Archbishop Desmond Tutu...standing ovation @ Grace Cathedral! High Drama, Pomp & Circumstance & Reserved seats!

 

That was a curious sight at Grace Cathedral bright-and-early this Sunday morning.

Church-goers turned out in their best finery an hour-or-so before the service was to commence to secure a seat in the grand house of worship on Nob Hill.

Why, pray tell?

As I noted in a post last week, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was slated to paticipate in a Mass at Grace to celebrate - "Last Sunday After the Epiphany" - as the Holy season of Easter commenced.

Post: 02/28/2011

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2011/02/archbishop-desmond-tututo-participate.html

As solemn parishioners scurried inside the awesome environs for coveted seats, I couldn't help but notice (with a little disappointment, I might add) that a few pews at the front of the Cathedral were roped off and reserved for special guests attending the much-anticipated event.

We're all equal in the eyes of God, after all, and no one is entitled to pull strings - at the expense of another - to nab a special perch (at least not in the Lord's sacred place of prayer).

Personally, I feel that if the faithful want to get an up-close-and-personal gander at someone like the Archbishop, that they should arrive early like the rest of the common folk to guarantee their cushy spot.

Don't 'ya think?

I was surprised that this wasn't at-all obvious to the powers-on-high - the most pious - who run Grace!

If any of the Grace regulars (or tourists)  were miffed, however, they weren't inclined to express their feelings (not outwardly, at least).

Indeed!

Once inside the impressive carved doors, the faithful throngs - lookie loos, too - snapped up all the available seats willy-nilly (as the Choir rehearsed gloriously in the background out-of-sight at the front of the Cathedral and the organist struck up a riveting note or two).

By the time the service began at 11 o'clock, there was standing room only, by golly!

The Mass amounted to a lot of high drama, and pomp and circumstance, performed with a lot of calculated ritual.

I joked to one bloke about the rousing hymns being banged out melodramatically (and with great fervor) by an overzealous organist.

"So - "Phantom of the Opera" - eh?"

"Dark," he gleefully quipped, as we both broke into a little chuckle (which signalled we were both on the same wavelength (and of like mind and spirit).

Surely, I don't have to remind anyone, that the devout are capable of communing with God in the calm serenity of their home or in natural surroundings at the local park.

And, always be mindful that God frowns upon those who make a show of their prayers in public!

Just before the service commenced, I asked a fellow next to me to pass over an envelope for my offering, from a raft of papers in a cubby-hole just opposite his seat.

But, as it turned out, the pews were only stocked with a few Hymn books and Informational cards to fill in for the express purpose of requesting a newsletter and/or details on programs and services at the respected Church.

"They probably want you to fill the card in," he whispered.

So, I complied with his suggestion, right off-the-bat.

When the collection plate was handed to me, I plopped the card and my donation inside, with little ado.

A few short minutes later after the "spoils" were emptied into a larger basket - and paraded down the center aisle - I caught sight of my request card a-top a mound of cash as it floated by a few feet away in a young priest's hands.

"What a good omen," I thought to myself.

At this juncture, the Archbishop took the occasion to offer up a chat on the meaning of "Transfiguration".

The well-received - diminutive man-of-the-cloth - spiced up his sermon with a handful of humorous quips which appealed to the congregation.

A bit of levity goes a long way, after all.

"If you're walking down the street, give the sign of the cross to a passer-by," he urged. 

"Inside, quietly. So you don't get clobbered."

The parishioners roared!

"And, when you're stuck in traffic, bless all the drivers around you."

At the end of his inspiring sermon, the mesmerized crowd jumped to their feet, and gave the beaming speaker a rousing standing ovation!

"I thought you retired," the Reverend quipped, in the aftermath.

In response, a ripple of laughter trickled through the pews.

"Well, you're welcome to visit us at Grace, anytime."

A few moments later - when the procession filed down the center aisle - I managed to reach out and shake the Archbishop's hand.

"God Bless you."

He responded in kind.

After the service, volunteers at Grace offered up delicious pancakes, mouth-watering fruit, and strong jolts of coffee in paper cups.

The room was electric and the spirits were high.

On that note, I departed, with a bounce in my step.

Then, guess what?

On the sidewalk below, I spied $10.00, waiting to be snatched up.

Uh-huh!

God moves in mysterious ways.

Amen!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Grand environs of Grace Cathedral awesome!

God's mysterious ways...the gift of healing! Grace Cathedral in San Francisco!

 



Healing Hands!

Once again, God's mysterious ways have astounded me!

For instance, the night before last, I stumbled across a book on "Healing" (by chance?) based on the teachings of an Eastern Master which ring just as true today as when they were first published a half-a-century ago by a San Francisco publishing house!

In fact, as I read the spiritual passages therein - I was immediately struck by the fact that the ideas set forth by the authentic Guru - were along-the-lines of a handful of philosophical musings gleaned from the yearnings of my own blessed heart over the past decade or two.

