Songs for Lent

How about another flashback? I was at this concert sometime in the mid-80s (maybe not this exact concert, but when the tour came to Seattle, I was there. . .)

Songs for Lent

How about an 80s (or is it 70s?) flashback? The words are still as powerful as ever.

But like Peter I can't even stop and pray one hour with you,
and I bet I could deny you too
but nothing lasts except the grace of God by which I stand in Jesus
I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.

Songs for Lent

"Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers. . ."

Songs for Lent

Songs for Lent

Songs for Lent

About time we heard something from Loretta Lynn.

Songs for Lent

Ah, yes. Ashley Cleveland can bring it.

Songs for Lent

Songs for Lent

Songs for Lent

From John Rutter's Requiem

The text is Psalm 130.
Out of the depths I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
O let thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint.
If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it?
For there is mercy with thee; therefore shalt thou be feared.
I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him, and in his word is my trust.
My soul fleeth unto the Lord; before the morning watch, I say, before the morning watch.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins. 

 

Songs For Lent

Inspired by the T.S. Elliot poem of the same name, this is The Hollow Men, written for trumpet and string orchestra by Vincent Persichetti.

The poem says, in part:

Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death’s other Kingdom
Remember us—if at all—not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.

And, of course, it ends with that most famous of lines:

This is the way the world ends

this is the way the world ends

this is the way the world ends

not with a bang but a whimper.

Songs for Lent

Seeing that Davy Jones passed away today, this seems fitting.

Creature comfort goals they only numb my soul
and make it hard for me to see
my thoughts all seem to stray to places far away
I need a change of scenery

 

Songs for Lent

In honor of Maurice Andre, world-renowned trumpet virtuoso, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 78.

This is the 3rd movement of the Hindemith Sonata for trumpet and piano (no, it's not played by Maurice, but it's a good rendition all the same). The last section of this piece (starting at about the 5:40 mark) is titled "Alle Menschen mussen aterben" - All Mankind must die.

Songs for Lent

Songs for Lent

Ashes to Ashes

I have to be honest. . .I'm not so sure about this Ash Wednesday thing. Not even that sure about the whole Lenten season.

Imagine you really really really really love somebody. So you buy them a really costly gift. More costly than anything you've ever purchased. But you love them, so it's worth it.

Imagine they open the gift, and they love it. They're overwhelmed by it. They can't say "thanks" enough. You can see their joy, and it makes you happy. And over the coming weeks, as they tell the story to their friends, as they show off the gift and gush about your generosity, it makes you happy. To see their joy and feel their appreciation.

But then. . .imagine they start focusing on that generosity piece. In fact, they stop really thinking about the gift, and instead spend all their time talking about your generosity. Wouldn't that bother you just a bit? You didn't give them the gift just so they could perpetually tell you how wonderful you are (well, if you did, your motives would be suspect).

And then. . .imagine it's not just your generosity they keep mentioning. They start harping on how they didn't deserve it, that you were too generous, that somebody like them isn't worthy of this gift. Wouldn't that start to grate on your nerves? You gave them the gift out of love, and your love proves they are, in fact, worth the price of the gift. I'm sure a momentary "Oh, you shouldn't have!" is appropriate. Even a couple "no, really, it's just to expensive"s wouldn't be out of the question.

But suppose, a year later, around the anniversary of the gift, your beloved starting acting morose. A little too serious. Somewhat sad. And when you asked why, they told you, "I'm just remembering how expensive that gift was, and how I'm not really worthy of such a gift from such a wonderful person." And then. . .they did it year after year after year. Always going on and on about the cost, the price, and how a dirty, unworthy, shameful person such as they didn't deserve that kind of gift. How amazing you were, that you would give a little wretch like them such a precious gift.

I know, I know. Maybe this isn't the overall purpose of Lent. But isn't it what it often becomes in our little corner of the world, our little Christian campout? Doesn't it often become a reflection on the heavy price paid by God, and our unworthiness of that gift?

Too much of our theology and practice came of age in a medieval age of kings and emperors and serfs and vassals. In that world, should the king bestow you with a gift, the only proper response was deference, reflection of the amazing generosity of the king to stoop in such a way as to offer such a blessing to an unworthy little worm. For ages stories would be told and songs sung of the generosity of the king, that one of such a high station would give gifts to lowly peasants.

But that's not the biblical story. The biblical story is "How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called sons and daughters of God." When I give my daughters a gift, I do appreciate a little gratitude on their part. But that's not why I give it. I give it because I love them and want to see the joy on their faces when they open it. And if my daughter would spend the next 6 months after Christmas repeating the mantra, "thank you, daddy - I am such a horrible daughter, so lousy, such a miserable wretch, and you are so amazing, so wonderful, so much higher than I. . .I don't deserve you or your gift" at some point I would say "stop it!" Or I'd sign her up for counseling.

There's a time and a place to remember this great gift of God to us in Jesus, and certainly each generation needs to hear the story again, but I'm just not a fan of the way it often slides into low self-esteem Christianity. The puritan heritage that speaks of us as worms and lower than dirt and wretches, that sees us as lowly vassals lucky even to mop the floor in God's great Kingdom. Instead, we're the prodigal child welcomed home with a party, with a celebration.

Regardless of how we tell the story, we still stand on this side of Easter. I'm not sure it's healthy to try to go back pre-Easter. I'm not sure we ought to spend so much time lamenting the sins of which we're already forgiven. God wants to throw a party, and we're still fixated on the dirt that's already been washed away.

Experience the Stations of the Cross this Lent

Lakebay Community Church is excited to be hosting a Stations of the Cross installation this year.

Our curator, Roshni Robert, wrote this by way of explanation:

Lakebay Community Church's Stations of the Cross project will be based on the "Scriptural Way of the Cross" that Pope John Paul II instated in 1991. We have chosen this Way because some of the traditional stations are not actually found in the passion story as it stands in scripture. Several trained and untrained artists from within and a few from outside our congregation will be each representing a respective station however they see fit. There are no limits to medium, size or content, provided the intended station is actually portrayed. Some stations will be interactive, some purely visual, all invoking the viewer to re-contemplate each action leading to the death and resurrection of the Christ. My intention for the project was not necessarily to show off the talent in our community (though that is definitely an added bonus), but more to select individuals whom I believe would convey a new or unique perspective on their chosen station. 

The Stations of the Cross will be on display beginning with an artist's reception that is open to the public at Lakebay Community Church on March 28 at 12:30 in the afternoon. The sanctuary will also be open for viewing following the 28th during Holy Week 9am-1pm Tuesday through Friday and also by appointment.
 
All are welcome to attend! We are looking forward to sharing some new views on the subject of this contemplative and joyful season.

Lyric for Lent #3

Behold the man upon a cross,
my sin upon his shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held him there
until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything:
no gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.

- Stuart Townend, "How Deep the Father's Love For Us"

Lyric for Lent #2

Well I've never been much for the bearing of soul
in the presence of any man;
I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure,
in the arms of a sinner, I am.
Could it be that my worth should depend
on the crimson stained grace on a hand?
And like a lamp on a hill, Lord, I pray in your will
To reveal all of you that I can.

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid
to bare all my weakness, knowing in meekness
I have a Kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
Oh, I am not afraid
To let your light shine bright in my life, in my life
Oh, I am not afraid.

Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs and Thieves