There Is A Season

July 26, 2013

Dear Friends,

“There is a time for everything; for each activity of man beneath the sun.”  Ecclesiates 3:1

Perhaps you do not recognize this passage from Ecclesiastes.  The reason it seems not-just-right is because the quotation does not come from any version you have available to you.  The translation is from James E Kraus, who is – like me – a frequent visitor to the various retirement centers in Columbus.  I see him on occasion.

Mr Kraus used to run a not-for profit nursing home in Circleville as I did elsewhere.  We became professionally acquainted that way.  Since his “retirement” Jim has become a faithful visitor and bible study leader at many Columbus locations.  He is now in his late 80s and continues to translate the Bible.  I admire him very much.

The passage from Ecclesiastes is much more recognizable as a song recorded by The Byrds, a rock band from the 70s.  It goes, “to everything thing, turn turn turn, there is a season, turn turn turn, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”  I cannot now get the tune out of my head having shared the words with you.  I was a fan of that song back then, but did not know it has a biblical origin.  The Byrds sang:

“A time to cast away stones; a time to gather sto-o-nes together.

On Sunday July 14, we heard Trinity’s Quartet singing “Wade In the Water” and “Who Is He In Yonder Stall.”  Both Dr Richard Schnipke and Professor Mark Baker were among those singing in the Quartet.

Dr Schnipke has been Music Director for 10 years at Trinity and is leaving for a Professorship at Xavier University.  Mark Baker has been hired as his replacement, a fact you already know.  It was great to see and hear them together.  As Jim Kraus writes it, “a time to plant and a time to uproot(vs 3b)… a time to mourn and a time to dance(vs 4b).”

In Christ,                                          Gary Brand