In my experience with looking for Churches and faith communities to visit, one thing I have noticed is among many of the Protestant Denominations...there don't tend to be that many church worship services. Most churches usually meet once for worship on Sunday and that's the extent of the community all together honoring God as a congregation. This has lead to me sadly missing a lot of churches. I haven't been good at waking up early at all, which means I'd only be able to catch evening services. This in turn has limited my visits to a few faith communities in the Seattle and Issaquah areas.
I found out today that University Presbyterian has evening services though! This was nice considering the only other Church besides the Newman Center near the University of Washington, Generation Church, and the U-District Mars Hill...I was lacking in places to visit for the first time.
The first thing I noticed about University Presbyterian was it's size. The outside architecture was like a Cathedral and this carried into the worship hall which had stained glass windows telling the story of the life of Jesus.
The Church was alive and had more then just youth and old people (in the U-District most churches are either people 40 years old and plus (with 1 or 2 families) or full of people in their 20's and younger (Generation Church and Mars Hill). This Church had the happy medium between that age divide that makes up the U-District churches.
The service itself was a mixture of christian rock for devotional (the music sounded Coldplayish and the female lead sounded like the lead singer from Pomplamoose). It was great and again I noticed the similarity between romantic verse religious music in relationship to love songs, a person letting go everything for the one they love.
The sermon was good, it was general and could pretty much be tied to any sort of goal or journey in life, in which the journey matters as much as the destination...and that in the suffering of the journey happiness can be found. Psalm 126 was used as the example. During the service a woman talked about serving people in South Africa and service to AIDS victims in the organization she helped found that has been growing. Jesus was used as the inspiration in both in how the senior pastor posed his questions, "How has God through Jesus changed your life in unexpected ways?" as an example.
I think we as people do get so lost trying to get the destination or goal that we can lose sight of everything learned upon the way. We can miss out on living and being whole right now, as we work towards growth and goals. This was actually something College taught me really well, and I have experienced it in other ways upon my journey and have seen it in other people's lives whether it's a faith journey or any other goal in life.
After I was invited to a dinner that's thrown after every evening service and was treated to a delicious salad and pizza. The church certianly knows how to look after it's community, and after seeing the different organizations they're connected to saw how they were involved with helping the mentally ill, sick or homeless here in Washington.
It was a rewarding experience, and I must say, I'm quite grateful for the evening church service of past days and today.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Contemplations and the Kingdom of Heaven - Saint Joseph's Catholic Church - Issaquah, WA - July 24th, 2011
Today has been a fascinating exploration into the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity. Today was also an exploration into the mystic side of Christianity through the writings of Thomas Merton. I'll start the blog with my thoughts on his book, "Dialogues with the Silence," which is full of his journal entries, prayers and drawings.
His drawings are very zen in their simplicity...this simplicity and emptiness from zen is a focus for Merton on the experiencing of God. He mentions that the moment we put an image of God in our mind we are committing idolatry, since God is there in the silence and the darkness. Some of his best thoughts though are outside of the book I read...which did have beautiful, simplistic drawings and prayers that gave a glimpse into the man...but some of his powerful quotes are in other writings.
For example, "The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not twist them to our image. Otherwise we only love a reflection of ourselves we find in them."
and "The more you try to avoid suffering, you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you. in proportion to your fear of being hurt. The one who does the most to avoid suffering, in the end, the one who suffers the most."
Even before he began studying Eastern thought he was already living that within the Christian tradition. The second quote especially is all about letting go of attachments and confronting our fears. Suffice to say, these themes of living virtuously, and releasing attachments are very strong in his writings and reflections.
The themes that I found in the book would continue over to the service at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church visit I did today. The service was about how much a person should desire the "Kingdom of Heaven" also called "The Kingdom of God." In the parables that Jesus talked about at the service, Jesus mentioned two stories in which the person sells everything they have to have the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven. The service was then about, "What would you give up to create the Kingdom?" Since part of the Kingdom is working with the community to create that world of virtue and life in the now.
This mentality reminded me a bit of the Buddha and the fact that in seeking to end suffering, missionaries also came out of his religion to create the community of seeking to end suffering where each individual can live the Eight Fold Path of living with virtue and letting go attachments. Christianity and Jesus is also similar in this way in regards to the Kingdom of Heaven and being an apostle.
I still have much to learn from both traditions and many other philosophies and other faith traditions as well. I guess in a way, this blog shall be a continued documentation of the journey in what I live and discover.
His drawings are very zen in their simplicity...this simplicity and emptiness from zen is a focus for Merton on the experiencing of God. He mentions that the moment we put an image of God in our mind we are committing idolatry, since God is there in the silence and the darkness. Some of his best thoughts though are outside of the book I read...which did have beautiful, simplistic drawings and prayers that gave a glimpse into the man...but some of his powerful quotes are in other writings.
