This Sunday's musical celebration of our beautiful earth comes to us via the
Missa Gaia
by Paul Winter, Jim Scott, Paul Halley, Oscar Castro-Neves and Kim Older. Commissioned by the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 1981, and true to its annual use on the Feast of St. Francis in NYC, we are including hymns, prayers and communion for the whole congregation!
On Saturday night, our Sanctuary Choir, instrumentalists and guest vocalist Thomasina Petrus will present the
Missa Gaia
in concert format. On Sunday morning (10am Sanctuary), these same musicians are reshaping their music to undergird the congregation in worship!
The music is marvelous on multiple levels. Some of the rich melodies are based on the songs of wolves, whales and seals. Much of the music is being enhanced by an incredible video feast of nature's splendor. The musical palette spans classical (Saint-Saens "The Swan"), traditional (hymn tunes from the 13th C.), Gospel (The Blue Green Hills of Earth), and world music styles (even including Afro-Cuban rhythms!). (Oh, and there just might be a special visitation from some of God's favorites of the animal kingdom!)
Thomasina Petrus is no stranger to Twin Cities jazz, Gospel and theatrical stages. Her musical stylings have garnered the praise and admiration of many, including her appearances at the Guthrie, Penumbra, and Ordway Theaters. She is joined by Minneapolis legends Pete Whitman (soprano sax), Cory Grossman (cello),
Jeff Marshak (oboe), Kevin Washington & Marc Anderson (percussion),
Gary Raynor (bass - of Prairie Home Companion fame), our own Steve Blons (guitar), Steven Hobert (piano), and Andrew Hackett (organ).
This coming Sunday we will open our ears and eyes to God's Word through creation. To quote Richard Rohr:
The first act of divine revelation is creation itself. The first Bible is the Bible of nature. It was written at least 13.8 billion years ago, at the moment that we call the Big Bang, long before the Bible of words. “Ever since God created the world, God’s everlasting power and divinity—however invisible—are there for the mind to see in the things that God has made”
(Romans 1:20).
For the Children and the Adults in Their Lives:
Sad days. We all have them! Who do you turn to when you're sad? What are the saddest days you've ever had? Are there sad days you think you'll have some day? It's not always easy to talk about the things that make us sad, but it can really help us heal to talk about it with an adult we can trust. God will always listen to your prayers, and God will especially hear your prayers on your sad days!
