About this time of year, there is an evening that is only rarely offered at St. Joan’s. Except during the Fall Memorial Service and the Advent Evensong, the St. Joan of Arc choir normally is only heard in the gym at Sunday Masses or at a concert event. But this Wednesday, March 12th the choir performed at a prayer service that was held on in the church at 7 pm after the usual Lenten Soup supper.
Anna Vagle, director, pianist Joe Chouinard as well as Julie Madden and Roger Dick, readers, joined together with the choir for this special Celtic Prayer Service
As people came to this prayer service the choir was already singing a welcome song that that said to all:
Anna’s opening welcome and introduction described this prayer time as “A Reflection in Word and Song on the life of Jesus” using “Iona” styled music.
 |
 |
A striking addition to this evening’s event was using the slide screen not only to place the lyrics of the songs so that those that desired, could sing the songs along with the choir, but to show some paintings of Jesus taken from various cultures around the world. This exquisite Powerpoint presentation was created and developed by Fred Vagle, who also was the projectionist for this occasion as well as photographer and audio expert. Perhaps the purpose of these works of art was to remind us of how different cultures might imagine what Jesus possibly looked like. This was an eye opening visual statement in itself. The pictures showed Jesus from the time of his birth; at the temple as a young boy; at the beginning of his three-year mission on earth and his teachings, miracles up to the brink of his death and accompanied by what the people of that time might have said about him such as the repeated question asked and echoed by the voice of the choir. Who Does He Think He Is?
Through the link that appears in this report you will be able to listen to the prayer service through your computer speakers. There is no other way to describe this prayer service but to hear it yourself. If you missed it, or want to hear the music again, you can now listen to the readers, the music and imagine the pictures that might have been shown on the screen guiding you through Jesus’ life and His teaching. Just to listen is a wonderful meditation exercise you may want to do again and again.
Before ending this event report I would like to state the first reading that sums up this well scripted and performed event.
Yet to all who did receive Him,
To those who gave Him their allegiance,
He called forth from them
their right to be children of God
So the word became flesh
…and lived among us!
 |
 |
 |
 |