The inaugural concert of the St. James' Bicentennial Organ, with Ken Cowan performing, filled us with wonder and inspiration. But it was the morning services that prepared me to appreciate the musical offerings of the day and gave insights into the music that we hear at every church service. The Rev. Canon Victoria Sirota was our Bicentennial guest preacher; she also led the adult education forum between the services. She maintained that music is the fastest way into our faith—a portal to what is holy—and that listening will help us hear the voice of the divine in new ways. When we allow ourselves to be inspired and sing together we are getting a glimpse of heaven, and organ music brings us to God in other ways. Everyone is not a gifted musician, myself included, but coming together in song or in inspirational listening brings the liturgy alive in very special ways. I know that I will be listening anew and maybe trying to sing a little more.
Charlene Simonian
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Voice of the Divine
Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace to you and peace! It is with great joy that I prepare to be with you this Sunday. Your gifted organist Davis Wortman has shared CDs of two of your amazing recitals and concerts. The glorious sounds of superb music-making resound in my ears as I write this. The St. James' Compostela Choir has mastered the beauty of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Duruflé's Requiem, and your talented organists are using the varied sonorities—thunderous and majestic as well as soulful—of a great musical instrument, your new gallery organ. Sunday will be a day of wondrous celebration of the completion of the entire St. James' Bicentennial Organ!
I rejoice to share with you what I have learned—first as a musician and organist who plays recitals in the United States and abroad (my training was at Oberlin, Boston University, and in Paris and Amsterdam), and then as a priest (at Harvard Divinity School and Episcopal Divinity School as well as an Associate at Saint Margaret's Convent and as a member of the Order of Urban Missioners). I have learned of the power of music to draw us into a spiritual realm, and how music in liturgy connects us directly to the fullness of the Body of Christ. Although I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran, I was blessed as a church musician to discover the Episcopal Church, a place where intellectual discourse is encouraged, the Eucharist is central and all of the arts are lifted up as reflecting the glory of God—architecture, music, stained glass windows, poetry, literature, dance, etc. Our worship together is an opportunity to express gratitude to the Almighty with the best fruits of our labor. Nourished with the body and blood of Christ, fed and blessed, we then go out into the world seeking to reflect in our work, play, and prayer life our gratitude to God for gifts given and our desire to embrace all we encounter with Christ's love.
Your deep and profound relationship with New York City as well as troubled areas in the world—South Africa during the years of apartheid, Haiti and Malawi—shows an eagerness to share the kingdom of God beyond the walls of the church. Your love of good music as expressed in the gift of this magnificent instrument and your support of St. James’ excellent music program indicate your desire to listen for the voice of the Divine and to sing together gloriously as one body in Christ.
May this new instrument be blessed with a vibrant artistic, liturgical and spiritual life surrounding it, and may you be blessed as joyful people singing God's praises. Thank you for inviting me to join in the celebration!
Blessings and love,
Vicki Sirota+
The Reverend Canon Victoria Sirota
Canon Pastor and Vicar
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Grace to you and peace! It is with great joy that I prepare to be with you this Sunday. Your gifted organist Davis Wortman has shared CDs of two of your amazing recitals and concerts. The glorious sounds of superb music-making resound in my ears as I write this. The St. James' Compostela Choir has mastered the beauty of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Duruflé's Requiem, and your talented organists are using the varied sonorities—thunderous and majestic as well as soulful—of a great musical instrument, your new gallery organ. Sunday will be a day of wondrous celebration of the completion of the entire St. James' Bicentennial Organ!
I rejoice to share with you what I have learned—first as a musician and organist who plays recitals in the United States and abroad (my training was at Oberlin, Boston University, and in Paris and Amsterdam), and then as a priest (at Harvard Divinity School and Episcopal Divinity School as well as an Associate at Saint Margaret's Convent and as a member of the Order of Urban Missioners). I have learned of the power of music to draw us into a spiritual realm, and how music in liturgy connects us directly to the fullness of the Body of Christ. Although I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran, I was blessed as a church musician to discover the Episcopal Church, a place where intellectual discourse is encouraged, the Eucharist is central and all of the arts are lifted up as reflecting the glory of God—architecture, music, stained glass windows, poetry, literature, dance, etc. Our worship together is an opportunity to express gratitude to the Almighty with the best fruits of our labor. Nourished with the body and blood of Christ, fed and blessed, we then go out into the world seeking to reflect in our work, play, and prayer life our gratitude to God for gifts given and our desire to embrace all we encounter with Christ's love.
Your deep and profound relationship with New York City as well as troubled areas in the world—South Africa during the years of apartheid, Haiti and Malawi—shows an eagerness to share the kingdom of God beyond the walls of the church. Your love of good music as expressed in the gift of this magnificent instrument and your support of St. James’ excellent music program indicate your desire to listen for the voice of the Divine and to sing together gloriously as one body in Christ.
May this new instrument be blessed with a vibrant artistic, liturgical and spiritual life surrounding it, and may you be blessed as joyful people singing God's praises. Thank you for inviting me to join in the celebration!
Blessings and love,
Vicki Sirota+
The Reverend Canon Victoria Sirota
Canon Pastor and Vicar
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
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