For example, "The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not twist them to our image. Otherwise we only love a reflection of ourselves we find in them."
and "The more you try to avoid suffering, you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you. in proportion to your fear of being hurt. The one who does the most to avoid suffering, in the end, the one who suffers the most."
Even before he began studying Eastern thought he was already living that within the Christian tradition. The second quote especially is all about letting go of attachments and confronting our fears. Suffice to say, these themes of living virtuously, and releasing attachments are very strong in his writings and reflections.
The themes that I found in the book would continue over to the service at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church visit I did today. The service was about how much a person should desire the "Kingdom of Heaven" also called "The Kingdom of God." In the parables that Jesus talked about at the service, Jesus mentioned two stories in which the person sells everything they have to have the treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven. The service was then about, "What would you give up to create the Kingdom?" Since part of the Kingdom is working with the community to create that world of virtue and life in the now.
This mentality reminded me a bit of the Buddha and the fact that in seeking to end suffering, missionaries also came out of his religion to create the community of seeking to end suffering where each individual can live the Eight Fold Path of living with virtue and letting go attachments. Christianity and Jesus is also similar in this way in regards to the Kingdom of Heaven and being an apostle.
I still have much to learn from both traditions and many other philosophies and other faith traditions as well. I guess in a way, this blog shall be a continued documentation of the journey in what I live and discover.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Church of Christ - Issaquah, WA - July 17th, 2011
After being away from faith communities for some time, it was great to see visit a faith again that captures what I believe are some of the best parts of religion, specifically Christianity. What are the things I found to be the themes of today's service: community, change and virtue (accountability to living virtuously as well).
The Church of Christ in Issaquah is a small Church near the Issaquah Elementary School. The congregation is largely made up of families. I was treated with kindness and ran into two people who went to my high school, one of whom preached the sermon today. On a side note, these were the fourth and fifth persons I'd met from my high school that day. The congregation was close and this is where my first point comes in of community. During the announcements there was talk of the Home Meetings that happen every Sunday. All members of the congregation meet up at the designated houses to talk about the Bible and God. This reminded me of Mormon Home Teaching (where Elders (guys around eighteen or older) who come over and preach the church lesson of the day. This is also done by the parents for the children in the Mormon Church.
The second thing that I see in religion at it's best in what it can is change. The change I'm referring to is personal change. In the sermon a personal was story told of going from selfishness to selflessness when God was accepted into their life. This was powerful as the person had been a major partier before hand and had found virtue through living for God.
This in turn brings us to the sermon. The sermon was about Joseph. You know the prophet in the Bible with the twelve brothers who had an amazing technicolor dream coat (musical reference here). Well the story was about how Joseph stood on the path of rightesouness even after he'd been given the world (made leader of a house of noblemen (Potiphar) and he resisted the noblemen's wife and ran when she tried to seduce him when they were alone. She then claimed he tried to rape her and Joseph was throne into prison. The sermon focused on Joseph living with virtue when temptation was there and how the Devil and sin are like a lion who creep up on us and catch us off guard if we do not run from it and resist it. He used what Jesus said in that "If you sin with your eyes, poke them out. If you sin with your hand, chop it off. ect." It was a good sermon on life with virtue and how God can help with that.
I've noticed with personal relationship to something seen as higher (Whatever interpretation of God, Guru, Buddha, ect.) That it can be an excellent tool transformation, growth and accountability. Whether any are actually as they are described...I do not know, and honestly would like too.
As I write once more my exploration and journey continues as I explore the faiths and faith communities of this astonishing world.
The Church of Christ in Issaquah is a small Church near the Issaquah Elementary School. The congregation is largely made up of families. I was treated with kindness and ran into two people who went to my high school, one of whom preached the sermon today. On a side note, these were the fourth and fifth persons I'd met from my high school that day. The congregation was close and this is where my first point comes in of community. During the announcements there was talk of the Home Meetings that happen every Sunday. All members of the congregation meet up at the designated houses to talk about the Bible and God. This reminded me of Mormon Home Teaching (where Elders (guys around eighteen or older) who come over and preach the church lesson of the day. This is also done by the parents for the children in the Mormon Church.
The second thing that I see in religion at it's best in what it can is change. The change I'm referring to is personal change. In the sermon a personal was story told of going from selfishness to selflessness when God was accepted into their life. This was powerful as the person had been a major partier before hand and had found virtue through living for God.
This in turn brings us to the sermon. The sermon was about Joseph. You know the prophet in the Bible with the twelve brothers who had an amazing technicolor dream coat (musical reference here). Well the story was about how Joseph stood on the path of rightesouness even after he'd been given the world (made leader of a house of noblemen (Potiphar) and he resisted the noblemen's wife and ran when she tried to seduce him when they were alone. She then claimed he tried to rape her and Joseph was throne into prison. The sermon focused on Joseph living with virtue when temptation was there and how the Devil and sin are like a lion who creep up on us and catch us off guard if we do not run from it and resist it. He used what Jesus said in that "If you sin with your eyes, poke them out. If you sin with your hand, chop it off. ect." It was a good sermon on life with virtue and how God can help with that.
