Finding Joy in the Journey--Spoken Word Delivered by Lloyd D. Newell

Finding Joy in the Journey	Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell
Life can be hard. Ask anyone. Daily, it seems, the media brings wars, natural disasters, destruction, and gloom right to our front rooms—all of this piled on top of the personal challenges and disappointments we’re already facing. It’s enough to make it difficult for us to see the joy in the journey of life. But it is there. How can we find it? How can we focus so that we feel it and make good cheer our mantra? The great American philosopher Henry David Thoreau "used to lie abed for awhile in the morning telling himself all the good news he could think of; that he had a healthy body, that his mind was alert, that his work was interesting, that the future looked bright, that a lot of people trusted him. [Then] he arose to meet the day in a world filled for him with good things, good people, good opportunities.”1 We can do the same. We can, like Thoreau, begin the day searching the quiet chambers of our hearts for good memories and good omens. We can be like a child, quick to forgive, easy to please, able to find joy in the seemingly insignificant—because nothing that brings true joy is insignificant. In the process we will muster courage, hopefulness, and bright resolve to face the day, and we may be able to help others see how much good news life really does hold. The best in each one of us is much more profound than the pressures on every side. Thoreau spoke well when he said, "You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.”2 1 Norman Vincent Peale, Enthusiasm Makes the Difference, rev. ed. (2003), 17. 2 The Writings of Henry David Thoreau: Journal, March 2, 1859–November 30, 1859, ed. Bradford Torrey (1906), 159. Program 4262 Musical Selections: 1. The Heavens are Telling Franz Josef Haydn; Public Domain 2. Look to the Day John Rutter; Collegium Music 3. In Joyful Praise Laurence Lyon; Harold Flammer (Organ solo) 4. He Shall Feed His Flock John Ness Beck; Beckenhorst Press 5. Spoken Word 6. Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, from Oklahoma Richard Rodgers; arr. Arthur Harris; Arrangement Unpublished 7. Redeemer of Israel Freeman Lewis; arr. Mack Wilberg; Hinshaw Music

The Bridge of Love--Spoken Word Delivered by Lloyd D. Newell

The Bridge of Love

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Some of the most recognizable structures in the world are bridges. They connect islands to mainlands; they span rivers, streams, and vast caverns. Bridges, whether new or old, come in all kinds of configurations: a log thrown over a brook, a maze of vines spanning the forest floor, a footpath of rocks, a landmark on a country road, an ancient succession of arches, or an architectural wonder that is as much a work of art as a useful road from here to there. There are bridges in our lives as well. They are not shaped of steel, rock, or timber, nor are they always prominent or even visible. Bridges in our lives are often quiet acts that make connections and help us cross over obstacles in our paths. The story is told of a man who arranged for Korean children to come to his community for needed heart surgery. He spoke no Korean, so when the first little girl arrived, he used hand signs and drew pictures to help the frightened six-year-old feel comfortable. When the nurses came to take her to the operating room, tears filled her eyes, but she lifted her arms up to her new friend, as if to request that he take her wherever it was she was going. He did just that—carrying her down the long hall, her arms wrapped tightly around him and the orderly pushing an empty stretcher behind them. There were many differences between them—culture, language, race, and age—but in those few precious moments, love bridged them all.1 What a lesson for us. There are bridges that connect us one to another, just as there are cables and concrete that reach across otherwise impassable chasms. We connect with kindness and trust, with generosity and sheer goodness, with concern for others. This kind of bridge is built on the firm foundation of love. 1. See Bill Halamandaris, Be the Light: A Blueprint for a Happy and Successful Life (1999), 87–88. Program #4210 Musical Selections: 1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Stralsund Gesangbuch 1665; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford University Press 2. For the Beautiy of the Earth Conrad Kocher; arr. Mack Wilberg; Arrangement Unpublished 3. Land Sighting (Discovery) Edvard Greig; Oliver Ditson 4. Simple Gifts (Organ solo) Shaker Melody; arr. Richard Elliott; Jackman Music 5. Never Never Land from Peter Pan Jule Styne; arr. Mack Wilberg; Edwin H. Morris & Co. 6. Spoken Word 7. How Firm a Foundation J. Ellis; arr. Mack Wilberg; Arrangement Unpublished

