Above: Mahmoud Ahmed at Damrosch’s Park in NYC on
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 (Trent Wolbe/Tadias File).
Source: YebboEvents
On Jan. 3, 2009 , the legendary Mahamud Ahmed will be in San Diego at a benefit concert organized by St. Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Ticket are sold in San Diego at local Ethiopian restaurants, shops and cafes.
(For those of you who are out of state or may not make it for this event but want to help St. Gabriel Independent Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, you can send your donation to the church and Mahamud Ahmed will announce your name during the concert. Church address is: 4808 Trojan Avenue, San diego, CA 92115).
Congratulations to the organizers of the benefit event to help build a new church. God bless you and god bless Mehamud, the best Ethiopian singer alive. Yes, Ethiopians of good will, who fear god and love the church, are allowed to organize and come up with creative way to raise funds to build a new church. This needs to be supported, not discouraged. Thank you and keep up the good work, San Diago!
Really good for Mohamud to do so for a church, but what kind of concert is that?
If it is spiritual, that is really blessed, if not I am afraid that the church should cancel the concert.
The Church should not collect money through improper or unholy work, or source.
Thank you
What’s wrong with you ppl? This is just a concert, happy tunes, good music! And for a good cause…to raise funds for a new church. Relax, ppl, RELAX!
Abatachin hoy, churchun (betekristianun) ebakh siralin. Amen.
I read the flayer here in San Diego about this concert. Per the flayer, this concert is organized by a fund raising committee (group of people who support the church).
Please note its not by the priest or the church itself.
Having said that, please help the committee achieve their goal to buy a bigger church.
Thank you,
Sosa
When I went to D.C. from San Diego for the Ethiopian Soccer tournament, I saw a young priest standing in the middle of the crowed – (Music blaring from tent-shop stereos – Tilahun Gessese, Aster Awake, Teddy Afro, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Alemayehu Eshete, Mehaumud Ahmed, Efrem Tamru, you name it) – and there he was Abba selling a CD (church music – still a CD), shama (candles), etc. And he didn’t seem to mind the music at all. As long as it is not in the church grounds, it is not a problem. He told me that they were raising money to buy a new church in Virginia or D.C. I bought a CD and several candles.
I have a comment about what “Haimanot” said, “And he didn’t seem to mind the music at all. As long as it is not in the church grounds, it is not a problem.” My question is, Did he actually say those words or is that your opinion of what he might have thought?. If “Abba” DID say those words, we should also check what the bible and our fathers say about ‘music’/zefen. We aught to only follow what our Church teaches and not what ONE Abba says. There are plenty of fathers we can ask if not let us read church books to find out. If however, “Abba” did not say those words, then we should not assume, Abba is ‘Ok’ with it. It whole sentence makes it seem the church condones worldly music. If I miss read your message forgive me. I follow the faith of our fathers and I can assure you having talked with plenty of fathers and teachers on this issue, and referenced the Bible and other spiritual books, I have learned worldly music/zefen, is what it is worldly and does nothing to our spiritual life, therefore the Church does not teach us to listen to it. Do not take my word, search for yourself. To all: Please read Galatians 5:21; it states the works of the flesh, it starts with “zemut” and ends in ‘zefagnet’…read the amharic Bible if you can.
“Tatariw_Temari” your comment about ‘relaxing’ is not compatible with Christianity. Christians are not called to relax, but to fight to truth we have been given, but fight with love (being kind, patient: 1Cor 13:1). Relaxing is not for us, we should always express what we have been taught to be true.
Thank you all for reading, I write all this with complete sincereness please do not take it any other way. Life is a learning process, especially Spiritual life.
I really think that people should realize that the priests are humans too. I strongly disagree with criticizing those that wish to enjoy music, which is a part of human nature, though human nature is a whole other issue in itself…
“youngethio”, my message was not meant to criticize people who listen to music; i am not one to encroach on others freedom to choose. I think we have misunderstood and need to read the messages again. I am pointing to the fact that ‘Abba’ should have his own say and not have others interpret for him how he feels. Why do I care? Because ‘Abba’ represents our beloved Church, just like any Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christian, but he just stands out because he is a teacher of the faith. We need a realistic view of what the Church teaches in order to practice the faith properly. This is my effort. youngethio hope you understand. Having said this, the Church is not ‘ok’ with it, and I have presented my evidence if you want to take a look your self.
Its all about looking at things the way they are and not how we want/think.
Dear Mateos,
No, Ababa did not say that. It was my own interpretation and observation. I appreciate your sincere comments. Thank you.
I must, however, respectfully and sincerely disagree with the suggestion that “worldly” music is not spiritual. Let’s not even go there.
The bigger point is that spirituality is personal. I am a devoted Ethiopian Orthodox Christian and so is my family. But we are also big fans of music. There is nothing wrong and, in fact, it is noble to organize a concert to build a new church. It is a blessed thing.
Haimanot yegil new. Ager, yegara nat.
Can’t we please get along? At least, in the name of god and in the name of our Haimanot and in the name of our ager.
My comment is for sosa, but first i want to thank Mateos for his comments, it’s important we understand our faith, not just follow it because others do. As for SOSA, what kind of church will publicly admit they brought a singer (zefane) to build their church. The so called commite that organized this fundraiser is associated with the church and we don’t see the church trying to stop the concert. The name of the church should not be associated with this zefen. We need to stop trying to mix church and worldly things to satisify our need or to make our life easier. We go to church to praise the lord and give thanks nothing else, we need to understand the lord has infinite angels and saints that will praise him if we don’t feel like it. Also we don’t need a huge church the most important thing is unity, love, and the faith our father’s and that of tha Apostle’s. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is a fith past down from jesus the his Apostle’s to us, we don’t need to fix it or make it better and pls don’t take these the wrong way i just wish to express my feeling.
Thanks (we sebhat le Igziabhare)