I've noticed with personal relationship to something seen as higher (Whatever interpretation of God, Guru, Buddha, ect.) That it can be an excellent tool transformation, growth and accountability. Whether any are actually as they are described...I do not know, and honestly would like too.
As I write once more my exploration and journey continues as I explore the faiths and faith communities of this astonishing world.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Abide Baptist Church - June 26th, 2011 - Issaquah, WA
This is my first faith visit since my friend's funeral and burial...and in it I experienced the best and worst of what religion can bring. Abide Baptist Church is a tiny church near the freeway entrance. It's been around a year less then I've been in Issaquah and follows the Baptist tradition of respect of choice (to believe or not to believe) and separation of Church and State (state cannot enforce on faiths and in theory vise versa). Both of which I think are admirable ideals of the faith.
The best I experienced was the sense of community with strangers and the reflective nature of the service. It reminded me a little of a Mormon service in that their were hymns but no Christian Rock or Choir music...it was the pastor's wife and the piano with hymns that I've heard play in movies that take place in the south. While I was there it felt like the people I love where there with me, and I felt peace.
The worst I experienced was prejudice towards people (males specifically) who go outside their supposed masculine roles. The first was the pastor talking about how his school's swimteam had become sissy and given people breaks which he never got...and the other was when I talked to his Dad who was ashamed to drive a light colored car during the day when he was driving across the United States.
The other part was the Theory of Evolution and theology. I understand now why they must have felt threatened...if the Bible is the literal Word of God then Genesis is a fact not a metaphorical story...then the Big Bang, evolution and other theories that contradict these "facts" must be wrong. The pastor it's "Just a theory," disregarding what in science that actually means. Theories only exist due to ample evidence and empirically tested claims. In evolution a large part of this is in the fossil record and our own genetic code in which we can trace our ancestry.
The misunderstanding science was completed with the "Atheist Checklist," which was a tract that the pastor's father gave to me. The tract is written by Ray Comfort who argues that because a banana is color coded for when it's ripe, spoiled or developing, and can be held in the human hand that clearly it was designed by God. It is like a Coco-Cola can created by humans Ray implies. What he misses though is that bananas were domesticated and evolved to be the way they are by humans. Wild bananas look nothing like the ones Comfort describes. Just to touch on the problems with his hypothesis.That's why they are shaped the way are and edible. The checklist was insulting to science. It ended also with the Ten Commandments and a call to Jesus showing that again, it was apologist work for religion, not science.
The sermon was about when Jesus told his apostles that he would die and rise again on the third day. The pastor talked about how Jesus made things easy for us, just to accept him into our lives, but we like things difficult. He used the example people who chose not to buy a mix where you just add water, but bought the cooking mix when it required water and an egg. He also brought up faith verse works and that the Bible says it's faith alone but the surveys he said showed most denominations thought good works would get one into heaven. This is an issue for another post the faith verse works ideal in regards to virtue, but I will eventually get to it. Since it deals with the claims of a lot of faiths and human nature.
The service ended with a song we all sang together called "Lean on Jesus" and a final call to Jesus for someone to repent and confess along with the final prayer.
I'm planning on talking to the pastor about these things at some point. For to bash someone because they are a masculine female or a feminine male isn't virtuous, loving or just, and though Christianity is built on faith, in it's best form, it's about treating others with respect, dignity and love.
It's good to be visiting faith communities again...and meeting the people who believers of the different faiths and sects within the faiths. It's in these visits and conversations I think come to know God, humanity and myself better in the constant path of learning and growth.
The best I experienced was the sense of community with strangers and the reflective nature of the service. It reminded me a little of a Mormon service in that their were hymns but no Christian Rock or Choir music...it was the pastor's wife and the piano with hymns that I've heard play in movies that take place in the south. While I was there it felt like the people I love where there with me, and I felt peace.
The worst I experienced was prejudice towards people (males specifically) who go outside their supposed masculine roles. The first was the pastor talking about how his school's swim
The other part was the Theory of Evolution and theology. I understand now why they must have felt threatened...if the Bible is the literal Word of God then Genesis is a fact not a metaphorical story...then the Big Bang, evolution and other theories that contradict these "facts" must be wrong. The pastor it's "Just a theory," disregarding what in science that actually means. Theories only exist due to ample evidence and empirically tested claims. In evolution a large part of this is in the fossil record and our own genetic code in which we can trace our ancestry.
The misunderstanding science was completed with the "Atheist Checklist," which was a tract that the pastor's father gave to me. The tract is written by Ray Comfort who argues that because a banana is color coded for when it's ripe, spoiled or developing, and can be held in the human hand that clearly it was designed by God. It is like a Coco-Cola can created by humans Ray implies. What he misses though is that bananas were domesticated and evolved to be the way they are by humans. Wild bananas look nothing like the ones Comfort describes. Just to touch on the problems with his hypothesis.That's why they are shaped the way are and edible. The checklist was insulting to science. It ended also with the Ten Commandments and a call to Jesus showing that again, it was apologist work for religion, not science.
