2D ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2018 ❚ NAPLES DAILY NEWS

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Learned

Jesus was the founder of a

movement rather than a

religion. Yet followers of Jesus

are known as adherents to one

of the world’s great religions,

Christianity.

We know that Jesus was critical

of many of the religious leaders

of his time, and often preferred

to associate with those outside

their accepted circles. John the

Baptist was a wild figure from

the desert, not a credentialed

clergyman, and yet Jesus chose

John to conduct his own baptism.

Jesus was routinely criticized by

religious authorities for spending

time with women of poor

reputation, tax collectors (known

for corruption in the time), and

the diseased and outcast.

The reason he did all this was

because he was leading his

followers in a new way of life

that intended to draw all to God,

not only the religious.

Indeed, early Christians were

known as followers of “the

Way.” If he wanted to be the

founder of a religion in the

traditional sense, he would have

associated with more respected

people. Instead, he proclaimed

the arrival of a new reality for

people who were disadvantaged

in life, and needed to hear and

experience hope.

Early in his public ministry he

went to his local synagogue, and

read aloud these words from the

scroll of Isaiah, “The Spirit of

the Lord is upon me, because he

has anointed me to bring good

news to the poor. He has sent

me to proclaim release to the

captives and recovery of sight to

the blind, to let the oppressed go

free, to proclaim the year of the

Lord’s favor.” Then he said to all

the people listening, that Isaiah’s

words were now fulfilled in their

hearing. In other words, they

were fulfilled through fellowship

with him and response to his

teachings!

We followers of Jesus now

routinely categorize and organize

ourselves into various religious

associations and traditions. But

when we do so, we need to make

sure we follow Jesus’ lead to the

people he wants us to serve. We

experience the power of God

by joining Jesus’ movement and

building genuine, life-giving

relationships with those who

need hope. When we do that,

our “religion” reflects the new

hope Jesus brought into the

world.

This story is contributed by a member of the Naples communityand is neither endorsed nor affiliated with Naples Daily News.

By Rev. Jaci Smith Patman, The Moorings Presbyterian Church

Associate PastorJaci Smith Patman

The MooringsPresbyterian Church

GUESTCONTRIBUTOR

THE MOORINGS

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

791 Harbour Drive

Naples, Florida, 34103

(239) 261-1487

www.mooringschurch.org

250 Sixth Street South 239.262.13112 blocks north of 5th Avenue South fpcnaples.org

Join us!Sunday, April 29

8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Rev. Winston Lawson“Love is Like That!”

Genesis 50:15-21 and 1 John 4:7-21

In the Heart of Napleswith the Love of God

First Presbyterian Church of Naples

This Sunday…

Celebration ChurchCambier Park 9:30 am

“The Outdoor Church”Celebrationbeachchurch.com

Everybody’s

Welcome

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He referred to the youth jazz orchestra as an all-starband. To be part of the ensemble, students must audi-tion in the fall. From September through May, stu-dents perform shows and rehearse once a week to im-prove their craft.

“These kids are very responsible. They take the mu-sic home, learn it, and take care of business,” he said.

Nearing the end of its third season, the orchestra isrehearsing for two more shows: ‘Fresh Sounds of Jazz’part of the Rising Stars Series concert series hosted byNaples’ Cultural and Performing Arts Center (CAPA)on May 2, and a spring concert at Artis—Naples onMay 7.

Blake Sorenson, the vibraphone musician, hasplayed in the youth jazz orchestra for the past threeseasons.

Music is his life. He practices every day for at leasttwo hours, even on weekends. At school, he’s drummajor of the marching band and plays in the jazzband.

“I just love it,” he said. What he especially lovesabout jazz is being able to put his own spin on it. Whilehe follows the notes on the sheet music, he said thestyle of music gives him room to improvise.

“And (Miller) is very helpful when it comes to teach-ing us how to improvise. He’s a master improviser anddoes a great job of teaching us how to �nd our ownvoice and be able to portray that when we play jazz,”

Sorenson said. Bassist Aamir Juman, 17, a senior at North Fort My-

ers High, said he loves the camaraderie that comeswith playing in an orchestra. He’s following his pas-sion for music all the way to New York University,where he plans to study music performance and jazzstudies in the fall.

His jazz-loving passion began when he joined hisschool’s jazz band and it only grew when he got intothe orchestra at Artis in 2016.

He hopes to continue the genre’s legacy, which tookshape in the early 20 century, and shed light on themusic not typically found in mainstream music.

“In the last couple of decades, the genre was �oat-ing around here and there with few artists using it asan in�uence. I think now in this time, and going intothe future, it’s really �nding a voice through the newergenres,” he said.

Miller said he’s happy to see many of his seniors,including Juman, go on to pursue music as a career.

As a trumpeter himself, Miller played in bandthroughout high school and went on to tour the globewith di�erent musical acts, including singer HarryConnick Jr.

“You’ll never run out of things to practice and workon. There are daily challenges that have to be faced,”he said about life as a musician.

What he enjoys most about directing the orchestrais the opportunity to mentor youth.

“Growing up in Chicago, I had people who helpedme and so that’s part of what this is to try to help thesestudents �gure out what they need to learn and how toplay,” he said.

JazzContinued from Page 1D

Collier, Leeteens withNaplesPhilharmonicYouth JazzOrchestrarehearse onApril 25 atArtis—Naples.ASHLEY

COLLINS/

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