When I announced that we had moved once again there were comments about photos. Today I finally remembered to take my camera (and especially as we celebrated the feast of San Gabriel today).
Here is the church viewed from the front. We are right on Corrales Road, the main street in the Village of Corrales.
Today we received and blessed two new works of sacred art. This is our new parochial banner, appliqued, bejeweled, quilted. The feathers feature feather stitches (the sort of wit appreciated by those of us who sew). The banner combines Orthodox imagery with the simple lines of New Mexican retablos of the saints.
And this is a new icon of The Virgin of the Sign.
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Mother Rhonda, our Vicar, presiding.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
I hope y'all can see what a lovely space this is. We also had music as Ed Francis played the euphonium for us.
If you're in the neighborhood, come worship with us Sundays at 10 AM. Next Sunday we will have the blessing of the animals.
Our prelude, via The Lead: Bruce Springsteen with the Seeger Session Singers at LSO St. Luke's, London offer "O Mary, don't you weep."
Gospel Mark 10:46-52
They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Remembering what we're here for:
Q. What is the mission of the Church? A. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
Q. How does the Church pursue its mission? A. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love.
Q. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission? A. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.
Let us pray:
Blessed God, you make all things new: Guide us as we seek your will for a new community of Word and Sacrament, that it may be leaven for the world's bread, and wine of delight for hearts in need; a gathering strong for service and glad in praise; and a people listening and responding to your presence in their midst; through Jesus our Redeemer and steadfast companion. Amen.
A few months ago St Michael and All Angels, Albuquerque, launched a Kirtan Mass, held the first Wednesday of each month at 7 PM.
My first time was tonight.
I left work as hammered as usual and decided I needed church. Since the church is between work and home, this was easy to do. I drove to the church parking lot where I took a thirty-minute nap, then entered the church. The rector and his wife were in the vesting sacristy eating salad so I chatted with them a while, then sat down in the nave. That way I could enjoy the rehearsal.
The lights were dimmed and there were lots of candles and flowers here and there. The altar party was seated on zafu in an open circle. Brian played the harmonium and they had found a highly skilled tabla player. There was also a flute, guitar, and some small percussion.
Kirtan is a highly devotional mode of Hindu worship in which musical phrases are sung by a leader and repeated by the worshipers. Lots of repetition as one can get lost in a devotional frenzy. We were not dancing though my buttocks were moving a lot on the chair. I really cannot sit still with strongly rhythmic music.
Our singing began and ended in Latin with forays into Sanskrit and English. Readings were from two Gospels, from Milton, and from Rumi. There was a long period of silent prayer. Near the end we shared the Body and Blood of Christ. At the very end we passed the peace.
I feel much better.
It is evocative of the Contemplative Mass at St Cuthbert's, Oakland, only with lots (and I do mean LOTS) of singing.
If you are in town and so inclined, check it out. It was very well attended for a midweek service (in a sacramental church).
Then I came home, put out the garbage and recycling, and had leftovers enhanced with spices and heavy cream.
Although the kirtan involves music, the underlying art of kirtan chanting is not actually about musical ability or training-it is about the heart. Everyone can participate, regardless of age or cultural background. The purpose of this music is to get us out of our heads and into our hearts. Typically, the songs can last for 20-30 minutes each with a few moments of silence in between each song so you can soak it all up. The longer songs allow for deeper experience of the effects, and with the simple, repetitive lyrics (it's a chant, after all!) we really don't have to think much about the words.
KIRTAN FROM GANGA DARSHAN, INDIA (the classic stuff from 1990):
SHABAD KIRTAN --- AUKHI GHADI NA DEKHAN DEYI (Sikh kirtan):
GANESH BHAJAN,KIRTAN -Vinayaka vinayaka by Leepikaa (y'all sing along!):
Om Namah Shivaya with Krishna Das (one of my all-time faves):
I remember walking through the cloister at Durham Cathedral, chanting the Te Deum with Mother Columba. We were carrying manuscripts from the Muniments room under the supervision of the Cathedral librarian. I did not realize it at the time, but I was carrying in my arms a Gospelbook from Lindisfarne with some of the same pigments as those used in the Lindisfarne Gospels.
It was artistically inferior by far and badly damaged. Still, it was a book of the Holy Gospels from that era used in the worship of God. I feel that I should remove my shoes even thinking about that moment, that book, that community from so many years ago.
...I need community. In my journey, while traveling to the outer edges of spirituality and back again, I stumbled across this Church. As flawed and frail as she is, this is where I have landed. This Church has become my spiritual home. Where else would I go?
The Church is a harlot. But she's all we've got.
Let us pray,
Gracious God, we pray for your holy Catholic Church....
The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the blogger and do not represent the positions of any group or organization with which he may be affiliated. As one who spent decades stuffing down his opinions and emotions, I am inclined to cut loose here, which I believe is healthy, honest, and part of the process of sanctification in the long run. Politics and spirituality mingle freely here, along with theatre reviews, photography, and passionate talk about food, literature, and the human journey. If anything written here offends you, please find other blogs to read. I am here to share, not to do battle.
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Mother Rhonda, our Vicar, presiding.
