Music

Interview and music with Eric Nielsen, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Eau Claire. Eric Nielsen's Song of the Soul includes lots of chorale music, given his long interest and participation in this and other forms of music. Eric is both the minister and member of the choir at his church, a somewhat unusual pairing to juggle.

Art Lyons, UW-EC student services staff, raised Catholic, but long-time Buddhist seeker, shares the music of his spiritual beliefs.

Josh Polich was raised ELCA Lutheran where he took particular joy in being part of the choir. With adulthood he was led to read up on Eastern religions, eventually finding real resonance with Hindu chanting. At Unity Christ Center in Eau Claire he found a spiritual home and community of acceptance for his practices and a source of joy and support. He leads chanting there on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm.

Michael Neely lives in Canberra, the federal capital city of Australia. His family hosted me as I traveled with a Quaker group called the Friendly FolkDancers and Michael agreed, on the spur of the moment to share the music that speaks of his soul and talk about his life as an Australian, Catholic-raised, now attending Quaker meeting.

Sarah Pederson shared her first Song of the Soul with us just over 4 months ago, but her spiritual life has been unfolding at an amazing clip in the interim. Since that first Song of the Soul she's found a soul mate, become engaged to be married, and discovered a deep, disciplined and joyful addition to her spiritual practice.

Jane Wolf in the proprieter of Silver Feather, a shop that sells Native American jewelry, music, crafts and products in downtown Eau Claire. Jane was raised Lutheran, was married as a Catholic, becoming involved with Native American and other Earth-based spirituality after her divorce. She currently attends Unity Christ Center in Eau Claire.

Sharon Jensen-Olson was raised Catholic, ran away from home definitively at the age of 14, and has not found a spiritual home that seems to fit for her yet. She loves singing along with the radio, with pop and country topping her list of musical favorites. And besides that, she is Mark Helpsmeet's little sister, by 2 years!

Tim Lane has been teaching in the Music Department of the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, since 1989, flute being his instrument of choice. His taste in music ranges from chorales and classical to Motown and world music. Raised non-religious, he now attends Eau Claire Friends Meeting (Quakers).

Jennifer Eddy is an Eau Claire physician with a love of things French, including the language and the country. She and her husband were married there and own a small residence in the south of France. Jennifer was raised to be a rationalist but lived out the maxim that kids tend to react in opposition to their parents. She was a philosophy major and sought a spiritual home in many places, including the Taizé community of France, with Quakers, and with the Episcopal church.

Sarah Pederson is owner of Gaia Massage and has recently completed training as a yoga teacher. She combines the fruits of her Roman Catholic upbringing with her deep interest in Eastern spirituality as part of her spiritual journey.

Through Gaia Massage, located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Sarah provides Massage Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Reflexology, Usui Reiki and Jin Shin Acupressure.