk College is consulting with our Parish Nurse, Mary O at the door of the room.

The second classroom was for students who are in elementary school. That is the second photo, five children around the table as a book is read to them. These children usually attend the Primary Academy, but this is one of the Intersession weeks, so there is no school this week, and these children are here working on language based activities. The teacher in this classroom is Mitch, assisted by a volunteer, Lisa.

The third photo and the third classroom is one for children too young to attend school.
That is the classroom in the bottom photo. The children here in this photo are enjoying a snack and are here with Julie and Ann in the church nursery. This program is provided every day that the Lights ON for Learning program is taking place, otherwise the parents would be unable to attend the class because they would be doing childcare.

It is a busy place this week around the church. And after a busy morning in the classrooms lunch was served to all the children, along with children from the neighborhood.

Lunch Program Reprise

The Church of Peace had a good time with the Summer Lunch Program for neighborhood children, and decided to serve lunches again for the Intersession this October as well. The Rock Island School District rearranged the school calendar a few years back to have a shorter summer vacation break and to add vacations in the fall, winter and spring to make a more balanced schedule with shorter breaks. The basic premise is that children loose less ground academically when they have shorter breaks, and the school district also hoped to provide special learning opportunities for students during these breaks, called "Intersessions."

We know that some of the kids in our neighborhood really miss their school lunches when they are not available, and so we are providing lunch here at the church during Intersession. Also, we provided lunch for the students at the Intermediate Academy, who came by here for lunch after spending the morning at school

Having lunch here also made it possible to provide a meal for the children of the adult students in the Lights ON for Learning Family Literacy Program. The most challenging part of having meals during intersession is having children remember that a meal is available when it is only served for a short time. We put our "chefs" out on the street to spread the word!

QC Symphony

Last Saturday evening, October 3, Nancy and I attended the first concert of the season of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra at the Adler Theater in Davenport. The program consisted of two pieces; Mozart's Symphony 41 in C major, the "Jupiter" and Mahler's Symphony No 1 in D major, "Titan."

The music director, Mark Russell Smith pointed out in his brief remarks that there are significant contrasts between the two works. This was Mozart's last symphony and Mahler's first. The Mozart is played by a fairly small ensemble while the orchestra for the Mahler is indeed large. Mozart is classical while Mahler is modern.

While the Mahler was dazzling and wonderful, my mind has dwelt on the fourth movement of the Mozart Symphony 41. The program notes point out that there are five themes woven together in this movement. I think my parents owned an LP with this movement included as part of a collection. I found listening a wonderful privilege, to hear the piece played by live musicians in my presence, like visiting a city one has seen in films all one's life. And while the piece is complex it all fits. It is a vision of balance, harmony and aptness, deftly fitted together.

I was reminded of the theologian Karl Barth's admiration for Mozart. Barth speaks of Mozart’s utter uniqueness: “In the case of Mozart, we must certainly assume that the dear Lord had a special, direct contact with him." And Mozart's music “evidently comes from on high” (These quotations are from a little book written by Barth in 1956.)

I found the Mozart reassuring.

Here is an article about Barth on Mozart at www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1382

Family Literacy Program

On September 15, 2009 the Church of Peace officially opened its doors to the Lights ON for Learning Family Literacy Program. This program supports the parents of children enrolled in Rock Island schools to help them learn practical skills, including speaking, reading and writing English. Pictured here are two students, Faila and Tambala, who are from Congo and who speak Swahili at home. They study with their teacher, Katia, also pictured.

This program at the church is a partnership with the Regional Office of Education, Blackhawk College, Rock Island School District 41 and the Church of Peace, funded through State of Illinois grants. We got a late start because of hold ups in state funding.

One of the helpful elements of the program is that childcare for the children in the family who are too young for kindergarten is provided when the adult learners are in the building. Since the class meets at the church they also have access to other kinds of support. Probably the most important and satisfying element of the program is that we are building relationships in community.

USS Rolf

During the Second World War, Walter Rolf, the son of Rev. Fred Rolf, the longtime pastor of the Church of Peace, attended the Naval Academy, was assigned to combat in the South Pacific, and later killed.

His memory and heroic death was honored when the United States Navy comissioned the Destroyer Escort USS ROLF (DE362), which is pictured here. Much more information about the ship, along with a photo of Lt. Rolf, and of his mother Mrs. Martha Rolf are to be found at http://navsource.org/archives/06

In particular, on this website are some photos that include Mrs. Rolf along with other women. While she is identified, apparently the site managers do not know the identity of the other women in the picture. There may be some older members of the Church of Peace who could easily identify these other persons in the photo.