Teen Stations - Text

From our guest blogger, Bob McCullough

This year we will use the French poet and theologian Paul Claudel 1911 libretto from Marcel Dupre's "Le Chemin de la Crois" ("The Way of the Cross") organ composition.  It is a powerful, intense and dense piece which has been updated for the modern teen audience, without losing its poetry.

Paul Claudel is himself an interesting example of a man of his time (playwright, poet, diplomat) whose faith remained unwavering despite the free-thinking of his generation.  Historians place his return to the faith at the age of 18 during Christmas Eve.  More on Paul Claudel here.

In Bob's next blogpost, he will discuss the music for Teen Stations. 

Teen Stations - The 15th Station

From our guest blogger, Bob McCullough:

We are often asked why we have a 15th Station for the Resurrection and I tell people that the church permits a 15th station for this purpose.   The last thing to contemplate should be the Resurrection, not the placing of Christ in the tomb.  

It takes an act of faith for modern teenagers to trust that there is power in the Stations of the Cross because most of them have not experienced it.  We want teens to experience, not just the sacrifice of Christ's passion, but also the hope that is in Christ's resurrection.  In these difficult times, trust God and make the leap of faith.  

Visit our blog again when Bob will discuss the readings for Teen Stations.

The Teen Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday, April 3rd 2009 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   

Teen Stations - Video and Digital Images

From our guest blogger, Bob McCullough:

We are a sophisticated audio-visual generation and we believe that sight and sound must be used to maximum effect to create a powerful, yet prayerful experience.  The Teen Stations will begin with a short movie on the Passion created using Enya's "Pax Deorum" and 138 fine art images of the Passion.  I found these beautiful images over the last 16 years in my internet travels to the museums of the world.  This 4 minute movie places the congregation on the Via Dolorosa as witnesses to the Stations of the Cross.

We will be using digital images of our St. Mel stained glass windows for the first 14 stations. This will be the first time St. Mel will be using its stained glass windows for an evening service. The images will be computer projected 12' tall on the church's retractable screen.

Next post from Bob:  The 15th Station

Amahl Cast Party - St. Patrick's Day 2009

The cast party brought everyone together to reminisce and view the videos produced by our Multimedia Ministry.

The Cast - pre-show:

And then the party:

The traditional corned beef, cabbage and colcannon for a St. Patrick's Day celebration c/o Chef Joseph (aka The Camel).

Singing Irish Songs ...and one Italian song in honor of St. Joseph.
More photos here.

Teen Stations - Beginnings

Our guest blogger, Bob McCullough, has been involved in the Teen Stations of the Cross at St. Mel's for 16 years.  

If the Stations of the Cross is the movie, our text and music are the soundtrack.   When we were asked to create a Stations of the Cross experience which would appeal to the Teen Community, we felt that we needed a few elements to be successful:

(1) full active participation of the teen community - as musicians, singers and lectors 

(2) powerful text that will speak to relevant modern day concerns 

(3) musical selections with the emotion and meditation of each station

(4) digital images and video footage that highlight the entire experience

(5) active participation from the adults who support the teen community

While the Passion has been depicted in artwork, music, plays and movies, the ritual devotion of the Stations of the Cross is a significant and prayerful way to enter the mystery of Christ's Passion.  We have refined our Teen Stations of the Cross over the last 16 years to immerse the congregation in the experience and provide insight into Christ's suffering and sacrifice. 

Bob will continue to post on this subject over the next few weeks.   The Teen Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday, April 3rd 2009 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.   

Francesco's Notes - Lenten Music

Q: How is Lenten liturgical music different from music for the rest of the year? 