The sermon was about when Jesus told his apostles that he would die and rise again on the third day. The pastor talked about how Jesus made things easy for us, just to accept him into our lives, but we like things difficult. He used the example people who chose not to buy a mix where you just add water, but bought the cooking mix when it required water and an egg. He also brought up faith verse works and that the Bible says it's faith alone but the surveys he said showed most denominations thought good works would get one into heaven. This is an issue for another post the faith verse works ideal in regards to virtue, but I will eventually get to it. Since it deals with the claims of a lot of faiths and human nature.
The service ended with a song we all sang together called "Lean on Jesus" and a final call to Jesus for someone to repent and confess along with the final prayer.
I'm planning on talking to the pastor about these things at some point. For to bash someone because they are a masculine female or a feminine male isn't virtuous, loving or just, and though Christianity is built on faith, in it's best form, it's about treating others with respect, dignity and love.
It's good to be visiting faith communities again...and meeting the people who believers of the different faiths and sects within the faiths. It's in these visits and conversations I think come to know God, humanity and myself better in the constant path of learning and growth.
Memorial of a Friend - Catholic Newman Center Prince of Peace Chapel - Seattle, WA - June 1st, 2011
Friends and community. Some of you have probably been wondering why I haven't been updating the blog at all. The reason I haven't is because I've been dealing with the death of a friend who was like a sister to me. It's strange really, while there at her memorial, funeral and burial I did feel that connection to her and something more...at times after that, I've wanted to visit churches and keep up the blog, but then I find I can't go.
Many times it's because I visit communities where I don't know anybody...I'm a stranger. I don't want to bring my vulnerability to strangers, to put it simply. Another reason is I think, is the issue of God and the afterlife for me. At the core, I think I am quite agnostic, I believe in living in the moment and now and in this life, not for a possible next, though I hope for God and an afterlife, and to see all friends, family and community again..I cannot know if God and the Afterlife exist with certainty.
I've never had a death hit me like it did that day at the memorial. It was week after she had died, and I arrived early and took the schedule for when she would be buried and when her funeral be, as well as the article in the UW Newspaper about her and sat on the couch to wait for more people to arrive. I looked at the schedule... the surrealness lessened and it really it him that she was gone. That was the first time I've cried in a long time.
The memorial was beautiful and powerful. A lot of my friends came, some who knew her, were related to her, or didn't know her at all...but came to support those who did.
It was being there with my girlfriend and friends that really helped the beginning of moving forward to acceptance and seeing her life in all her wholeness. She lived, and had a profound effect on all of us. The reading that was used to represent her life was the Beatitudes, for they represented who she was very well:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
She truly did live all these things...
The sermon was very evangelical in that it was calling everyone there to Christ as well, which I've come to expect from any Trinitarian Church, so it didn't feel completely out of place.This was also her Church speaking, and her Catholic faith meant so much to her.
I talked to the Priest after, since he's a friend of mine and to my others friends who came that day. We reflected for a while and the conversations helped with accepting her death that day, as did the sermon.
After talking to friends and the month since that day, I'm still allowing time to heal.
The sadness has been like water against the land. Sometimes it simply laps the shores. Other times it's stronger and comes in more inland, and at one point I was even it by a tsunami of the grief.
It's been strange. I've found myself both wanting to be alone and wanting to be with people contradictory more so since her death. I've wanted to reach out to talk about it, but found myself closing up. I think I may be at the place now where I can talk about it, about dealing with the grief of her loss and the joy of her friendship and life.
She would want me to live, and us to live. It's something that in the grief I've sometimes forgotten.
Many times it's because I visit communities where I don't know anybody...I'm a stranger. I don't want to bring my vulnerability to strangers, to put it simply. Another reason is I think, is the issue of God and the afterlife for me. At the core, I think I am quite agnostic, I believe in living in the moment and now and in this life, not for a possible next, though I hope for God and an afterlife, and to see all friends, family and community again..I cannot know if God and the Afterlife exist with certainty.
I've never had a death hit me like it did that day at the memorial. It was week after she had died, and I arrived early and took the schedule for when she would be buried and when her funeral be, as well as the article in the UW Newspaper about her and sat on the couch to wait for more people to arrive. I looked at the schedule... the surrealness lessened and it really it him that she was gone. That was the first time I've cried in a long time.
The memorial was beautiful and powerful. A lot of my friends came, some who knew her, were related to her, or didn't know her at all...but came to support those who did.
It was being there with my girlfriend and friends that really helped the beginning of moving forward to acceptance and seeing her life in all her wholeness. She lived, and had a profound effect on all of us. The reading that was used to represent her life was the Beatitudes, for they represented who she was very well:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
She truly did live all these things...
The sermon was very evangelical in that it was calling everyone there to Christ as well, which I've come to expect from any Trinitarian Church, so it didn't feel completely out of place.This was also her Church speaking, and her Catholic faith meant so much to her.
