A New Discipline for Lent!

When I was growing up, it would never have occurred to me to “give something up” for Lent. That was something the Catholic kids did and we Protestants (including Lutherans) were suspicious of anything “Catholic.” That said, in my adult years, I actually found this deeply traditional practice attractive. In more recent years, I’ve been more likely to add something to my personal Lenten observance, rather than give something up.

This is an invitation for you to add something very specific to your Lenten discipline – singing in the Matins Choir or the Festival Choir from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. Some people have a hard time making a long term commitment, but Lent is only forty days (not including Sundays).

As a member of the choir, you will be more involved with the texts (written and musical) that we use in worship. You’ll become part of a small group within the St. Mark’s community. You’ll also have to give something up because singing in a choir requires a certain time commitment.

The Matins choir rehearses at 8:00 on Sunday morning, and then sings for the 8:30 service. Matins Choir singers are invited to participate in Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Passion Sunday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday services, but attendance on Wednesday night is necessary. (A schedule will be released soon.)

The Festival Choir rehearses on Wednesday evening at 7:40 p.m., then rehearses again on Sunday morning at 10:30, then sings for the 11:00 service. Special services for the season include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.

We would love to have singers join just for this season. If you decide to stay, that will be fine too!

See Tony Cruz or any choir member for more information.

A Man’s Reach Should Exceed His Grasp, or What’s a Heaven For? Robert Browning

Something I know: There will always be someone who can play better than me, sing better than me, and bring beautiful music from a choir better than me. There will always be someone who is more charitable than me, kinder than me, and stronger in a crisis than me. There will always be someone who knows more than me, works harder than me, and seems to have a better walk with God than me.

These people are my heaven. Even if they can’t do it with their lips, their actions, striving, and accomplishments propel and encourage me to work harder and achieve more.

Christopher Houlihan, a young organist studying at Julliard, came to Jacksonville to perform a concert. While he was here, he participated in our AGO Chapter’s “Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza” event. He worked with each child while they played (some for the first time) the pipe organs of All Saints Episcopal Church and Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. The American Organist said about him, “Clearly, Christopher Houlihan is a major talent whose star is destined to brightly shine over the horizon of the years ahead.” When the time for questions came, I asked about his practice habits. He practices at least SIX HOURS almost every day. Sometimes I’m lucky to practice six hours in a week!

This is the kind of thing that encourages me to push harder and be more committed. Christopher Houlihan is just one many, many people who have given me glimpses of heaven.

We are saved by grace, true; but, I’m inclined to believe that the heaven we find on earth comes from perseverance and toil.

A poster used to hang in Mr. Nelson’s seventh grade English class that held the quote from the title of this blog entry. Those twelve words were probably the most important thing I learned that year.
The accompanying photo was taken by my brother Andre. . .who is a better astronomer than me.