In particular, I found the theories - that articulated on the principles behind "healing", "purification", and "magnetism" - resonated with truth to the very core of my being!

Needless to say, I was not at all surprised when I ran smack-dab into a mystical experience bright-and-early the next morning - and a brush with the Lord - as I trekked up California Street into the tony environs of Nob Hill.

Indeed!

Shortly after I strolled into GRACE CATHEDRAL (one of my favorite Churches in the Bay area), I was suddenly bathed in pool of rainbow colors by virtue of a stream of light shining through a stained-glass window from on high above me.

On the heels of the cleansing awakening, the Church bells suddenly rang out!

"For whom do the bells toll?" I wondered to myself.

At this juncture, it came to my attention that a service was about to commence in a small Chapel at the front of the spectacular Cathedral.

I quickly ushered myself into a seat just as the Priest began to utter up the first words of the scriptures to the solemn parishioners humbly gathered there.

Lo & Behold!

Subject matter in the stray book on "Healing" (which I came across the evening before) was the focus of her Sermon at Grace!

In fact, at one point - the Priest asked if anyone recalled a little tune with lyrics that went something like - "this little light of mine".

Within a few precious seconds, I found myself singing out.

"This little light of mine. I'm going to let it shine!"

In response, the Priest nodded her joyous approval from the podium up front!

In a round-about-way, my ambition to sing in the Church was fulfilled at long last.

Offers for this tenor to sing for his supper in the future are graciously accepted!

Contact

i.julian@yahoo.com

After the service, a man spied the book on healing in my hand, and trotted up to quiz me.

"What is that you are reading there?"

Suddenly, I found myself giving a brief dissertation on the power of "healing".

"Did you know that if you open up your heart, you can heal the world?" I found myself blurting out.

It hit me like a thunderbolt.

God was bestowing upon me the gift of healing!

Amen!



Holy Spirit is present!

Justin Bieber...Mom says Pop Idol's talents a gift from God!

 

According to Justin Bieber's Mother, the Pop sensation's meteoric rise to superstardom was no accident.

In this month's issue of Vanity Fair - Justin graces the front cover - the dotting parent attributes the phenomenal success (and launch of the kid's talent into the stratosphere) to Divine Intervention.

Allegedly, Bieb's Mother was floundering around (buoyed down) at one point in her life because of a nasty problem with alcohol and drug addiction.

"One day I met God," she confided to the reporter who penned the insightful feature for the trendy magazine which hit the stands at supermarkets at the tail-end of this week.

It is her sincere belief that the Lord blessed her son with his gifts to share with the world.

Personally, I don't find the notion particularly startling.

A couple of years ago, I experienced a visitation from the Holy Spirit, so I am inclined to believe the woman.

In what amounts to a tell-all interview the Pop Star's Mother fessed up - that from the beginning - she was wary of hiring "yes" men when her son was first began to pursue his music career on YouTube and other high profile social hubs on the Internet.

"I was afraid he'd become a bit of a Diva," she stated matter-of-fact.

Ma'am the kid turned out alright, you betcha!

The publicity still on the first page of the Vanity Fair in-depth chat is a real hoot.

Justin is covered with smooch marks on his face, as a gaggle of girls press up against the window outside, and pine for his undying love (or at least a glance their way, for starters).

The spread is an ultra-slick promotion at its tippy-top best when it comes to the magazine trade!

What's next?

A coveted feature in Fortune 500?

Just maybe, when you consider that the sexy heartthrob was one of the biggest money-makers in the music business this past year. 

In fact, the numbers are staggering!

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

A little flesh tease is titillating!

Pure of Heart...quote!

If your actions are pure of heart

There will be no harm

Julian Ayrs

Divine Grace

Collection of Poems

Shepherds...pay tribute to baby Jesus! Praise God...(Luke 2:15-18)

And, it came to pass as the Angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another:

"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

And, they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.

And, when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.

And, all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

And, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:15-18
The Holy Scriptures

http://www.julianayrs.com

Church of Blessed Sacrament...spiritually blind!

In the past few months I have felt a calling to reach out and find a way to give back to the community in some active capacity.

One Sunday morning, I awoke from a deep sleep, and a nagging little voice inside of me prompted me to take in Mass at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood.

Lo and Behold, as I crouched in the pew, the Priest noted the need for Deacons in the Church and asked that the Lord hear the prayer for one to appear.

I felt like the message was directed right at me!

Alas, after I penned a letter to the Priest - noting my interest - no one at the Blessed Sacrament even bothered to give me the courtesy of a reply.

Some Christians!

The Priests at the Blessed Sacrament are so blind spiritually, they are incapable of recognizing that the Lord answered their prayer.

Will he respond to the next one?

The incident confirms my belief that the spirit of God is not alighting in the empty houses of worship around the Nation - but rather - in the hearts and minds of the humble masses without need for ritual, pomp, or circumstance.

Amen!