I talked to the Priest after, since he's a friend of mine and to my others friends who came that day. We reflected for a while and the conversations helped with accepting her death that day, as did the sermon.
After talking to friends and the month since that day, I'm still allowing time to heal.
The sadness has been like water against the land. Sometimes it simply laps the shores. Other times it's stronger and comes in more inland, and at one point I was even it by a tsunami of the grief.
It's been strange. I've found myself both wanting to be alone and wanting to be with people contradictory more so since her death. I've wanted to reach out to talk about it, but found myself closing up. I think I may be at the place now where I can talk about it, about dealing with the grief of her loss and the joy of her friendship and life.
She would want me to live, and us to live. It's something that in the grief I've sometimes forgotten.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Jesus Christ Superstar - Village Theatre - Issaquah, WA - May, 18th 2011
First many of you may be wondering why I'm choosing to blog about a show, a musical at that. I have a few reasons, first is its interpretation of Jesus, and from this are all the issues it talks about in relationship to humanity and what makes us human. I wish to touch on these themes in more than just the people who I talk to and the churches that I visit. Books and plays are also fair game for knowledge, growth, learning and experiencing of an individual's faith or one's own faith. In writing this I'm extending the blog to these areas.
The story of Jesus is a timeless story and the musical expresses as much in it's presentation. The story is based around the possible relationship between Jesus, Judas and Mary.This is a musical that has always meant so much to me. I grew up watching this show with my family. I think it wasthe rock that drew me in initially...as well as the characters. I'd only knew Judas as the 1 dimensional villain from Church and the Children's Bible books I had...and if he did exist, like all humans he was more complicated than a simple villain. "Jesus Christ Superstar" explores this and it immediately drew me in as a middle schooler and teenager. As a kid I also always like orcs and trolls and hated how an entire race could be made a one dimensional villain...I countered by twisting this around with my brother and was eventually rewarded as I got older in stories that explored orcs, trolls and in this Judas a shade of gray...human, flawed, relatable.
When I arrived the first thing I noticed was the stage: It was a broken down area blocked off by a fence reaching over fifteen feet high, covered in barbed wire. As we waited for the show to begin we heard the sounds of helicopters buzzing and search lights went over us and the stage before it went quite. Then the apostles and Mary entered. They were dressed like anarchists I've seen at Evergreen. Old hoodies that were to big, gloves where the fingers stick out, shirts that were un-styled and grungy hair...no one looked like they'd had a bath in ages, and all had a sense of anger and community about them. They greeted each other by placing their right hand against one another's hand in greeting. In them I saw so many Greeners (Evergreen students) whom I know in those people representing his apostles.
Jesus then arrived in the ally (he had light at his back in his entrance). He was in a slightly white hoody and a red run down scarf. Judas was wearing glasses, had a shoulder bag and an un-buttoned button up shirt. He wore a hat which completed his almost hacker like look. They apostles and Jesus then danced as Judas sang about how worried he was about Rome turning on them and Jesus not being aware of the consequences he could have for his people. "Listen Jesus to this warning I give...please remember that I want us to live!" This is the beginning of his disillusionment as he sees the people get more and more attached to Jesus the person and not his words. "You've begun to matter more than the things you say."
This then lead into the next scene where Mary Magdalene is attempting to comfort Jesus, Judas acting out of jealousy (it seemed) and want to save Jesus's image said he shouldn't associate with her since she's a prostitute and him being seen in an intimate way could ruin his image as a Holy Man. Jesus fights him (never seen this interpretation but Jesus tearing down the Temple did show he could be violent, this also played into the anger the group seemed sometimes prone too in being counter the status quo).
The scene with Caiphus plotting with the High Priests was in a business setting. He and the other high priests were in white long business suits with a pin, and had white yamakas on their heads. They were presented as people who profited from the status quo. They wouldn't be seen again in the conference room till Judas's loss of faith. To me they represented the disconnect between materialism and faith...when we get comfortable in our situation it's easy to see those comforts as the most important thing in life.
Next is "Hosanna" is Jerusalem. Jesus directly confronts the Priests saying "Even if the people stop singing the very rocks themselves would start to sing." Throughout this Judas is in the background, happy during "Hosanna" worried during Simon the Zealots song about overthrowing Rome, in which Jesus says none of them (Judas, Apostles, Jerusalem, Rome, The Priests) understand what power is.
Pilate is introduced next. In this production Pilate is a Military Dictator who looks like somewhat like former "President" Mubarak in dress. Rome is presented as Corporate interests as he's shaking hands with businesspeople in the temple in the next scene as cameras flash...showing how it was those interests that lead to the Temple losing it's holyness in a manner of speaking. Jesus then enters with two henchmen and throws down the tables and tears down the pictures (which look Victoria Secret, and other stores that sail clothing via appeal to sex aka people wearing almost nothing to sell clothes). The main theme was money and money fell on the first few rows after the "Temple Song" ended. It was a powerful message having Jesus and his 2 apostles tear down the pictures...it was "Stop this objectification, and exploitation." In a sense, people are a temple not to be used evily.
