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September 19, 2018As part of an initiative to continue the Cathedral Music Ministry Community, we are sending out weekly newsletter emails regarding the upcoming musical events within our Cluster and Cathedral. If you have any events, prayer requests, or articles you would like to share, please let Chris Pelonzi know and he will be happy to forward them to us all. As well, if you are interested in receiving the weekly CMM Newsletter, please contact Chris Pelonzi to be added to the listserv.
Message from the Director:
A prayer for healing
Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to you.
Allow Your healing Hand to heal me.
Touch my soul with Your compassion for others;
touch my heart with Your courage and infinite Love for all;
touch my mind with Your Wisdom,
and may my mouth always proclaim Your praise.
Teach me to reach out to You in all my needs,
and help me to lead others to You by my example.
Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which you have created, now and forever.
Amen.
Given the tribulations of our world today, we can always find peace in God’s holy embrace. No more was this apparent than in the communion hymn sung at Cathedral this weekend; “O God, You Search Me.” While we may hid from God’s pure light, there is truly nowhere on earth we can escape Him. Even the darkness is radiant in His sight.[1]
On a musical note, the choir did marvelously with the parts on “O God, You Search Me.” In my opinion, we have never sounded better. We have a homogenous sound that serves to enhance the presence of the Holy Spirit, and others have remarked how this is more apparent after the summer hiatus.
Breaks are essential. We all need time to recuperate and administrate to our own lives. This is why we have the sign-out calendar, and I am so glad that people feel welcome enough to participate in choir as they are able. Everyone is welcome, and we can always use more voices! For the coming weeks, please invite friends, people you hear in church, and family to consider singing with us this year. We are a community, and it takes a community to do all that we do.
New members are always an excitement and we do welcome everyone, but in complete honesty, it is my hope that everyone here already knows how valued they are. Each and every one of you is a gift to our parishes and a gift to each other.
Being a gift to one another is not always easy; rehearsals can be long and arduous, or even complicated and confusing. If you have questions about rehearsals and the structure of rehearsals, please email me or talk with one of the CMM Committee members. We want this to be a fun, safe place for everyone to enjoy music and fellowship.
Regarding rehearsals and mass attending, as I mentioned in the first choir practice, the goal of this choir season is to realign our priorities so that God and Faith are first, but choir can be a means to that first priority, so it could take second place. The ICLC may sound like a lot to commit to, but if we are to minister, we must practice what we preach. Please continue to try your best to be on time for rehearsals and attend as many as you can. We benefit together, we struggle alone.
A Musical-note from Fran:
In previous years, Fran Wilson has offered mini ‘musicianship’ classes in the Chapel from 6pm-6:25pm on Thursday nights. These are an opportunity for choir members to ‘wood-shed’ their parts alone with Fran. They are an opportunity for us to collaborate and share ideas outside of the combined rehearsal. If you are feeling like you need more rehearsal, please come at 6pm on Thursday and Fran can help you find that musical line. This year (until January), Fran will be alternating between S/A & T/B each week. The schedule is below. For more information, please speak with Fran directly.
Fran Wilson fran1946@gmail.com
20 Sept women
18 Oct men
25 Oct women
30 Oct men
8 Nov women
27 Nov men
6 Dec women
13 Dec men
20 Dec women
Special Events
Saturday, 9/22
Funeral – David Deprey: Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection. 10am. Obit: http://www.conroytullywalker.com/obituaries/David-J-Deprey?obId=3313751#/obituaryInfo
African Gala: If you have not heard them, you need to hear them. The African drummers from SH/SD are more than impeccable, they are incredible. They have traditional African drums made from cowhide and hollow trees. Add to this traditional African food, you have a night to remember! GUILD HALL, 5-9pm. FMI: http://bangordailynews.com/bdn-maine/event/2018/09/22/african-gala-in-portland-to-benefit-benevolent-efforts-of-sacred-heart-st-dominic-parish/
SMHC Memorial: A Luminary service for all those who passed away in Hospice Care this year. DEERING OAKS PAVILION, 6:30pm FMI: https://www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/twilight
Sunday, 9/30
Red Mass with Bishop: Mass in honor of all those in legislation. 10am. FMI: https://portlanddiocese.org/RedMass2018
Prayer Line
For all those who are forgotten, abandoned, and abused.
For David and Ally Steins as they return safely from Florida with Maggie, their new daughter!
For Dillon that he continue to be a light of hope for all those around him.
For Matt that God look to him with care and peace.
For Nancy’s family, Andrea’s family, and all those suffering with illness.
For all those who are travelling, especially Sam, Fran, Larry, Doreen, Theresa, Christy, and Susan.
For Susan’s son Chris, that healing and strength be given unto him.
And for all the intentions known to God alone.
Rehearsal Notes
So You Must Do – This is a song of service. In this weekend’s readings, we hear from the book of Wisdom of the foreshadowing of the call for Christ’s death – the just man condemned because by his own words, God will save him. Then, in James’ Letter, we hear how ambition/pride/jealously lead to disorder and ‘fowl practice.’ Then in the Gospel we find the cure for humanity – the truth set before the disciples. Jesus hears them bickering over petty jealousy and pride; over whom should be first among them. In gentleness and compassion, Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” So You Must Do, while mostly set for Holy Thursday, is a hymn that gathers the works of Christ as the true, living example of faith. He stoops to wash the feet of His disciples, and then profoundly charges them to ‘do as I have done.’ It is not enough to be cognoscente of pride, envy, or jealousy, but rather even more important to share in the new commandment of love and exemplify our service to one another. Last week we heard how works of faith are lived and believed – this is a living example of how we are to be bread for others through service.
Jesus Lover of My Soul – This is a gospel-stlye work that may seem superficial, but has great power within its phrase. During the Red Mass, we recognize the importance of legislative action. We as Americans know the freedom of democracy and equal justice, but often times neglect to thank our governing bodies for their steadfast work to keep our country and our communities safe, just, and true. In particular on Sunday, 9/30 the readings reflect a dark character of supposition. Moses rebukes those who fear two elders that prophesy in his name because the Lord speaks through whom he chooses. Jesus defends those who speak in his name and drive out demons because “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:41). How powerful it can be to witness to the nation and allow the Spirit of God to work in you. During this Red Mass, we sing again and again of Jesus’ power within our souls; how we cannot let go of his presence. We have been taken from the clay of creation to the rock of our Church today. We absolutely need Him if we are to be legislators of Christ.
Os Justi – This work of Bruckner dates from the turn of the twentieth century (1879), and is actually a psalm. Two psalms to be exact – Psalms 37 & 89.
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
The law of his God is in his heart:
and his feet do not falter.
Alleluia.
I have found David, my servant;
I have anointed him with my holy oil.
Alleluia.
The tranquility and simply beauty in the opening lines truly paint a scene of wisdom-atic awe and righteous power. The explosion of sounds with the Soprano’s high a-natural give breadth and fullness to the presence of God within these contrapuntal movements. The joining of humanity to the divine is even represented with the sequential falling sevenths in the Alto and Tenor lines. Then, as we come to the text for the law of God within your heart, we see the intricacies of each vein or artery leading to a central homophonic presence at his feet do not falter. It is a wonderful blend of musical artistry in the Lydian mode and powerful presence.
Cantors
9/22: 4pm – Jean K.
9/23: 8am – Fran
9/23: 10am – Fran
9/23: 5pm – Cathedral Men’s Schola (Larry/Chris)
For more information on the Cathedral Music Ministry, please visit