February 24

In the time of trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me.

Psalm 86: 1-11, verse 7

With what striking assurance does the psalmist address God! This is one of a handful of psalms identified specifically as a prayer – in this instance, a prayer of David. As Bible figures go, who more readily than David presumes that a time of trouble is inevitable, and who better than David knows where to go when he is in the thick of it? David’s prayer is simple and straightforward: When he needs help, he will turn to God and God will be there. The prayer speaks of a trust and reliability that come from a tried-and-true relationship with a God whom David knows to be “gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and full of kindness and truth” (verse 15). He knows this because he experiences God in this way over and over again. Throughout this Lent, call upon God with this same steadfast resolve and, with confidence, expect that God will answer you.

February 23

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Luke 9: 18-20

Isn’t this one of the ultimate questions? Who do you say Jesus is? If someone walked up to you today and asked you this question, what would your answer be? Would you use words like Messiah, Son of God, and Savior to describe who Jesus is? If so, you need to ponder what those titles mean to you. What does it mean to have a Savior or a Messiah?

In the coming weeks of Lent, take the time to think and pray about your relationship with Jesus.  What is it like? How can it be improved? Someday, each of us will have to answer to Jesus, when he asks, “Who do you say that I am?”

Don’t be caught surprised; today, start working on that answer.

Ash Wednesday

How happy is God going to be with me if I am questioning the only means of communicating to him available to me?  Try as I might, I never did locate that Lewis-to-God telex office. I have never been able to just let go and feel like I am really talking to God.

Unless, of course, you count those times when something horrible happens.

In those moments when I actually prayed I always felt disingenuous, as if I were saying the lines of a character that I didn’t understand.  So I prayed with some trepidation, figuring that it had to be some sort of sin to dial up God only in case of emergencies.

Me of Little Faith
Lewis Black

What God wants isn’t pretty words said by an insincere heart.  He wants honesty and truth and, trust me, he can take whatever you have to say to him.  He may even give you an answer. But just like when you’re mad at one of your friends, not talking only makes it worse.

Free Concert This Sunday – NY Classical Players Chamber Orchestra

SUNDAY AFTERNOON MUSIC AND ARTS
Joi us THIS SUNDAY February 5 at 3:00 pm for a Free concert
French Enchantment
NEW YORK CLASSICAL PLAYERS
Dongmin Kim,  conductor
Jasmine Choi,  flute Uriel Vanchestein,  clarinet   .
MASSENET  / The Last Dream of a Virgin 
VANCHESTEIEN  / Double Concerto for Flute and Clarinet
(commissioned by NYCP) 
DEBUSSY / Andantino for Strings
MILHAUD  / Chamber Symphony No. 4
SAINT-SAENS  / Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
RAVEL  / Pavane for a Dead Princess
FREE ADMISSION

Sunday Music and Arts Resumes this Week

Please join us Sunday February 5 at 3:00 pm for a concert of

French Enchantment

NEW YORK CLASSICAL PLAYERS

Dongmin Kim, conductor
Jasmine Choi, flute

Uriel Vanchestein, clarinet

 The New York Classical Players present a French program including pieces by Ravel, Massenet, Debussy and Saint-Saens. Music Director Dongmin Kim conducts the program with Jasmine Choi, associate principal flutist at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Uriel Vanchestein, the prize winning clarinetist in the Geneva International Competition, who writes the Double Concerto for Flute and Clarinet commissioned by the New York Classical Players.

 * * *

MASSENET / The Last Dream of a Virgin 

VANCHESTEIEN / Double Concerto for Flute and Clarinet (commissioned by NYCP) 

DEBUSSY / Andantino for Strings

MILHAUD / Chamber Symphony No. 4

SAINT-SAENS / Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso 

RAVEL / Pavane for a Dead Princess

* * *

Feb 5, 2012 / 3pm 

CHURCH OF THE HEAVENLY REST  

2 E. 90th St., New York, NY 10128

FREE ADMISSION

Super Thrift Sale On January 28: 10am-4pm

Please plan to come and shop at “N.Y.’s Best-Kept Secret Store.”  And let’s make sure that it is no longer a secret.  Spread the word!  You will find stylish “designer” and practical clothes plus children’s clothes, toys, household items, vintage china and books for every age.    If you haven’t come to one of our Thrift Sales yet, you have a treat in store.
Church of the Heavenly Rest
Enter at 2 East 90th Street, Darlington Hall
Admission is $5 from 10 am – 11 pm and $3 from 11am – 4 pm

Friday in Advent IV

“For everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”  These ancient words from the Book of Ecclesiastes (3:1) speak of movement and order in the universe. You may remember that these words were adapted in the sixties hit song with the refrain, “there is a season—turn, turn, turn.”  The church keeps time and observes movement with its own turn of seasons. Advent, from the Latin word adventus which means ‘coming’, waits in hopeful and quiet anticipation for ‘the coming of Christ’.  Now almost at a close, this four-week season of preparation before Christmas, once again this year has allowed the church a breathing space like no other time in the church year. Truly, it is a time when we can most experience ourselves “in” the world and not “of” the world. What we take with us into the next season (not yet, but come Sunday!), is the sense of groundedness in the quiet and calm that Advent allows. It’s not too late to slow down, take some deep breaths in and out, wake up, and pay attention to the quiet, silent mystery of God who is coming, and indeed is near each one of us all the time, in every season.