Next it was Mary comforting Jesus and Judas's further disillusionment thinking Jesus did the Temple act to look out for the poor and now he's just spending time with Mary getting doted on like a King and lover. They fight and Judas leaves to the High Priests. Mary then sings about not knowing how to love him, Jesus then sits up and they sleep together. Sex isn't applied and one way to interpret this is he was giving Mary what she needed (comfort and connection), they then sleep. Judas sees them and runs to the priests worried that Jesus has not only lost control of the apostles (Simon the Zealot's song) but himself as well (sleeping with Mary, contradicting his teachings in Judas's eyes).
The scene with the Priests is powerful as Judas clearly is conflicted about what he's doing. "I had no thought at all about my own reward. I really didn't come here on my own accord. Just don't say I'm, damned for all time..." This main chorus echoes as he nearly doesn't take the money the priest were Jesus is. Before he leaves with the money he sits and looks like the audience...lost in thought.
At intermission I found myself lost in thought. Part of the premise of Christianity is that Jesus had do to die for everyone to live...in that way, how much free will did Judas actually have according to Christianity? In Christianity Prophecy means something will happen and Jesus said he would be betrayed so that all could live...yet he also curses the one who would betray him saying, The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Mark 14:21
This brings up the problem of Evil and goodness of God once more...if God plans evil to happen in order for good and an innocent man suffers (or at least flawed man - Judas) then what does that say about God?
The next scene is the Garden of Gethsemane. The apostles and Mary arrive one by one and share a bong, while playing around with one another as Jesus watches in the distance. The act then begins as they sing "Look at all my trials and tribulations, sinking in a gentle pool of wine.... Always thought that I'd be an apostle, knew that I could make it if I tried.Then we retire, we can ride the Gospels so they'll still talk about us when we die."
Jesus then expresses his fear, distress and anxiety and tells Peter that Peter will deny him 3 times, and that one of his apostles will betray him. Judas says Jesus knows it is him. They argue and Judas leaves saying that things would have worked out differently if Jesus had, had a plan.
Jesus then has his moment in the garden singing about how he doesn't want to die. His passion in the song is overwhelming as he confronts a God he cannot see about his death. He ends the song accepting it. "I'll do what you started, I didn't start it. God thy will is hard. But you hold every card...I will drink your cup ofpoison . Nail me to your cross and beat me, but do it now, before I change my mind." The conflict is so great and shows Jesus wondering if a benevolent God who wants evil to be done to him, really even exists.
The soldiers in riot gear (the Garden is a broken area under a bridge it looked like) take Jesus away after he tells the Apostles to stop fighting them. One small moment that is powerful is when Judas had Mary retreat first...someone who he's always picked on. Judas act is to make sure the soldiers don't see her with Jesus.
The interrogation of Jesus by the soldiers is something out of the Middle East going on today with oppressive governments. For example how they go about interrogating Jesus with hitting him with their pistols, rifle buts and gloved hands is like something from the interrogation chambers Syria that Dorothy Parvaz the recently freed journalist wrote about:
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/2011518184325620380.html
The High Priests mock him and Judas watches in horror seeing how Jesus was abused during the arrest.
Peter's denials are next and he sings with Mary about starting over again with Jesus as Mary is now understanding his love and Peter now understands Jesus's situation (Peter gets rejected by the people and the apostles...the total outsider because of his denials).
Next is Pilate and Jesus. Pilate doesn't think Jesus deserves the time of day to even be considered and sends him on to Herod a flamboyant bisexual older male with lots of male and female concubines. He's getting a massage and is someone profiting majorly from the status quo. He sends Jesus on when Jesus doesn't do any miracles and refuses to talk to him.
Judas returns the money and pleads with the priests to let Jesus go. They say, "No" and Judas says he never knew how to love Jesus. The next scene he is given by rope by Jesus and a group of Anarchists in black dressed like death...he commits suicide in despair, blaming Jesus for it.
Jesus's trial is the next scene. Jesus refuses any "help" from Pilate and the people continue screaming for his death. Pilate keeps showing how Jesus is nothing and not worth it, while trying to make things easier for Jesus (except for the whipping) and then washes his hands and lets the people (who are dressed as middle class people who went along with the craze then went away when Jesus did nothing against Rome or to change anything in their eyes).
Jesus says his last words on the cross. "Into your hands I commend my spirit" after he forgives the people for crucifying him (one of the greatest acts of compassion and the greatest of the miracle of the story that I hope we all can live out if we're ever in that place where he was (sent to death when innocent after being humiliated). That act of compassion and love is how we all should strive to live. This is the part of the Jesus story that always meant the most to me. This total act of forgiveness is something I strive to live daily...holding onto bitterness, anger and resentment does nothing to solve problems and only hurts myself and those around me. Forgiveness allows for moving forward and moving on.
