All Saints Sunday, All Souls Remembrances

Tomorrow is All Saints Day and Monday is All Souls Day.

At tomorrow's masses we will "remember by name" those who have "died and gone before us."

If you would like someone remembered at the Altar during the mass, please give me their full names via email today (apostle@episcopalnet.org) and I will add them to the list.

"Lay this body anywhere, only this I beg of you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord." - dying words of Saint Monica to Saint Augustine

Who are these like stars appearing,

These, before God’s throne who stand?

Each a golden crown is wearing;

Who are all this glorious band?

Alleluia! hark, they sing,

Praising loud their heavenly King.

These are they who have contended

For their Saviour’s honor long,

Wrestling on till life was ended,

Following not the sinful throng:

These, who well the fight sustained,

Triumph by the Lamb have gained.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

Sunset Concerts

With November's Sedona Jazz at the Church offering we've added a new and beautiful dimension to the series. What, pray tell, is that?

The splashing of the setting sun on the red rocks that surround our parish church. And since we're going to do that for most all of our upcoming concerts, from now on we'll be billing the series as the Sedona Jazz at the Church Sunset Concerts.

This month it's the Vicki McDermitt Trio, with Vicki doing the vocals, and being backed up by Dwight Kilian on bass and Russ Schmidt on piano.

The concert starts at 4pm, and we'll be able to enjoy the setting sun during the break.

So, bring a friend, a hunger for good music and your camera, and we know you'll have a magnificent time!

Click HERE to get your tickets... and download the poster, too, if you want!!

(To find out more about the sunrise and sunsets at Saint Luke's - times, et al - click HERE.)

New Jazz, Christmas Postings

Today we've posted information on two upcoming events - (1) the November and December Jazz happenings for our "Sedona Jazz at The Church" concert series, and (2) the schedule for the Christ Masses that will take place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The jazz page update tells of the "Sunset Concert" which we will be having on November 21 with the Vicki McDermitt Trio, and there's also some news on the 2010 calendar - specifically Jim Martinez & Laura Didier's two concert event on January 17th and 18th.

Regarding Christmas, we've posted a page with the particulars of our three Christ Masses. On Christmas Eve there will be an early evening mass at 5pm, which will include a jazz quartet, a visit by a shepherd, and jazz accompaniments of the carols.

Following that liturgy, the Solemn High Christ Mass - the principal service for Christmas - will begin at 8:30 pm, and on Christmas Day a 10 am Christmas Day Mass will also be celebrated.

Here are the links:

Jazz Page Update

Christ Masses 2009

Sunrise, Sunset at Saint Luke's

We've put up a new page regarding the beautiful scenery around our parish. The page gives a lot of good information that will help visitors come at the right times of the day in order to take magnificently beautiful pictures here at the church.

If you've friends who will be coming into town on holiday, direct them to the page, as we've included a link to a site which gives the daily sunrise and sunset times in our unique town!

The link is HERE!

This Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King

The feast of Christ the King occurs the Sunday before All Saints Day and emphasizes that Christ is the King of all saints, whether they be of the Church militant, expectant or triumphant.

No Christian can become a saint without taking up his cross and following Christ. Every knee will bow before His throne. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He alone has wrought our salvation.

The crucifix (above) which shows Jesus on the Cross but in eucharistic vestments declares both His suffering and Victory in a powerful way.

Poetry, also, draws us to His saving actions, as the following work by Gerald Manley Hopkins shows us...

O God, I love thee, I love thee -

Not out of hope of heaven for me

Nor fearing not to love and be

In the everlasting burning.

Thou, thou, my Jesus, after me

Didst reach thine arms out dying.

For my sake sufferedst nails and lance,

Mocked and marred countenance,

Sorrows passing number,

Sweat and care and cumber,

Yea and death, and this for me,

And thou couldst see me sinning:

Then I, why should not I love thee,

Jesus, so much in love with me.

"Rejoice we all in the Lord, keeping holy-day in honour of all the Saints: in whose solemnity the Angels rejoice and glorify the Son of God." (From the day's introit, page E 132, The People's Anglican Missal).

The Day's Propers

"Sedona Jazz at the Church" concert - recollections of Inner Journeys' Concert

Saturday evening's concert was absolutely grand! The extremely gifted trio of Bob Ravenscroft on piano, Rob Moore on drums and Dwight Kilian on bass carried everyone present into a state of grace-filled joy.

The evening was billed as a tribute to the music of Bill Evans, and yet it was much more than that.

Compositions both "by" and "played by" Evans were certainly a part of the evening ("Letter to Evan," "Beautiful Love," "Periscope," "Gloria's Step," "I hear a Rhapsody," and "Emily" were but a few of the pieces offered); however, the trio used them all as a "springboard" for their own creativity, which flowed from them all night long.

For this writer, anyway, Bob Ravenscroft's playing of "Who Can I Turn To?" was a high point of the evening.

Mario Barnabe teamed up with the group as videographer, splashing his creativity with visual effects throughout the night's music. On one piece his visuals formed the basis for a free form piece by the trio which was truly extraordinary.

To see and hear the interplay between jazz musicians, and then to add the "communications" between musician and videographer is to witness God's gift of creativity to His creation - man.

An evening of fullness, from four men who are both blessed with musical artistry and part of Music Serving the Word Ministries of Carefree, Arizona. What more could one hope for?!?!

Well, we did more, as we all adjourned to the Blue Moon Cafe for dinner! What a grand night, to say the least!

Thanks, guys, for a wonderful evening.

And they WILL be back with us in the future!!