WORDS OF FAITH
Now the work of Christmas begins; we see it in Joseph
John Tirro, Shopper News
Here as we’ve passed Christmas Day and most minds turn toward the secular holiday of New Year, I’d like to focus a little longer on the holy family, to see if we might open a bit to become more like them and less like the world around them at the time. In particular, I’d like to look at Joseph, because he’s notably in a supporting role, almost a walk-on part.
In this story, Jesus is God, more specifically the image or Word or self-expression of God; Mary is the mother of God, the one through whom God comes into the world, often likened to the church, which is also one through whom God comes into the world. (Side note, by the way, Luther made a distinction between the hidden, true church, that gathering of believers responding in faith to the gospel and administering the sacraments of baptism and communion on the one hand, and the visible, institutional church on the other, which is a worldly organization prone to failure like every other worldly thing; one is the in-breaking of heaven into the world, while the other is often hell on earth, especially when it aligns with empire, nation, power, pride, greed, etc.)
And Joseph is one called alongside Mary, to love and support her, to commit to the care of the one who bears the image of God and then, in due time, to care for Jesus, the image of God.
Jesus was born in a tumultuous time, to a people − Israel − who’d lived through near-constant tumultuous times and held their identity together through scripture, which is largely stories and poems about God bringing people through tumultuous times: the violence pre-flood, the violent flood, and the ark carrying people and animals forward (Genesis 4-9); the violence of Egypt, the threatening waters of the Nile, and the little ark carrying baby Moses forward (Exodus 1-2); the violence of the world generally, the wilderness, and the ark carrying scripture forward (Exodus 19-37); and now, the violence of the Roman empire, the same landscape of waters and wilderness, and Mary carrying the Word, the image of God, within her (Luke 2, Matthew 1).
In all this, people are experiencing God as a saving force and a caring, mysterious, powerful persona, raising life and love, teaching and guiding us, through each other, to abundance. And it’s hard, really hard. The threats come from without and within, and Joseph − like all of us, moment to moment − faces a turning point.
Mary is pregnant with a child not his (Matthew 1:18). An angel comes to him in a dream and says, “Joseph… do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit… you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins… When Joseph awoke… he did as the angel… commanded…” (vv20-24).
In the midst of a tumultuous world, whom might God be asking you to love and support?
John Tirro is pastor of worship at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Info: sjlcknox.org.
NORTH KNOXVILLE
Carol Cart brings musical holiday celebration, community
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
On Dec. 21, the night of the Winter Solstice, visitors to and residents of downtown Knoxville were treated to a unique holiday event by the Carol Cart, the annual mobile musical celebration presented by Make Music Knoxville.
Kicking off from the parking lot of O.P. Jenkins Furniture Store, the festively dressed, colorful band of merry musicians made its way through the heart of the Old City and downtown, stopping at local businesses such as Merchants of Beer, Jacks of Knoxville, Mast General Store and Status Dough, offering original and familiar songs, singalongs and laughter to holiday shoppers and revelers.
Begun by Pennsylvania-and-New-York-City transplant Nick Horner with help from the Arts & Culture Alliance and the Downtown Knoxville Alliance, the Carol Cart includes well-known local musicians as well as hobbyists, newcomers, and everyone in between. The lineup is ever-changing.
For this, their biggest event of the year, they pull out all the stops, hitching a ride courtesy of the KISS Caboose − the Knoxville Information Shuttle Service that offers free, but tip-encouraged, rides all over downtown Knoxville.
The parent organization of the Carol Cart, Make Music Knoxville, was founded in 2020 by Horner with help from producer and performer Travis Tench of Oak Hill Studio and Chris Lamb of Real Knoxville Music Inc. With its roots in Make Music Day, an initiative promoted and supported by the National Association of Music Merchants, Make Music Knoxville is one of many chapters internationally.
“‘One hundred countries, a thousand cities,’” recites Horner. “It’s outdoor free participatory music.”
Horner is no stranger to getting people out and about for some melodious fun; he also founded Porch Stomp, New York’s biggest free folk festival, now in its 10th year.
Horner says he fell in love with East Tennessee, and Knoxville in particular, when he visited the city in 2017 to perform on WDVX’s Blue Plate Special. Further visits convinced him − and Kate, his partner − that he might like to live here.
“The topography and geography is stunning. I spent a lot of years doing northern winters. It is nice to be down here.” He also says he loves the community feel and the historic downtown of Knoxville.
With a background in both rural and urban cultures, and in classical, popular, jazz and old-time music, Horner wants to include everyone in Make Music Knoxville’s adventures. He has been pleased with the Carol Cart’s successes so far.
“It’s just this great, cool, weird, wonderful thing that moves people out of their comfort zone a little bit − for the artists and for the people who aren’t used to having music brought to them this way and engaging them this way. It’s about the spirit and it’s about people coming together.
“In a really beautiful, powerful way, Knoxville loves Knoxville. There’s a lot of hometown pride here. We try to work with that to create this thing. No matter how many people you have − five or 500 − it’s a success in that people are finding a way to come together and make music, and finding a way to connect in a way that they otherwise wouldn’t have.”
Visit makemusicknox.com.
