Easter joy continues with beautiful uplifting music and more of the story of the first Easter in the Gospel of John and with the presence of George Kinder during and after worship. (You can read about the conversation with him after worship by clicking here.)
George Kinder is an author, Buddhist teacher and an internationally recognized leader in revolutionizing the financial advising industry from a focus on money as the highest value to the values of integrity, freedom and the fulfillment of individual life dreams.
George is also Pastor Tom Kinder’s brother. The two of them will be having a conversation during worship about the relationship between spiritual practice and transforming society.
George’s books include:
- The Seven Stages of Money Maturity, a spiritual and developmental way of evolving to the freest, most generous-hearted and joyful relationship with money;
- Life Planning for You which explains the EVOKE Life Planning process that he founded that is practiced by thousands of advisers around the world; and
- Transforming Suffering into Wisdom: Mindfulness and the Art of Inner Listening.
His new book, A Golden Civilization and the Map of Mindfulness, recognizes the urgent need to save the crumbling foundations of democracy and change human society to preserve the earth and establish a more just and sustainable civilization. It parallels the work our congregation has done envisioning the Golden Rule applied to social issues and public policies, and it relates as well to the ideals of the Green New Deal. George’s book explains in depth how mindfulness is the key to the vision of a Golden Civilization and to the ethics and creative energy we will need to make rapid change happen. He then talks about specific changes that need to be made.
George and Tom will look at the wisdom of a few Hebrew and New Testament scripture passages as they relate to the spiritual path to social transformation. The passages will include selections from Isaiah 30 and 60, John 20 and Acts 4.
The choir will sing two of their most joyful Introits and Choral Benedictions: “I Woke Up This Morning,” and “Halle, Halle, Halle,” the Caribbean Hallelujah. They will also sing the beautiful two part Anthem, “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” arranged by J. Koerts. Pianist Annemieke McLane will play two gorgeous sonatas by Scarlatti plus the brilliant, transcendent Allegro of J. S. Bach’s Italian Concerto. The congregation will sing “Now the Green Blade Riseth” and a medley of verses of Easter hymns, “Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day,” “The Day of Resurrection” and “Thine Is the Glory.”
Here is the entire Italian Concerto as an Easter treat, with the Allegro that we will hear as the first movement.
United Church of Strafford, Vermont 