With the approach of Lent on Ash Wednesday, it is time to prepare hearts, minds, and sprirts for the events of Holy Week: Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and his gift of the Eucharist; his trial and crucifixion; and his resurrection.

One of the ascetic practices of early Christians, in addition to confession and prayer, was psalm singing. By constant practice, psalm singing became transformed to interior singing heard in silence. By this method, one learned to listen for the voice of God in silence.

God was present to Elijah in the sheer silence described in I Kings 19: “And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire the sound of sheer silence. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave.”

It was to stand in this presence of sheer silence that the ascetics practiced psalm singing.

During Lent, psalms will be sung, at the 9:00 am Eucharist. There will also be music from Taize during the Wednesday evening Eucharists, which conclude the Lenten suppers and studies. The repetition of Biblical verses, mostly from the psalms, found in these simple yet beautiful songs, leads to resting in the presence of God in the silence that follows. In the presence of fellow Christians, God refreshes and strengthens. God’s gentleness, patience and love infuse lives, and the events of life are surrounded by the space of God’s perspective.

Instrumentalists interested in playing at the 11:15 am service can sign up on the bulletin board outside the music room.

The Saint Cecelia Saint Alban choir has a new schedule. The choirs will continue to rehearse on Sunday 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm in the music room. They will sing one Sunday a month, usually the first Sunday, at the 9:00 am service, and one Sunday a month, usually the third Sunday, at the 11:15 am service.