Corona Virus Prayer Text and Podcast Link

Find my podcast link below. It is the audio version of my blog post.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/44623857(reposted 5.4.21 due to deletion)

Today is May 4,2021 and I am topping this Coronavirus prayer of March 26, 2020 for those who missed it.

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/34174101(broken link)

Spirit filled prayers and needed action work well together. God will fill in the gaps and make groans and utterances and intercede for us when we don't know what to pray for. God has always guided the community of faith in times of calamity. Anyone can take time out to pray. Wherever you are, whenever the spirit moves you, you can pray for yourself, your family, your community. The prayers of the righteous availeth much.

Cleaning hands with hot soapy water, disinfecting and taking other recommended actions to assure that germs are not spread are usually things that our common sense in the regular course of cleaning and past experiences with cold and flu viruses has led us to do. But the uncertainties of this virus has filled the atmosphere with fear, anxiety and near hysteria because it can be fatal and no known vaccines exist or have been made available to the public.

For the faithful community of believers, calling on God, our maker, creator of the universe, firmament, earth, giver and restorer of life-- should be our first action.

 Guided by Holy Spirit, the 91st Psalm came to mind. Inspired and motivated by God's blessed living and written word, the following prayer: 

Dear God in this time of sweeping and unsettling global fear from 'modern' pestilence and plague more commonly known as Covid-19, (Corona Virus) we ask that you would first still our hearts and minds in prayer and praise across the world in places and communities stricken by this virus.  Let us not forget how mighty and awesome you are! 

Most high God we know that you inhabit our praise, so let us remember to give you all the praise, honor and glory for waking us up this morning, healthy and strong, in our right minds, still fortified by your loving grace and promise to never leave us alone, to provide comfort, to come to our aid when we call upon you for deliverance from the "terror by night and the noisome pestilence by day",in addition to other disease, chaos and turmoil. Unify us across the globe in our humanity and have mercy. 

While our religious and spiritual beliefs and practices may differ, remind us that we can still all pray to God for mercy and healing grace. We can call on God for all that is needed to defeat this scourge and restore health to our villages, cities, counties,states and countries as we take necessary measures recommended by doctors and scientists who have knowledge and experience about this virus. We pray that you will work through them and guide them in finding a cure. Help us to love and do right by our neighbors as we seek a cure.

 Finally, call upon the most holy and mighty God, of all faith denominations, all that is good and true and powerful to embolden and restore our trust and faith. Deliver and heal all of God’s children whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or other traditional religions from Corona virus while defeating its accompanying chaos and confusion.

Finally as Christian, I call upon the healing power, favor and grace of Jesus to deliver.

Bless us with peace, divine order, calm and a cure.

Amen.

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Grammy-Winning Musician Esperanza Spalding Tells Her Story

Grammy-Winning Musician Esperanza Spalding Tells Her Story: Grammy-winning Jazz musician Esperanza Spalding tells PBS television host Christiane Amanpour's Walter Isaacson, in an interview, about the impact she is making on music and the healing power of sound.

I had an opportunity to attend a Masterclass taught by her and another critically acclaimed and Grammy winning jazz musician at Detroit's Carr Center. It was clear that she has an ingenious method of relating to her students, zeroing in on their unique talent, while encouraging them to exceed what they've already been taught and get in touch with their highest musical levels. Her lecture actually energized everyone in the room.

Holiday Greetings in Music:Jazzy Christmas Songs Playlist

Dear Friends:

Happy Holidays. Wishing you all a  Happy Hannukah, A  Very Merry Christmas, a Joy filled New Year and a Happy Kwanza! Here's some Jazz flavored Holiday songs that I curated, creating a playlist especially  for you to uplift and comfort your spirits during this season, the most wonderful time of the year to many.

 Your comments and greetings are welcome. Please post them in the comment section below this post. I have selected this as a featured post from now until the New Year holiday for obvious reasons.[but the Blogger platform is not responding]. Please enjoy and make sure you tune into my podcast for a preview of some of these special tunes before each episode. Follow the link near the blog header above. Again, wishing you and yours a safe, healthy and joyful holiday season.

“Jesus is King”

Pictured below is the color photo I referred to in my linked Instagram post of the facade marquis of Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit, Michigan. I photographed it while outside of the venue on the evening Kanye West was performing one of his groundbreaking gospel concert/church services there on September 28, 2019. 

Check out my related Instagram post at this link.

Oscars So Inclusive

Regina King's Best Supporting Actress win, Black Panther's multiple technical wins including two black women for Best Costume Design and Production Design, Mahershala Ali's Best Supporting Actor win and Spike Lee's Oscar triumph, receiving his first competitive award after so many years was satisfying to witness. Then there was Roma and Rami Malek's win. From beginning to end the show appeared to proceed historically for blacks, progressively for women, Latinos, immigrants and LGBT at a swift pace without a host and without a hitch. I don't know what went on behind the scenes. Beginning with Queen's and Adam Lambert's "Rock You", diversity was the theme that ran through the show.

Despite having  no official host-Amy Poehler, Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph did a humorous job as introductory hosts. It was a nice peripheral touch shining a light on  the band stand where Ricky Minor,  African American band director was briefly spotlighted.

Ruth Carter and Hannah Beachler made history as two of the first Black women to receive Oscars for Best Costume Design and Production Design. During Carter's speech she paid homage to her 97 year old mother and  also gave Spike Lee props for giving her a start in the industry.  Congressman John Lewis' introduction of the Green Book movie preview and Mahershala Ali's Best Supporting Actor win which forshadowed the film's surprising Best Picture win to Barbra Streisand's poignant introduction of Spike Lee's Klansman. Her acknowledgement that they were both from Brooklyn and his subsequent win for Best Adaptation of a Screenplay followed by a speech that exhorted folks to get to the polls in 2020 and "Do the Right Thing", was made in touching and exuberant homage to ancestors. Rami Malek's Best Actor win for Bohemian Rhapsody and portrayal of LGBT musician Freddie Mercury and his mention of his parents being Egyptian immigrants and Mexican director Alfoso Cuaron's win for Roma a tale about a woman who helped raise him were among a stream of highlights of last evening's inclusivity.

Rumblings of pre-show discord that filled the air concerning lack of a host for the show, Black Panther standing the risk of not being given its deserving accolades and other seeming diversions from the event, no host confirmed after controversy over #Kevin Hart and the lingering #Oscarssowhite matter initially concerning, were gently massaged and eventually resolved with a variety of brilliant performances, acceptance speeches and movie introductions by Jennifer Hudson, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Rami Malek, Mr. Key, Lady GaGa, Bradley Cooper and a host of others.

There were a few surprises as well. However, from the looks of things Glenn Close seemed to handle Olivia Colmans unexpected win for the Favourite with dignity and class.

Everybody's light seemed to be shining last night from the glitter,sparkles and shine of their fashions-Jennifer Lopez and Queen Latifah come immediately to mind- to the gleam in awardees eyes upon accepting their hard earned prizes. The brilliant 
speeches by Lady GaGa who gave a very  rousing message about her journey and the importance of not giving up on your dreams! That was very inspiring.

I enjoyed the show. This year was definitely an improvement over prior years in many respects. Evidence that people took concerns expressed to heart and worked behind the scenes to change perspectives and get good material I.e., scripts and stories into the hands of actors and producers. I was glad that the producers did not mess with the awards format and try and squeeze some of the awards in during commercial breaks.

Incidentally, the stage decoration was magnificent.

"This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine."