“Prayer is talking to the universe, mediation is listening to the universe”……… “Music is the prayer the heart sings”
Music, Prayer, and Mediation are three aspects of worship that we will be bringing together as part of our Lenten journey this year. Singing is one of the most essential elements of worship. Short songs, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character. Using just a few words they express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being. Meditative singing thus becomes a way of listening to God.
Beginning Sunday, March 8th and carry-ing through until Palm Sunday, April 5th, Meditative song will be part of our Sunday morning prayer time with the hope that it will open and deepen our spiritual connection and create opportunities to hear God’s still soft voice.
Lent is a season of personal reflection when we are encouraged to look within and identify and release any elements and aspects of ourselves that do not serve our greater good. In our walk, we will draw strength and encouragement from each other as we share in prayer and song.
Creating and sustaining balance of body, mind and spirit is something I have been very mindful and in need of this past year. In striving to achieve internal harmony, I have drawn from my experiences as a holistic healer and have found help in the tranquility and centering energies in the healing modalities. Thanks to a suggestion from Maureen and Jim Rosenquist I had an opportunity to experience an evening of Sound Healing at Chapman University.
Sound healing is an ancient modality which may use the power of voice, and/or sacred instruments such as Gongs, Singing Bowls and Medicine Drums. The purpose is to induce a state beyond mere relaxation to promote deep inner healing. In sound, we create a sonic environment that allows the receiver to enter into the deep resonance with the Self. It is not a passive state as the participant is encouraged to set an intention and simply be the witness to the unfolding of the moment.
I had a wonderful experience which was enhanced by the fact that the healing session was provided by one of our very own church members, Jody Theissen. She has been conducting sound offerings over the past decade throughout the southland. A trained musician, she has been featured at several Universities specifically for her sound healing meditations. Grounded in the ancient wisdom teachings of the Buddha and other spiritual masters, she employs meditative techniques such as breathing exercises and postures focusing on a deeper understanding of what it means to be fully present, awake and alive.
Jody utilizes various instruments in her practice which includes, gongs, Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, drums, rattles and tuning forks. Skilled at the harmonium, she also works with sacred mantras and empowers others to find their voice thru song and word. Her approach emphasizes empowering each person to fully incorporate the practice and power of deep listening into daily living so that not only do we learn to listen to each other, but learn to hear our inner wisdom voice.
I invite anyone who is interested to join me at Chapman University on Monday February 10th at 7pm for a peaceful evening of sound therapy. I also invite you to stay after church on Sunday March 28th as Jody takes her show on the road and will be leading a sound healing experience in our chapel after church.
In our Sunday School classes this season our young people have been learning about the meaning behind many of the Christmas holiday symbols. They have learned that centuries ago the Christmas tree was once displayed in the center of town and people would gather around the community tree and tell stories from both the Old and New Testament. However, the church at the time did not like people gathering together in the city streets and had the trees removed. Undeterred, the people then began the tradition of having the Christmas tree in their homes, they continued to tell their stories and filled the trees with a variety of meaningful decorations.
We have learned that the dove that adorns the top of many people’s Christmas tree is a symbol of the peace that Jesus brings in the world.
The manger is a symbol of his humble beginnings and the star is a symbol of the promise of his blessings and of God’s love for the world.
In addition to learning about the symbols of the tree, manger, and star the classes have been able to interact with these symbols through different art projects and will be using them in the Christmas Pageant on December 8th. This has been a fun and interactive learning time and our young people are looking forward to bringing it into worship for their annual Christmas pageant.
