Cultural change on Asbury Avenue in OG. * Paul Goldfinger photo. 2022.
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Blogfinger.net.
We began a discussion on Friday, 6/21/24 about evolving cultural changes in town which are becoming evident lately and in a variety of ways. It is natural in a town or region or country for cultural advances to result in lifestyle changes, and forces of status quo usually are left behind. And such evolution is often welcome and desirable, but not always.
In Ocean Grove, the religious and historic Camp Meeting Association has been continuing its traditional “mission,” and they will continue to promote their religious themes in Ocean Grove. They have clearly said that they want to intensify their Christian presence here, and that is evident from their Summer Program Guide which promotes their current “mission —- The Way, the Truth and the Life.”
And their efforts are amazing, and everyone should look at their booklet. I mention them now because they are such a dominant presence in the Grove, and they need to participate if Ocean Grove can evolve and be more modern and tolerant.
Hopefully the CMA will recognize the evolution occurring in town and will join “We-the-People” in creating a new sort of culturally diverse Ocean Grove.
So I was photographing two African-American Neptune Fliers—new high school grads who came back to the Grove to enjoy the town’s embrace. And after chatting with them and then doing their portraits at Tent Village, Eileen and I went for a walk in the park where we heard music. It was coming from the Tabernacle .
I went in and discovered a group of teens who were making wonderful music: singing, guitars and piano. I took their photos, and they were part of a CMA summer program. They seemed very happy.
Teens in the OG Tabernacle . 6/21/24. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click to enlarge
They noticed my Star of David around my neck and one said, “Are you Jewish?”
I said “Yes.” and they responded saying, “So are we. We are Messianic Jews.”
They offered me some literature. But I was aware of the “Jews for Jesus.” Yet I never saw a hint of that in CMA programs before, and now even the CMA can reveal cultural changes in town.
And this idea of evolving culture in Ocean Grove reminds me of two years ago when I was writing about the “OG Underground” and I met a Grover with a love for Indian music indicating that change is real in this town. *
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. “Blinded by the Light”.