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.

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.

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.

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

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.                                                                                                                                                            Luke 1:46-48

Where do you look for God?  In church?  In the words of Scripture?  In nature?  In a loving relationship?  In the beauty of music or art?  When do you search for God’s strength?  When illness strikes?  When life’s problems mount?  When danger appears?  When temptation beckons?  These are all good and appropriate occasions to “Search for the Lord and his strength, to seek God’s face…” but the life of faith bids us to continually expand our search.  We are to look for God in all places, in all people, in all occasions and circumstances.  We are to ask for God’s strength not only to help us when we are in need but also to empower us to serve.  We are to let our lives, as well as our souls, magnify the Lord.

…Some ways indeed are very odd
By which we hail the birth of God.
We raise the price of things in shops,
We give plain boxes fancy tops

And lines which traders cannot sell
Thus parcell’d go extremely well
We dole out bribes we call a present
To those to whom we must be pleasant

For business reasons. Our defence is
These bribes are charged against expenses
And bring relief in Income Tax
Enough of these unworthy cracks!

‘The time draws near the birth of Christ’.
A present that cannot be priced
Given two thousand years ago
Yet if God had not given so
He still would be a distant stranger
And not the Baby in the manger.

The above is an excerpt from “Advent 1955” by John Betjeman.
How little has changed!