Francesco:  Well the two obvious things are that we don’t sing the GLORY TO GOD (GLORIA) or an ALLELUIA. Since Lent is traditionally a penitential season we always sing some form of the PENITENTIAL RITE, or as it is now called the ACT OF PENITENCE. So, the choir sings KYRIE ELEISON (Greek for LORD, HAVE MERCY) set for choir by such composers as HANS LEO HASSLER (Renaissance period), W.A.MOZART (Classic period), or FLOR PEETERS (20^th century). I try to choose music that reflects our tradition and is appropriate to the current liturgical norms. We also sing some special versions of the AGNUS DEI (LAMB OF GOD). Both the KYRIE ELEISON and the AGNUS DEI are litanies of supplication, asking God for mercy and peace. I like to think of LENT as a journey toward the great mystery of the PASSION, DEATH, and RESURRECTION of Jesus. As far as the other songs, most are about our journey with Jesus’ through this paschal mystery. For example, JESUS WALKED THIS LONESOME VALLEY and I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME. Lent is also a time of taking inventory (Prayer), a time to CHANGE OUR HEARTS if we’ve lost our way. Lent is a time to remember that GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that we need to sacrifice so that other may live (Fasting and Almsgiving). It’s a good time too not to lose hope and remember that God does HOLD US IN HIS MERCY.

Teen Stations - The Big Picture

If you have a teenager at home, you know that look.  It says "I'm borrrred".  It starts with the eyes and then the entire body just becomes a lump of indifference.  St. Mel's Teen Stations of the Cross on April 3rd will use a multi-media experience to bring the Passion of Christ to a more engaging level and encourage full participation from our teen community.  

It uses the most eclectic musical resources to open the heart and mind to the spirit and emotion of each station.  Music comes from Broadway musicals, African-American spirituals, movie soundtracks and contemporary Christian music.  People have come to experience Teen Stations in Woodland Hills from as far away as Lancaster and Orange County.

Our next posting:  Guest Blogger Bob McCullough on Teen Stations - The Beginning

Amahl - Cast Party Scheduled

Some great Amahl photos through Ken Fancher's lens. Click here to view. 

All the more reason to come to the cast party on St. Patrick's Day.  I hear the video is quite good.

Ashira (I Will Sing)

How good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to sit together.

The St. Peter Armenian Church Congregational Choir, the Valley Beth Shalom Congregational Choir, St. Mel's Parish and Handbell Choirs and the Mass Gospel Choir from the Central Bible Church will fill Valley Beth Shalom with music and brotherhood Friday March 13 at 8 p.m. Many voices as one.

Breathe

Anyone who has even a 1 min. exposure to yoga (even as an uninterested observer) understands the importance of breathing.  Breathing is life and it's easy to take it for granted, until shortness of breath or anxiety make us painfully aware that we are not getting enough air.  Breathe is a widely popular contemporary piece by M. Barnett that likens air to "His Holy presence, living in me".

The Parish and Handbell Choirs will perform Breathe at the Valley Beth Shalom Interfaith Service on March 13 at 8 p.m.   The music includes the hymn Breathe on Me, Breath of God and remains a Bell Choir favorite.   No tickets are required for this event.

Eyes of My Heart

The Lifeteen Band’s gathering song for the 2nd Sunday of Lent “Open the Eyes of My Heart” got me thinking about the horrid workweek that I had just been through. If ever there was a time for every nasty expletive in every language, this would have been the perfect time.

I am pleased to report that I survived the week, mostly by opening my eyes to the good in the people that angered me the most.  This Sunday, we recall the Transfiguration of Christ but it is we who are transfigured by His teachings.  

Francesco's Notes: VBS Interfaith Service

Q.  For the Interfaith Service at Valley Beth Shalom, the Parish and Handbell Choirs will perform Mozart's Ave Verum and Marie Barnett's Breathe.  Why were these pieces chosen?   

Francesco:  I picked the AVE VERUM and BREATHE because they are accompanied by the handbell choir and also because Noreen wanted something in Latin that was somewhat traditional to the Catholic Church (i.e., Ave Verum) and Breathe represents a new style of music that is being sung in the Catholic Church today.