Daily Devotions
Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for May 4, 2020
Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “Signposts on the Way to God”
How do we know about God’s love, God’s generosity, God’s kindness, God’s forgiveness? Through our parents, our friends, our teachers, our pastors, our spouses, our children— they all reveal God to us. But as we come to know them, we realize that each of them can reveal only a little bit of God. God’s love is greater than theirs; God’s goodness is greater than theirs; God’s beauty is greater than theirs. At first we may be disappointed in these people. For a while we thought that they would be able to give us all the love, goodness, and beauty we needed. But gradually we discover that they were all signposts on the way to God.
The Mennonite Wrld Conference has called Anabaptist and Mennonite congregations around the world to unite in prayer.
A Prayer for COVID-19 by Mennonite Church USA staff
We pray for people in the U.S and around the world impacted by coronavirus. We pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones, and for those who have been quarantined and are feeling alone. We pray for healing for those who are sick. We pray for safety, strength and compassion for medical workers who may be overwhelmed caring for those who are battling various illnesses, for and workers who are exposed to greater risks. We pray that our public officials act with compassion and wisdom as they work to contain the virus. We pray for those without access to health care, and for those who don’t know how they will make it if they get sick and can’t go to work. We pray that your peace will guard our hearts and minds so that we are not overcome by anxiety and fear. God, inspire in us ways to show your love to one another and to ourselves. Guide our hearts and our actions to greater care, kindness and generosity in the midst of these fears and uncertainties. Amen.
It’s back to Cuyler Black (with a shout-out to National Star Wars Day)
Today’s links!
Once Again, In Honor of National Star Wars Day…
Let’s end with a couple of orchestral pieces from John Williams. The first features the composer himself in his debut directing the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. I’ll let Williams set the scene: “We played two rehearsals with the orchestra, at the end of which the orchestra management said: ‘Can we play the Imperial March from Star Wars?’ And I hadn’t programmed that. I thought I had already asked the brass to play quite enough big music. “But as I understand it, the brass players in the orchestra themselves requested that we would play the Imperial March. So, at the end of the rehearsal we played it, they had the music, everyone seemed to know it. “It was honestly the best presentation of that March I ever heard,” Williams reflected after the concert. “They played it as though they owned it.” Here’s the link to that performance. The second performance is by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra playing John William’s theme from Schindler’s List. The music itself is beautiful, but the backstory behind the video even better.
Cor anglais player Davida Scheffers has a painful neuromuscular condition which disrupted her career as a musician. Despite her fear that she might never be able to play with a professional orchestra again, Davida’s dream was to play with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. Last year, she did just that. In a performance with the orchestra, Davida played the entire cor anglais solo from John Williams’ Schindler’s List theme, before bursting into tears during Simone Lamsma’s violin solo. It was a powerful moment that affected both the audience and orchestra. Watch for Davida’s daughter in the audience, who had just turned 18 that day. Click here to experience the performance.
May the Fourth Be with You!
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Let’s end with a couple of orchestral pieces from John Williams. The first features the composer himself in his debut directing the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
I’ll let Williams set the scene: “We played two rehearsals with the orchestra, at the end of which the orchestra management said: ‘Can we play the Imperial March from Star Wars?’ And I hadn’t programmed that. I thought I had already asked the brass to play quite enough big music.
“But as I understand it, the brass players in the orchestra themselves requested that we would play the Imperial March. So, at the end of the rehearsal we played it, they had the music, everyone seemed to know it.
“It was honestly the best presentation of that March I ever heard,” Williams reflected after the concert. “They played it as though they owned it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=76&v=vsMWVW4xtwI&feature=emb_logoHere’s the link to that performance.
The second performance is by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra playing John William’s theme from Schindler’s List. The music itself is beautiful, but the backstory behind the video even better.
Cor anglais player Davida Scheffers has a painful neuromuscular condition which disrupted her career as a musician. Despite her fear that she might never be able to play with a professional orchestra again, Davida’s dream was to play with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. Last year, she did just that.
In a performance with the orchestra, Davida played the entire cor anglais solo from John Williams’ Schindler’s List theme, before bursting into tears during Simone Lamsma’s violin solo.
It was a powerful moment that affected both the audience and orchestra. Watch for Davida’s daughter in the audience, who had just turned 18 that day.
May the Fourth Be with You!
�
Stay safe and stay well!