Night Prayer

Tonight I attended a Night Prayer service www.nightprayer.org at Parish of the Messiah in Newton, MA. It is a fully sung service. This one was sung by Schola Nocturna which is part of the music ministry at Messiah. About 18 singers and about 20 people in the congregation. Not bad for 8:30pm on a Sunday. The church was cloaked in darkness with lots of candles providing most of the lighting.

The music was mostly chant, some old and some newly written by the conductor. It was all a capella. There was one polyphonic (many voices) piece by William Byrd. The chanting, the quietness, the atmosphere all helped to wrap the day up in peace.

Attending this service was sort of professional research. I heard about it back in the spring. It only happens once a month. The Schola takes off during the summer. Finding new and interesting ways of praying as a community is something we as a staff talk about a lot. Our Sunday on Wednesday service came from our discussions. But sometimes I wonder, particularly when I come from an "old" style service, do we really need to reinvent the wheel. I'm not into the trendy or faddish (can't you tell?). If someone is searching for God or a community or the meaning of life are they going to find it in the latest and greatest thing on the block or in something that touches the soul through its timelessness and sheer beauty.

I don't have the answer to this question. It just keeps coming up. That's why I'm at home in this church. Questions and searching is welcome.

So this All Saints' Day was really a good one. A great morning with two baptisms, hearty singing, first class preaching followed by a nice afternoon at home (and La Boheme on the radio) and a peaceful musical night prayer to end the day.

Soli Deo Gloria! Amen.