From the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

The heart of a Christian community is worship and the essence of worship is singing—and this comes from the heart of God’s creation itself. The ancients thought there was such a thing as the “music of the spheres,” that the planets made music as they spun through space—almost as if their dance was choreographed with the song that is the beating of God’s heart.

After the so-called Enlightenment, this was thought ridiculous, but recently an experiment by physicists divided the orbital periods of the planets in half again and again until they were literally audible. The piece was named "Carmen of the Spheres."

So perhaps it wasn’t such a silly concept after all!

There is music at the very heart of Creation and in the halls of Heaven, and the Bible makes it plain that music is at the very heart of worship, and therefore at the heart of God. There is no preaching in Heaven; it isn’t needed. There is no edifying reading in Heaven; it isn’t needed. There is no social work, no pastoral care, not even any Bible reading, and certainly no Biblical Criticism in Heaven; they aren’t needed.

The only thing that we know about Heaven for certain is that Heaven is the presence of God and that he is worshipped by all there, and that that worship is cast in song as Angels and Archangels and all the company of Heaven sing in adoration.

It’s a gift to be in a place where music plays such a rich part of the tapestry of our lives and has through our history. I officiated Evensong this past Sunday and the whole time I thought about how fortunate we all were to be in that holy place spending time made sacred by the gathered prayers and adoration offered in lovingly sung music. I had the same experience joining the choir for the UK Residency this past summer.

Two more significant pieces of our musical tradition will be on offer in the weeks and months ahead (in addition to the beautiful offerings that are always part of Holy Week and Easter).

The first event is the concert tomorrow, Saturday, at 4:00pm. The new Steinway piano, gifted to our parish with loving generosity, will be showcased by the masterful play of Ralph Votapek. He was the first gold medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and has graciously offered to meet attendees at a reception following the concert. The event is free but donations are welcome.

The second offering, a little further on the horizon but coming soon in May, is the premiere of the mass setting commissioned from renowned composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. It promises to be a beautiful addition to our choral legacy and a gift to the wider Church, as well. Few places can make new music of this kind available for worship across churches and denominations and it is a special thing to be in a place able to make this happen. This is yet another endeavor made possible through generous donations.

These offerings and more help lead us deeper into the unfolding mystery that is the anthem of creation and the song of salvation.

I came to the Episcopal Church, in no small part, because of tremendous music—the music of our home church was the Still Small Voice of God speaking over earthquake, wind, and fire. It was speaking over the bitterness, strife, anxiety, vulgarity, and busyness of the day-to-day with an ancient melody that seemed to be echoing from catacombs, caves, and cathedrals of centuries past and down the aisles where we pray and sing today.

I want to close this with thanks to the many of you who are involved in our music program in one way or another.

Whether you volunteer, or give, or lead some aspect of the music ministry, your time, talent, and care are an immense blessing here. I’m especially grateful to Justin, Jeffrey, and the many people who share in their ministry and to the many people who have sought to share that ministry with the wider community too.

I pray music at Saint Philip’s is always a path for folks to go deeper with Christ and that people as dedicated and faithful continue to help shape the future of our music with the same care and love that has shaped our tradition.

Yours in Christ,

—Fr Robert