The final scene is Mary and Apostles taking Jesus off the cross. They go around him and as he is covered by the amount of people around him, a light comes down and they look up. The scene is left in a mystery and Jesus being God or an example of how we are children of God like him is up to debate. The fact that Brian Yorkey left the question open wassmart in my opinion. It ends on a mystery.
This in turn is an expression of the story of religion and the mysteries that happened or were created to understand the unknown. It was the best ending the show could've had in my opinion and the show itself was a beautiful expression of the humanity of Jesus and that there are more important things in the world then greed (The scene in the Temple), violence (Simon the Zealot's song) and that "The Kingdom is not of this world." It's something deeper and more unknown than that. Maybe it's whithin, or an actual reality outside this one (Another dimension we go to after death possibly? I'm not sure...). I was lucky to have gone and recommend it to anyone asking questions, interested politics, religion and musicals. By far Andrew Lloyd Webber's greatest musical and a wonderful interpretation of the characters and events surrounding "The Passion."
The story of Jesus is a timeless story and the musical expresses as much in it's presentation. The story is based around the possible relationship between Jesus, Judas and Mary.This is a musical that has always meant so much to me. I grew up watching this show with my family. I think it was
When I arrived the first thing I noticed was the stage: It was a broken down area blocked off by a fence reaching over fifteen feet high, covered in barbed wire. As we waited for the show to begin we heard the sounds of helicopters buzzing and search lights went over us and the stage before it went quite. Then the apostles and Mary entered. They were dressed like anarchists I've seen at Evergreen. Old hoodies that were to big, gloves where the fingers stick out, shirts that were un-styled and grungy hair...no one looked like they'd had a bath in ages, and all had a sense of anger and community about them. They greeted each other by placing their right hand against one another's hand in greeting. In them I saw so many Greeners (Evergreen students) whom I know in those people representing his apostles.
Jesus then arrived in the ally (he had light at his back in his entrance). He was in a slightly white hoody and a red run down scarf. Judas was wearing glasses, had a shoulder bag and an un-buttoned button up shirt. He wore a hat which completed his almost hacker like look. They apostles and Jesus then danced as Judas sang about how worried he was about Rome turning on them and Jesus not being aware of the consequences he could have for his people. "Listen Jesus to this warning I give...please remember that I want us to live!" This is the beginning of his disillusionment as he sees the people get more and more attached to Jesus the person and not his words. "You've begun to matter more than the things you say."
This then lead into the next scene where Mary Magdalene is attempting to comfort Jesus, Judas acting out of jealousy (it seemed) and want to save Jesus's image said he shouldn't associate with her since she's a prostitute and him being seen in an intimate way could ruin his image as a Holy Man. Jesus fights him (never seen this interpretation but Jesus tearing down the Temple did show he could be violent, this also played into the anger the group seemed sometimes prone too in being counter the status quo).
The scene with Caiphus plotting with the High Priests was in a business setting. He and the other high priests were in white long business suits with a pin, and had white yamakas on their heads. They were presented as people who profited from the status quo. They wouldn't be seen again in the conference room till Judas's loss of faith. To me they represented the disconnect between materialism and faith...when we get comfortable in our situation it's easy to see those comforts as the most important thing in life.
Next is "Hosanna" is Jerusalem. Jesus directly confronts the Priests saying "Even if the people stop singing the very rocks themselves would start to sing." Throughout this Judas is in the background, happy during "Hosanna" worried during Simon the Zealots song about overthrowing Rome, in which Jesus says none of them (Judas, Apostles, Jerusalem, Rome, The Priests) understand what power is.
Pilate is introduced next. In this production Pilate is a Military Dictator who looks like somewhat like former "President" Mubarak in dress. Rome is presented as Corporate interests as he's shaking hands with businesspeople in the temple in the next scene as cameras flash...showing how it was those interests that lead to the Temple losing it's holyness in a manner of speaking. Jesus then enters with two henchmen and throws down the tables and tears down the pictures (which look Victoria Secret, and other stores that sail clothing via appeal to sex aka people wearing almost nothing to sell clothes). The main theme was money and money fell on the first few rows after the "Temple Song" ended. It was a powerful message having Jesus and his 2 apostles tear down the pictures...it was "Stop this objectification, and exploitation." In a sense, people are a temple not to be used evily.
Next it was Mary comforting Jesus and Judas's further disillusionment thinking Jesus did the Temple act to look out for the poor and now he's just spending time with Mary getting doted on like a King and lover. They fight and Judas leaves to the High Priests. Mary then sings about not knowing how to love him, Jesus then sits up and they sleep together. Sex isn't applied and one way to interpret this is he was giving Mary what she needed (comfort and connection), they then sleep. Judas sees them and runs to the priests worried that Jesus has not only lost control of the apostles (Simon the Zealot's song) but himself as well (sleeping with Mary, contradicting his teachings in Judas's eyes).