The Silver Lining--Spoken Word Delivered by Lloyd D. Newell

The Silver Lining

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

An old proverb reminds us to look for the silver lining in every cloud. But are the cloudy periods of our lives really lined with silver? Can something good and hopeful really be found in a setback or disappointment? Sometimes it’s difficult to find those silver linings. It may not be until later, even many years later, that we see the good that came from a hardship or trial. Who has not had a dream dashed or felt rejected or disheartened at times? “What happens to the dreamers, all those people whose lives haven’t turned out as they hoped and planned?” asked Rabbi Harold S. Kushner. “The question is not, Can I get through life without some failures and rejections? because you can’t, and the more you aspire to in your life, the more you yearn for, the more scars you will accumulate along the way. The real question is, How will you respond to those disappointments? Will you respond with bitterness, envy, and self-doubt, or with resilience and wisdom?”1 For example, a college student felt distressed when he wasn’t admitted to the graduate school he wanted, but in retrospect, he feels that he found more satisfaction in his second choice. Similarly, a young girl lost a school election but developed inner strength as she learned to pick herself up and try again. A middle-aged man laid off from his job enjoyed spending more time with his family while working to retool and shift careers. All these, in time, found the silver linings. Looking for a silver lining means choosing how we will respond to the dark clouds that come into our lives. We can hold on to hope and faith; we can decide to move forward; we can change for the better as we look for silver linings. Overcoming Life’s Disappointments (2006), 50. Program #4209 Musical Selections: 1. Brethren, We Have Met to Worship William Moore; arr. Mack Wilberg; Arrangement Unpublished 2. My Song in the Night American Folk Hymn; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford University Press 3. Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound (Organ solo) Southern Harmony, 1835; arr. Robert Hebble; Sacred Music Press 4. Gloria in Excelsis Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Public Domain 5. The Morning Trumpet B.F. (Benjamin Franklin) White; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford University Press 6. Spoken Word 7. Look for the Silver Lining Jerome Kern; arr. Arthur Harris; Manuscript 8. Thou Lovely Source of True Delight Mack Wilberg; Oxford University Press

Priceless to Her Children--Spoken Word Delivered by Lloyd D. Newell

Priceless to Her Children

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Whenever a camera scans a cheering crowd at a ballgame, very often an excited fan will wave and shout, “Hi, Mom!” When a young man holds open a door for an elderly couple, he is likely to be told that his mother obviously raised him well. And countless individuals daily catch themselves repeating Mother’s words: “Better safe than sorry.” “Waste not, want not.” “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” and so on. Mothers have such tremendous influence in our lives that it’s no wonder we frequently hear stories, poems, and songs idealizing motherhood. Some mothers may feel that they don’t measure up to that high standard, but if only they could see themselves the way their children see them, they might realize how valiant they truly are, despite their imperfections. Mothers have accepted the most important job on earth: to train and nurture precious children. Surely our Maker sees their efforts, hears their prayers, and counts their tears. A young mother expressed her worries about her two little boys to an older woman whose children were grown. The experienced mother smiled and shared this wisdom: “When children know they are loved, it covers a host of parenting mistakes.” Twenty-five years later, the once-insecure mother has seen that this is absolutely true. Her now-grown children, happy and secure in their mother’s love, overlook her shortcomings. She is their mother, she loved them, she tried to do her best, and in the end that’s all that really mattered. Every mother needs to hear that every once in a while—especially from her children. Perhaps today we can take a moment to mother our mothers a bit and assure them that they’re wonderful—just as they have told us so many times in our moments of self-doubt. Not just today, but every day, they need to know that a mother is a precious jewel, each one different, but each one priceless to her children. Program #4208 Musical Selection: 1. Morning Has Broken Traditional Gaelic Melody; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford University Press 2. Evening Prayer, from Hansel and Gretel Engelbert Humperdinck; arr. Wallingford Reigger; ad. by Michael Davis; Arr. Harold Flammer; ad. Unpublished 3. All Through the Night (Organ solo) Traditional; arr. Clay Christiansen; Jackman Music 4. Hush Little Baby American Lullaby; arr. Mack Wilberg; Arr. Unpublished 5. I Often Go Walking Jeanne P. Lawler; arr. Nathan Hofheins; Arr. Unpublished 6. Spoken Word 7. You Raise Me Up Rolf Loveland & Brendan Graham; arr. Nathan Hofheins; Arr. Unpublished 8. It's a Grand Night for Singing from State Fair Richard Rodgers; arr. Arthur Harris; Arr. Unpublished

