John: It's wonderful having Willie Sordillo, his trio and, the amazing Zoe! It's great, as well, to have our own Mark Annati on drums. It was an inspiration to have them with us in worship a year ago, and it is equally inspirational to have them here today.

Trumpeter Miles Davis dominated the jazz scene in the 20th century. He had the coolest trumpet. Sad to say, I only heard Miles Davis live one time. It was at a Boston Globe Jazz Festival in the 1970's. Unfortunately for me, he was in his fusion period, combining jazz, rock and pop music. It was not pleasing to my ear, and my friend and I were disappointed until out came the incomparable Sarah Vaughan, and everything was wonderful.

Mile Davis was an innovative musician. With his sextet, he recorded one of the masterpieces of all time, and it had some new approaches. The album is "Kind of Blue," and was recorded in the spring of 1959. It's one of the all-time best sellers of jazz music. I play it when I need a boost in morale, and Quincy Jones plays it every day. He says it's like his orange juice.

The album, for me, is very spiritual. Not that Miles Davis was religious. He grew up in East St. Louis, and stopped going to church, when he discovered that all the churches in East St. Louis were segregated.

The first piece on that album is "So What." It is so Miles Davis. It was one of his favorite expressions. It was his way of cutting through pretensions and hyperbole.

 Willie could we have a little "So What," to get us started? Listen for the two beat "So What?"

Jesus of Nazareth was also very effective cutting through pretension and hyperbole. Jesus showed some "so what" in his ministry. Matthew 6 alms giving; praying. There's even a little "so what" in today's scripture reading from the Gospel of Luke. The disciples ask Jesus; "increase our faith." Jesus doesn't say "so what," but he makes it quite clear that faith is not something you measure: faith as small as a mustard seed can do amazing things. And, then, Jesus teaches his disciples how to think and behave faithfully. Faith is about loving God, living well, and being kind.

There's one more thing we can learn from "Kind of Blue." Miles Davis's put together a group of jazz all stars. They became a community that cared about each other, and that spurred each other to excellence.

Miles called his band members to the recording studio on short notice. The musicians had no idea what they were to record; Miles didn't have much written down to give the musicians. Not much more than a few Post-it type notes. Once the musicians were assembled, Davis gave brief instructions for each piece, and then set to recording and the emphasis was on spontaneity and improvisation.

Segue to Anna on improvisation and community. Willie demonstrates improvisation, and community in music.

Anna: I love what you're saying here, John, about how Miles Davis put together his band, and how the band really make the music come alive together.

You know, it reminds me of the time when I played piano for my High School Jazz Band. There were no Miles Davis's there, I can assure you. But I certainly learned something about making music together.

I didn't have much experience playing in bands before then. But I had taken some years of piano lessons and so when the girl who used to play the piano for the jazz band - and play it very well - when she had graduated - they asked me to play. The pickins' were slim so they picked me.

I remember the first piece our band leader gave us was Birdland by the Weather Report. Can we hear some of that Willlie? It's a great upbeat tune, and I spent some time practicing it to get it just right before our first rehearsal.

But when I showed up at that first practice and joined the group of about 10 trumpeters and 5 saxophone players, and flutes and drums, and all the rest - I quickly realized that I couldn't hear the piano at all above the din of all that brass! At first I was disappointed, but then as time went on it was sort of liberating. I could just pound away on the piano and whether or not I was playing all the right notes it never seemed to make a difference. But boy I felt cool sitting there doing it!

But unfortunately, thinking that no one could hear me made me a lazy band member. So when we go our next piece of music, The Girl from Ipanema - can you play that Willie? You can hear it's a decidedly quieter tune. So when we got GIrl from Ipanema, I showed up at practice having barely glanced at the music, ready to just pound away as I'd been doing the past few weeks. But this time when the band teacher raised his baton and we all launched into the tune, it became quickly apparent that I was killing it. And not the cool kind of killing it! But actually killing the music.

"Stop!" the teacher yelled. And then proceeded to give me a tongue lashing.

Let's just say I never came to practice unprepared again....

It can be the same here at church. In community we make each other stronger. We can cover our weaknesses. We can hit some sour notes and make mistakes. And plenty of times you can just come and enjoy the ride - bang away to at the tune and have some fun! But never forget that you matter. That each person in this community matters, and that your contributions here - every note of them - are important to the music we play together.

Segue to John. Letter to the Hebrews.

 Miles Davis was a leader who provoked the members of his sextet to perform better. He had hired and fired and hired again his tenor saxophone player, John Coltrane. He coached him actively. Cannonball Adderley was an alto saxophone player who played the blues. Miles Davis provoked him to color his solos with his joyous spirit.

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews aimed at pumping up Christians, encouraging them not to lose heart in tough times; and provoking them to love one another. Hebrews 10:25 reads: "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another ....

At United Church, we are all about searching for the meaning of life, and much of what we do is in community. Love God, live well and be kind!

Segue to Anna for close

Anna: Absolutely. Our band makes us better! I always like to say, "you can't be a Christian alone." One of the tenets of Christian life is practicing our faith in community - whether that community is as rigid as a monastery or as relaxed as a monthly bible study or pop-up dinner church. As Christians we believe our band makes us better - that we are better at improvising and taking what life throws at us when we have a community around us to support us, challenge us, and help to make up for our flaws!

Here are United Church in Walpole, we are a community that cares for one another, roots for one another, and dream together. Your music here matters.

And now as a community of music-makers, let's join in singing Amazing Grace!

Willie plays Amazing Grace.