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What's not to love about the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series -- the marriage of man and machine, the sheer human drama, the connections to the Revised Common Lectionary:

NASCAR drivers are most often photographed on the track itself, with the pedal to the metal, as it were. Organists, likewise, are photographed with the pedals down to . . . whatever it is they hit down there.

But it is the pit crew and the organ technicians who do the real work behind the scenes. They make the driving possible. They make the music happen.

Matt Kenseth attributed his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win to the outstanding work done by his colleagues in the pit.

“'We had excellent pit stops,' said Kenseth" as reported by the New York Times.

"Stop" Note: Both organists and stock car drivers have to contend with "stop" terminology being coöpted by the populace: "pulling out all the stops" & "pit stops".

Jesus, this past Sunday, is also a clear winner. He is transfigured, with clothes so white not even the sponsor of the Tide Ride (of blesséd memory) could take credit. Marcos Ambrose and the Clorox crew had nothing to do with it (he finished 22^nd Sunday).

But this is not a solo performance by Jesus. He has his "pit crew" back-up singers: Moses and Elijah.

The disciples want to build houses for everyone (maybe using #17-approved DeWalt tools?), but they're way off the pace.

"This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!"

Labels: lectionary, sports

Mr. Lucas, I owe you an apology.

I began (I think) the custom of placing succession boxes in the Wikipedia articles of prominent church musicians. I started with some of the Cambridge college chapels, I worked on the succession for St. Thomas in New York, and I think I may have done a few for cathedrals in London, but I haven't done much since.

And even though we met about a year ago, I failed to add a succession box to your page.

I apologize.

That being said, however, I'm glad to see that you, or someone with the username Lucasorg took the liberty of adding the box on 27 September of last year.

I hope that other church musicians will follow Lucasorg's lead and help in the effort to make this information available to everyone.

Labels: web

Sinden.org is hearing a rumor that the name of Sibelius is being put forward to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.

This will certainly mean an increase in smoking and drinking.

Unclear if all Americans will live to be 91.

Labels: Jean Sibelius

What's not to love about the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series -- the marriage of man and machine, the sheer human drama, the connections to the Revised Common Lectionary:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Matt Kenseth’s voice wavered, the emotion pouring out as the rain poured down on Daytona International Speedway. Kenseth, the 2003 Cup champion, had lost the way to victory lane in the past year. But he found it again on Sunday at the most opportune moment, in the most important race of the year.

Bernstein, Viv. Kenseth’s Drought Ends in Rain at Daytona 500

    I will exalt you, O LORD,
    because you have lifted me up *
    and have not let my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 30:1

Kenseth made his move with 54 laps to go, using a push from Kevin Harvick to get past Sadler. Moments later, Aric Almirola crashed on the backstretch, bringing out a caution. The rain came shortly after that, ending the race.

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Labels: lectionary, sports

. . . Jose Antonio Abreu, a former economist and trained musician whose has introduced some 200,000 Venezuelan children to classical music, wants the TED community to create a similar program "for at least 50 gifted young musicians" in the United States and elsewhere.

Zetter, Kim. "TED Prize Winners Want Help Finding Life, Protecting Oceans and Creating Musical Kids". Wired 5 Feb 2009.

Labels: music

Felix Mendelssohn was born on this date in 1809.

Labels: Mendelssohn