The scene with the Priests is powerful as Judas clearly is conflicted about what he's doing. "I had no thought at all about my own reward. I really didn't come here on my own accord. Just don't say I'm, damned for all time..." This main chorus echoes as he nearly doesn't take the money the priest were Jesus is. Before he leaves with the money he sits and looks like the audience...lost in thought.
At intermission I found myself lost in thought. Part of the premise of Christianity is that Jesus had do to die for everyone to live...in that way, how much free will did Judas actually have according to Christianity? In Christianity Prophecy means something will happen and Jesus said he would be betrayed so that all could live...yet he also curses the one who would betray him saying, The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Mark 14:21
This brings up the problem of Evil and goodness of God once more...if God plans evil to happen in order for good and an innocent man suffers (or at least flawed man - Judas) then what does that say about God?
The next scene is the Garden of Gethsemane. The apostles and Mary arrive one by one and share a bong, while playing around with one another as Jesus watches in the distance. The act then begins as they sing "Look at all my trials and tribulations, sinking in a gentle pool of wine.... Always thought that I'd be an apostle, knew that I could make it if I tried.Then we retire, we can ride the Gospels so they'll still talk about us when we die."
Jesus then expresses his fear, distress and anxiety and tells Peter that Peter will deny him 3 times, and that one of his apostles will betray him. Judas says Jesus knows it is him. They argue and Judas leaves saying that things would have worked out differently if Jesus had, had a plan.
Jesus then has his moment in the garden singing about how he doesn't want to die. His passion in the song is overwhelming as he confronts a God he cannot see about his death. He ends the song accepting it. "I'll do what you started, I didn't start it. God thy will is hard. But you hold every card...I will drink your cup of
The soldiers in riot gear (the Garden is a broken area under a bridge it looked like) take Jesus away after he tells the Apostles to stop fighting them. One small moment that is powerful is when Judas had Mary retreat first...someone who he's always picked on. Judas act is to make sure the soldiers don't see her with Jesus.
The interrogation of Jesus by the soldiers is something out of the Middle East going on today with oppressive governments. For example how they go about interrogating Jesus with hitting him with their pistols, rifle buts and gloved hands is like something from the interrogation chambers Syria that Dorothy Parvaz the recently freed journalist wrote about:
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/2011518184325620380.html
The High Priests mock him and Judas watches in horror seeing how Jesus was abused during the arrest.
Peter's denials are next and he sings with Mary about starting over again with Jesus as Mary is now understanding his love and Peter now understands Jesus's situation (Peter gets rejected by the people and the apostles...the total outsider because of his denials).
Next is Pilate and Jesus. Pilate doesn't think Jesus deserves the time of day to even be considered and sends him on to Herod a flamboyant bisexual older male with lots of male and female concubines. He's getting a massage and is someone profiting majorly from the status quo. He sends Jesus on when Jesus doesn't do any miracles and refuses to talk to him.
Judas returns the money and pleads with the priests to let Jesus go. They say, "No" and Judas says he never knew how to love Jesus. The next scene he is given by rope by Jesus and a group of Anarchists in black dressed like death...he commits suicide in despair, blaming Jesus for it.
Jesus's trial is the next scene. Jesus refuses any "help" from Pilate and the people continue screaming for his death. Pilate keeps showing how Jesus is nothing and not worth it, while trying to make things easier for Jesus (except for the whipping) and then washes his hands and lets the people (who are dressed as middle class people who went along with the craze then went away when Jesus did nothing against Rome or to change anything in their eyes).
Jesus says his last words on the cross. "Into your hands I commend my spirit" after he forgives the people for crucifying him (one of the greatest acts of compassion and the greatest of the miracle of the story that I hope we all can live out if we're ever in that place where he was (sent to death when innocent after being humiliated). That act of compassion and love is how we all should strive to live. This is the part of the Jesus story that always meant the most to me. This total act of forgiveness is something I strive to live daily...holding onto bitterness, anger and resentment does nothing to solve problems and only hurts myself and those around me. Forgiveness allows for moving forward and moving on.
The final scene is Mary and Apostles taking Jesus off the cross. They go around him and as he is covered by the amount of people around him, a light comes down and they look up. The scene is left in a mystery and Jesus being God or an example of how we are children of God like him is up to debate. The fact that Brian Yorkey left the question open was
This in turn is an expression of the story of religion and the mysteries that happened or were created to understand the unknown. It was the best ending the show could've had in my opinion and the show itself was a beautiful expression of the humanity of Jesus and that there are more important things in the world then greed (The scene in the Temple), violence (Simon the Zealot's song) and that "The Kingdom is not of this world." It's something deeper and more unknown than that. Maybe it's whithin, or an actual reality outside this one (Another dimension we go to after death possibly? I'm not sure...). I was lucky to have gone and recommend it to anyone asking questions, interested politics, religion and musicals. By far Andrew Lloyd Webber's greatest musical and a wonderful interpretation of the characters and events surrounding "The Passion."
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