Communion

Here’s a delightful story about communion and fellowship in Qatar:

Euro18: and home

I woke on Friday morning to the iPad NOAA warning about extreme temperatures at Rienosslsgasse 3 in Vienna. Fortunately, I was home in Saint Louis with moderate weather, but more humidity. At some point my iPad will figure out that I’m in the USA. I certainly know that I am! Witness: Iced tea!! I went

Dublin cathedrals

Dublin has two Church of Ireland cathedrals, just a few blocks from each other. While I don’t understand this, and haven’t done my research, I did visit both cathedrals today. St. Patrick’s is the more impressive and ornate.  Sir Charles Villiers Stanford (a favorite composer) is commemorated there, since he spent the first and formative

The Feast of John the Baptist

Today is the feast of St. John the Baptist.  The Feast of the Incarnation of Christ (Christmas!) is but six months away. Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his

Great Litany

I had the honor this morning of intoning the Great Litany on this First Sunday of Advent 2012, and in the church calendar Year C. This is powerful stuff to sing.  I hope it’s as powerful to hear.  

Advent

And so Advent arrives.  The Christian year is complete, and the cycle of story and parable, song and prayer, starts over again. I welcomed Advent this evening after dark by singing an Advent I Vigil Mass at the Church of Saint Michael and Saint George in Clayton.  Then I dined with colleagues from the choir,

Mystic sweet communion

We opened the service today with the great and wonderful hymn “The Church’s one foundation.” The last verse, as it reads in the Episcopal hymnal (since many versions of this poetry exist), is: Yet she on earth hath union With the God the Three in One, And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is

Solemn Profession

I sang this morning with Schola from The Church of Saint Michael and Saint George at a powerful Mass that celebrated the Solemn Profession of Life Vows by Br. Dunstan at the Abbey of Saint Mary and Saint Louis. Br. Dunstan is a friend of our choirmaster, and a big fan of the music at

Another choral work

I sat down this afternoon to write a set of Preces and Responses, hoping that several Episcopal choirs will pick them up this season.  An hour later, I had written and made first revisions to the work.  And a few minutes ago I made another pass, kicked out two measures and started over on them,

Pierce my ear

Pierce my ear, O Lord, my God. Take me to Your door this day. I will serve no other god. For You have paid the price for me. With Your blood You ransomed me. I will serve You eternally. A free man I’ll never be.