Click above for Agnus Dei (ahn-yoos day-ee) sung by a Latvian choir.
By the way, this site had 103 hits today (with a visit length average of 6 minutes 50 seconds). If you are reading this and haven't yet commented, please give it a try. It's completely anonymous. Let us know what brings you here and what you'd like to see.
What a beautiful song. Everything was perfect. Great voices, great harmony, everyone was on pitch. It sounds like a difficult song for a choir to learn. I bet the singers spent a long time practicing before they were able to perform that well. I give it 5 out of 5
ReplyDeleteBut who sang it? What is a Latvian choir? Was it organized by OALC members?
Definitely not OALC. The choir from Latvia was singing a composition by William Harper. You can find out more at http://www.wharper.com/
ReplyDelete(Look under Requiem)
Hey, thanks for posting!
I am wondering why in the OALC the "elders" have to be from Swedish Lapland, specifically Gellivare. Why can't an "elder" be from anywhere, even from America? It seems that simple geography should not be a criteria for a leadership role. It's almost like Swedish lapland is their "Rome"--a rather papish construct for what started out as a pietistic movement.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why they read the sermons of Laestadius, either. He was just a man. It seems like he was a believer, however. But it seems completely unnessessary. Do they read Martin Luther's sermons as well? Aren't they Lutherans to some extent? It seems like the Bible is God's definitive work, and anything else would be superfluous and unnecessary. Between this Laestadius/elder reverence, it makes me feel like they are glorifying MAN, and not God and His son.
I talked to an OALC'er recently and I was basically told that I did not have living faith because I have a television set in my house and because my AL church does not read the postillas of LLL. He said it in about the kindest way possible one could ever tell another person they are going to hell, but they were still his words.
Another question is what happens to a young woman if she DOESN'T find a mate and get married in the church? Does she just linger on the outside of the society? Would it then be acceptable for her to take further schooling or to have a career? Does anyone in the OALC study at technical schools or universities?
I wish I had a clearer understanding of what LIVING FAITH is. I too have been told, in very kind ways that I am going to hell, by family members.
ReplyDeleteSome girls go on to school, book-keeping is very useful training, a lot of the men own their own businesses, and the women take care of the office and bookwork. A few go into the medical profession, but most get married or find something to keep them busy until they do. Younger sisters will live with a married sibling and help with their children and they can stay at home for as long as it takes since there are usually a lot of little ones to keep them busy. I remember years ago mentioning the possibility of going into a "mans" profession, and one of my aunts laughed at me, I knew the thought of me learning a mans trade must have seemed quiet ridiculous to her.
Don't get too out of hand regarding education. My family and many relatives and friends in OALC have all gone to higher ed and working in their fields.
ReplyDeleteYes, but are they women or men, anonymous? Do girls ever graduate from high school and go on to University, or are only men allowed to do this?
ReplyDeleteTo the AL'er who had the OALC'er codemn you becuase of the two issues, I, as an OALC'er personally would never believe or say that. Salvation is based on faith/belief, and I could not judge based on issues of tradition. I certainly could have reservations about someone based on material matters, but I certainly don't like to see judgement at such silly levels.
ReplyDeleteYes, many women have gone on to higher ed. The teachers, nurses, CPA's didn't get there without it. I realize the majority do not as they marry and have families. We should try avoid words such as "not allowed to", which implies the church speaks against it. Not true.
ReplyDeleteI'm the AL who was told by the OALC'er that my AL church was of "dead faith" because I have a television set and because my church does not recognize Laestadius and include his sermons in our worship. I recognize that there are many in my church who actually think the OALC'ers also have dead faith. The point is I have NEVER gone to his church, so I myself cannot judge if his faith is living or dead. He has never been to my AL church, either. If I was to assume, based on what I've been told that their faith was "dead" I think that would be wrong. I am, however, very skeptical about their Laestadius/elder reverence and in my mind, that is just not correct. But I certainly don't know whether that precludes them from the Kingdom of heaven--for that Jesus is judge. But he told me flat out that my AL church did not have "living faith" anymore, but how could he tell? Has he ever attended it, or does he just believe what he has been told? Our respective churches split from one another nearly 100 years ago. Since I've not been there and they've not been here, what makes us think we know so much about one another to make rash judgments like this?
ReplyDeleteAL
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, and was not arguing with your earlier point. You have communicated your point well.
OALC'er
I want to thank you all for having a civil exchange and encourage you to continue reading and posting. I would like to ask OALCer, why do you think so many in the church judge the salvation of others?
ReplyDeleteI'm an exOAL member from Brush Prairie. I had a good friend who attended the ALC in Hockinson and I often went with her. I found some loving people in that church, as I did in my own. I asked one of my uncles why they split and he didn't have a clue, except naturally he bawled me out for visiting a "dead faith" church. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the young people of both churches could recognize the love of the LORD could heal old arguments between the two churches? Why not visit each other's churches? I will pray that God will put it on some young persons heart to take that step. It's about trusting God to be with you in the decisions you make. I don't think he looks with favor on those that condem and judge other people's salvation, especially based on which parking lot the park their car in on Sunday mornings.
ReplyDeleteAs a women who left the OALC I wonder if my sisters who stayed ever resent me for having such a happy and Christ filled life away from the fear and oppression of "what someone might say" if I wear lipstick and curl my hair. The fact that I choose to have only the number of children that I knew we could care for, rather then keep having kids because the preachers said to, is a blessing to me and my family. To think I am saved, without following the phony restrictions that the OALC puts on it's members (especially women) might be hard for some of my childhood friends to accept. Maybe some resentment and condemnation towards me creeps in. I love the Lord and I love my life!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to know how many women leave versus how many men. I've often thought that the OALC offered less to women than men -- and less to boys than girls. (As a girl, my passions were art and music while my brothers loved hunting. Guess which got nurtured?!)
ReplyDelete