Fight the Good Fight--Spoken Word Delivered by Lloyd D. Newell

Fight the Good Fight

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Some see life as a battle, with competitors on every side. They fight for parking spaces and places in lines, for jobs and opportunities, for advancement and recognition. Each day seems to be a fight to stay ahead and win at all costs. Yes, life can be competitive—but it doesn’t have to pit us against each other. The fight of life is most often against discouragement and fear, against tragedies and setbacks—and these are enemies that we all face at one time or another. In this battle, we are not competitors but teammates. To be successful, we need each other. Even the most challenging trials seem more manageable when a friend or loved one stands beside us. Sometimes just knowing that we’re not alone is enough to help us stay hopeful. Some 2,000 years ago, the Apostle Paul said toward the end of his life, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul’s life was not without tribulation and suffering, but at the end of it all, his faith and hope were strong with the sweet assurance that he had fought a good fight. However, Paul did more than just fight his own good fight. It was just as important to him to strengthen others in their struggles, encouraging them, as he did in a letter to his young friend Timothy, to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Whenever we see those who live for many years with disabilities and disadvantages and yet do the best they can, we gain courage to face our own trials. We’re inspired by others who, while experiencing their own heartache and sorrow, somehow find a way to reach out to others in love and kindness. We draw strength from so many who every day are fighting the good fight of faith and hope despite overwhelming challenges. They refuse to become bitter and have chosen instead to become better and, in a remarkable way, to help those around them become better too. These are difficult days for many. Today, more than ever, we need to help each other fight the good fight with all our might. Program #4207 Musical Selections: 1. Rejoice, the Lord Is King John Darwell; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford University Press 2. Let the Whole Creation Cry Robert Leaf; Augsburg Publishing 3. Pilgrim's Chorus from Tannhauser Richard Wagner; G Schirmer 4. Aria on "Jewels" (Organ Solo) Dale Wood; Sacred Music Press 5. Spoken Word 6. Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might John Gardner; Oxford University Press 7. Come to My Garden from My Secret Garden Lucy Simon; arr. Kurt Bestor; ABCDE Publishing; arr. Pinnacle Music Group 8. The Lord Bless You and Keep You John Rutter; Oxford University Press

