Jerusalem Matins

Christ is Risen!

Sheremetev - Now the Powers of Heaven

Our choir is practicing this.  A stunning piece....

The Wanderings of the Heart

"Time and time again, when life beats me down, it is only my belief in God that calls me toward love." 

 I wouldn't normally steal a quote from another blog but this so solidly describes me that I had to do it. It has been a hard week. A watershed moment, really. God have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Words Come All At Once

For many artists and poets, when inspiration strikes, it strikes without warning and with sudden speed.  The words and music come tumbling out, like bees fleeing the hive.  And then, all of a sudden, there it is...the words...the music...sung by joyous voices and with eyes raised to the heavens.  Our choir has doubled in size over the last year and we are blessed to have a family from Boston who all sing with us.  As if that were not wonderful enough, we also have a newly illumined choir member who is a graduate of Music and has written a piece for our choir.  And finally, our choir has released a CD entitled "The Voice of Our Prayer" that was 5 years in the making.

But even in this, there are people who are struggling..suffering.  With physical illness..joblessness, self doubt and as was imparted in today's sermon..acedia or despondency.  And that is why the choir must sing..sing praises to our God while we have being.  To lift up the weak, the poor and the suffering.

 Oh God, cleanse me a sinner and have mercy on me.

Closer To God

An amazing story about a Georgian Stylite monk named Maxime... 

Christ Is Risen!