NORTH KNOXVILLE
KCDC’s newest resident advisor overcomes ‘rough life’ to become first-time homebuyer
Carol Z. Shane, Shopper News
During the holidays, North Knoxville resident Kathy Hill is enjoying the love of her children and grandchildren, whom she sees frequently. She’s reveling in a wholesome, spiritually centered way of life that she didn’t always know was possible. She’s adjusting to her new role as KCDC’s resident ambassador.
And she’s thrilled with her home. “It’s a dream come true. It’s my home, it’s nice, I love it and I’m just trying to take care of it the best I can.”
Hill is a first-time homeowner and a true American success story. With the help of Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, she was able to purchase her home, and will celebrate three years of homeownership this coming February.
Hill says, “I grew up in the Lonsdale projects. I kind of had a rough life.” Her mother was ill and unable to care properly for her. After Hill graduated from Rule High School in 1984, she says, “I was meeting people, hanging around, and I ended up using drugs.” She had four children, including a set of twins.
She says she did her best to be there for her children, but the years of drug use took their toll. Her son Jamarcus − then a young adult, now deceased − made a call to Serenity, Knox Area Rescue Ministries’ residential rehabilitation program, and Hill was accepted. “I thank God for that place every day; I feel like it saved my life.”
With help from Serenity, she began applying for apartments and became a participant in KCDC’s voucher program. After her first apartment, she moved to a rental house, where she lived for five years. “I heard people talking about they had bought a home. I never thought about that. I had to go to be certified one day, and one of the workers asked me, did I want to buy a house?”
KCDC’s Housing Choice Voucher Homebuyer Program allows participants to use Section 8 vouchers to work toward owning their home. The program supplements payments towards a 15- to 20-year mortgage. First-time homebuyer participants must meet a list of qualifications, complete home education training, have a good credit score and adequate savings. Hill met all the requirements. She credits realtor Jennifer Bell and KCDC’s Jim Swink with helping her find the home of her dreams.
Now, she’s been appointed by Mayor Indya Kincannon as KCDC’s newest resident commissioner. Her term runs through July 31, 2024.
“We welcome Kathy to the board,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “As a lifelong Knoxvillian and participant in the Section 8 program, her insight will be vital.”
Bob Whetsel, chair of KCDC’s Board of Commissioners, agrees. “Resident commissioners benefit our board and our residents because of their firsthand experience. I look forward to working with Kathy and welcome her commitment and service on the board.” Hill, who is disabled, also serves as an advocate for accessible housing.
She says that, initially, “I didn’t want to be on the news, but my kids said, ‘Mama, you never know who you can help.’ I hope that I will be able to inspire somebody and just keep going on and on. I’m thankful and blessed at the same time.”
Those interested in KCDC’s Homebuyer Program should visit https://www.kcd
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OPINION
Mind and cupboards decluttered, bring on the new year
Leslie Snow, Shopper News
At first, I didn’t know what to make of my sudden burst of energy or my need to fix all the little broken things around the house. But after months of pushing a button and running under the garage door while it was closing, I finally bought a new remote control and paired it to my garage door. And when I was done with that, I went on to the next task.
I cleaned out the terrible cupboard where all the lidless plastic containers go to hide. And this time, when I found a container that didn’t have a lid, I put it in the recycling bin instead of shoving it back in the cupboard like I normally do.
Next, I cleaned out my pantry and got rid of all the expired condiments in my refrigerator. I organized the shoes in my closet and threw out the old receipts in my purse. I put my favorite recipes in a spiral notebook and changed the battery in my ignition key-fob, even before I got stranded somewhere.
But it wasn’t until I started doing internet searches for “the best short haircuts for 2023” that I realized why I was crossing off all the items on my never-ending to-do list. I was preparing for the new year. I was throwing out the old, fixing the broken, and refreshing the mundane, all before I even made my New Year’s resolutions.
When I was younger, New Year’s Eve was about getting dressed up and staying out late. The holiday called for fancy dresses and high heeled dancing shoes. Once, I even talked my friend Anita into having a big party, just so I could ring in the new year with good friends and cold champagne at someone else’s house. Back then, I could even stay up past midnight.
But now the new year seems more about righting my ship than going to a party. And the dress code for the evening will probably be cozy pajamas and fuzzy slippers instead of a little black dress, but that’s OK. This year, I want to celebrate by putting my old, nagging worries to bed to make room for some new ones. I want to simplify my cluttered life and focus on the things that really matter, like family, friends, and making memories. In addition to my hair.
Because I don’t know what the new year will bring. I don’t know what’s coming down the pike, but I know I’ll need to be ready to face it. And somehow, getting my cupboards cleaned and my garage door fixed comforts me. Arranging my shoes into tidy rows and emptying my purse helps me feel more prepared for all the things I don’t see coming.
My lovely neighbor, Terry, sent me a card the other day and she signed it, “I hope the new year is kind to you.” That’s my wish for all of us. That the new year is gentle and kind and that it keeps us safe. But if something unexpected or hard comes my way, I’ll be ready. I’ll stand armed with a tidy purse, storage containers with matching lids, and a sassy new haircut. Hopefully, it will be enough to see me through the tough times.
Happy New Year, Knoxville!
Leslie Snow may be reached at snow column@aol.com.
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