If music be the food of love, play on

The ministry of music is one like no other- it has the ability to turn us all into passionate, heart-wrenched converts. It transcends our mental barriers and Orthodox walls, and reaches right down into our souls with the use of our subconscious.

I have always loved the praise and worship services that came hand in hand with youth ministry,  and the way in which those moments made it feel as though God is so close, so close it makes your heart race and your skin tingle. While 'growing up' has created some distance from those events I have now taken to exploring my options at Musica and Cum books and have come to understand that seek and ye shall find.

The options are really quite plausible as you will find anything from Kirk Franklin and the Winans classic favourites to Hillsongs remakes of popular tracks that will take you back.

Cum books had an awesome disc up for listening (I will have to purchase that next time. I was busy birthday present shopping. Cum is a good place to find prezzies by the way!). The CD was alternative and provided the kind of listening that a younger crowd could and certainly would appreciate. The artists are Jesus Culture and the covers called 'Unstoppable Love', as it is indeed.

Musica will humour you with volumes and box sets that will have you grappling about trying to decide which to buy. I have recently purchased 2 volumes of '16 greats ', which turns out to be from the '90s; it is still under review. 

I've found that Music as a medium can be anything you need it to be. It can be soothing,  healing,  and even exhilarating. As human beings we forget that we thrive on emotion and miss out on the natural high that Music can bring. 

So keep your earphones on hand and learn to open that doorway to your soul.

Corpus Christi

The festival of Corpus Christi,  observed by many nations and also referred to as Corpus Domini,  Celebrates the holy Eucharist and the institution thereof in our church and in our lives.

This festival was only introduced to the Christian church in later years,  after Augustinian nun, St Juliana had a vision about the Eucharist and its reverence.

While the Eucharist and its importance is observed on Maundy Thursday,  in anticipation of Good Friday, St Juliana advocated a sacrament so precious deserved a celebration more fitting,  that the sombre atmosphere of holy week did not sufficiently celebrate the body and the blood and the dynamics around this heavenly sacrifice. To St Juliana, the Eucharist needed to be celebrated with joyful anticipation.

Looking at what this festival reminds us of, there are many, many lessons to be learnt. And as with everything else presented to us from the church,  the bride of Jesus, we may take from it was is suitable to our lives and current situation.

The three important points to take home,  this (and probably every) Corpus Christi :
The challenge of sacrifice
The reward of forgiveness
The joy of new life.

Happy Friday :-)

Hello again, World

Sjoe! In at last. Technical difficulties have kept me from here and now I'm stuck with proverbial cobwebs and metaphorical crickets.

I'm saddened really,  I missed Lent this year, and it is always Lent that brings me back here, but after a fair amount of hacking I am back- and in time for a festival no less!

Tomorrow is Corpus Christi, the Western Orthodox Churches celebration of the institution of the Eucharist- tomorrow we celebrate the body which is given for us, and the blood which is shed for us.

I will try and clean out some of these cobwebs and hopefully tomorrow I will.be able to give an article about Corpus Christi,  the reverence it deserves.

Stay safe - may the Good Lord be with you