Blessed with the Sound of Music--Spoken Word Delivered by Lloyd D. Newell

Blessed with the Sound of Music

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Arturo Toscanini, famed music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, was well known for his weekly broadcasts that carried beautiful music into the homes and hearts of millions. One of those was a lonely sheepherder in the desolate mountains of Wyoming. One day Toscanini received a rumpled note from this far-off listener with an unusual plea. “I have only two possessions,” the man wrote, “a radio and an old violin. The batteries in my radio are getting low and will soon die. My violin is so out of tune I can’t use it. Please help me. . . . When you begin your [next] concert, sound a loud ‘A’ so I can tune my ‘A’ string; then I can tune the other strings.” As requested, the next week Toscanini had his orchestra sound a perfect A just for that listener so he might tune his violin and, when his radio batteries died, he could still have beautiful music.1 We need and love music. We may sing along with the radio in the car, whistle while we work, or even sing in the shower. Words put to music seem to say more than they do without it. And when we hear good news of any kind, we declare that it’s “music to our ears.” Music is more than just entertainment. It is a good friend and companion; it can bring us peace when we are grieving and hope when things are hard. How that happens we don’t exactly know, but something about music reaches into our souls and heals, lifts, and inspires us. A few of us may remember playing tunes on a gramophone; today it might be a cell phone, but the result is the same—a lift in our step, a light in our eyes, and a sense that we may, at any minute, break into song, filled with gratitude that our hearts are “blessed with the sound of music.”2 1 See David B. Haight, “People to People” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 54. 2 Oscar Hammerstein, “The Sound of Music,” 1959. Program #4206 Musical Selection 1. Saints Bound for Heaven Walker's Southern Harmony, 1835; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford University Press 2.Gloria from Lord Nelson Mass Franz Joseph Haydn; Public Domain 3. All Things Bright and Beautiful (Organ solo) English folk tune; arr. DAle Wood; Sacred Music Press 4. The One Hundred Fiftieth Psalm Howard Hanson; Carl Fischer, Inc. 5. Be Thou My Vision Traditional Irish Melody; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford Univeristy Press 6. Spoken Word 7. The Sound of Music from The Sound of Music Richard Rodgers; arr. Arthur Harris; Arrangement Unpublished 8. The Morning Breaks George Careless; arr. Mack Wilberg; Arrangement Unpublished

Timeless Values--Spoken Word Given by Lloyd D. Newell

Timeless Values

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Tough economic times can teach us great truths. They give us opportunity to reflect on our values and what’s most important in life. One columnist observed that tough times raise important “questions about our … priorities; our habits of the heart; our measures of success; the values of our families and our children; our spiritual well-being; and the ultimate goals and purposes of life—including our economic life. … We don’t want to miss the opportunity to rediscover our values.”1 It may seem unusual to call economic hardship an opportunity, but many people are finding that it’s true. They’re learning that while financial security doesn’t seem that secure, certain moral values are. One man who struggled to find employment said, “I’ve learned . . . who I can count on and how much I love my family; I’ve learned to live more modestly, that integrity and honesty matter, that when everything seems dark, there’s always hope.” Periods of financial difficulty remind us of the value of thrift, or the ability to be frugal and live within our means. When we’re feeling the effects of someone’s dishonesty, we see more clearly the importance of integrity, or the alignment of our beliefs with our actions. When the outlook seems bleak, that’s a good time to rediscover hope, to believe that things will get better. Timeless values like these don’t go out of fashion or change with the shifting winds and changing fads of the season. Like giant granite boulders, they stand strong and true in all generations, places, and circumstances. But sometimes we don’t recognize their importance until we have to rely on their strength. Tough times come and go, but these timeless values do not. They keep us steady and hopeful. Now might be a good time to seriously consider again, to discover anew, the values that stand the test of time. Don’t miss this opportunity to rediscover what matters most. 1. Jim Wallis, “Good News about a Bad Economy,” AARP Bulletin Today, Mar. 1, 2010, http://bulletin.aarp.org/opinions/othervoices/articles/opinion_good_news_about_a_bad_ economy.html. Program #4205 Musical Selection 1. Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah John Hughes, arr. Mack Wilberg; Jackman Music 2. Ave Verum Corpus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Public Domain 3. Fidelis (Organ solo) Percy Whitlock; Oxford University Press 4. Let Us with a Gladsome Mind Alan Ridout; Stainer & Bell 5. Spoken Word 6. Look to the Day John Rutter; Collegium Music 7. Ride the Chariot Spiritual, arr. Wm. Henry Smith; Max T. Krone 8. Bring, O Morn, Thy Music! Howard Helvey; Alfred Publishing