SPIRI US NEWSLETTER OF CHRIST CHURCH DEER PARK SPECIAL ISSUE NO. 18 APRIL 2020 the glory of Christ’s triumph more than Widor’s Surrexit INSIDE a mortuis? Listen to Sir James MacMillan’s Since it was Our Easter Song 1 Our Easter the day of preparation, and you are transported to the first Easter. Words alone don’t do it. Apart from Each Other… 1 in Community Song Thirdly, because music not only expresses our faith, it builds and reinforces it. Texts are easier to remember when Anastasis 1 sung. Hymns like “Thine be the glory” and “Jesus Christ Volunteer Spotlight: 2 is risen today” are not just creeds, they are treasures to which Kathy Lindsey By Robert Dixon we return in times of sorrow and joy. Finding the Paschal Path 2 y favourite service of the year begins in darkness. And there’s another reason to offer music in worship: Your Glass: 2 A fire is kindled. A candle is lit. And from this it enables the Church to grow. The drama and beauty Half Full or Half Empty? single flame other candles take light throughout M of the Easter Vigil can speak profoundly to a world that Movie Review: 3 the church until the whole building is glowing. The symbolism is mesmerised by Netflix and Spotify, yet yearning for deeper Revolution of the Heart: is powerful: darkness will never vanquish the light of Christ. meaning. Like Canada, the UK (my home country) has The Dorothy Day Story Among the flickering flames, we tell again the story of our seen a decline in church membership—but not everywhere. Small Blessings 3 salvation. We sing songs and psalms, and then—the Lord is Cathedrals with professional choirs have bucked the trend, risen! The church fills with light, bells ring, and we celebrate reporting impressive growth. Last year saw the highest Haikus 3 the Resurrection with Glorias and Alleluias. Easter attendance figures for a decade. Notes from the Music Library – 4 Easter 2020 As a liturgical musician, I’ve been privileged to perform As churches worldwide shut in response to COVID-19, Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “Easter” in churches, chapels, and cathedrals around the world. And we’re desperate to recapture the connection we feel in when I’m asked the big question—why? why do we have corporate worship. We know that buildings and choirs are Future Perfect 4 music in church?—I often come back to the Easter Vigil. not essentials of our faith, but perhaps this enforced Lenten Onward, One and All 4 Firstly, because music has always been the tradition of fast has nurtured a keener gratitude for their role in our Fearless in the Love of God 5 the Church. The Exsultet—the hymn of praise which opens Christian journey. There is Something More 5 the service—could date as far back as the fifth century. Easter might come late for us this year, but it will come. Infectious than Coronavirus St. Augustine wrote about hymns when he was baptised And as the darkness gives way to light, we will all join Lenten Illumination 6 at the Easter Vigil in the fourth century. In singing together in the song of God’s people: Alleluia. the ancient songs of the Church, we are united with Editor’s Choice 6 5Robert Dixon is the Associate Director our spiritual ancestors. of Music at Christ Church Deer Park. Book Review 7 Secondly, because music expresses our worship in a way walk humbly: encouragements that transcends words. What better reflection on the empty for living, working,and being tomb than Taverner’s Dum transisset Sabbatum? What conveys Dear Church Mouse 7 Apart from Each Other… Anastasis in Community Fear not. While we hoard and huddle at home, harrowed by a virus By Cheryl Palmer that wears a crown of thorns, hoping to stay safe, This past Tuesday evening when twenty-one of this note: “Church will survive. Humans need sporadically happy, us “gathered” for the final meeting of our Lenten community, and each other. We always have, and intermittently holy, study, via video conferencing, the incongruity of the always will. This is a temporary pause, and nobody Life resumes in Mount Pleasant cemetery. situation was not lost on us. The evening’s discussion is liking it because it is hard and dislocating. But Arise! topic was Community! There we all were, forcibly I know that God will keep us all in his embrace and Early morning bird broadcasts separated from each other by a virus, as we delved when this runs its course, we will all flock back to Cacophonous conversation into the joys of being in community. church because we choose to go there and connect. Bells, chirps, tweets, peeps So, this online church is a temporary fix, as I see it, The disruption of community in these past few whistles, whinnies, trills to sustain our community until we can be together weeks has us all defining community through resonant drumming again. That need to be together will never go away.” camera lens, telephone lines, and satellites. We are nasal yanks communicating in real time, but not in each other’s It is precisely because of community that we will honks and sometime shrieks. real presence. Easter is on the horizon, but families be able to live through these difficult days without From the wakening oak on the crest of the hill are not to host dinner celebrations for their nearest going mad. Even though we are physically separated, high in the pine to the right and dearest. We are not allowed to gather and we know we are loved, cared for, and supported by left on the leafless lilac. worship during our most sacred season—on our each other and by the living God. Spilling from sepulchres, crosses, and stones. most holy day. Indeed, these are strange and 5Cheryl Palmer is the Incumbent of Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia, they shout. unsettling times. Christ Church Deer Park. Resurrection party in the cemetery. I have a friend who lives in Geneva, and this week, Now! as I expressed my worry to her about the Church Genevieve Chornenki and the scattering of our community, she sent me Easter 2020 SPIRITUS / NEWSLETTER OF CHRIST CHURCH DEER PARK / PAGE 1 When did you first start coming to we knew that music was at the top of the Why is it important to you to volunteer? Christ Church Deer Park? list as “important.” Christ Church Deer Park I firmly believe that along with being We started coming to the parish in 2010. won. We love the choir! “a butt in the pew,” every parishioner should participate in another aspect of parish life. Please tell us a bit about yourself. What is your dream vacation? It is how we get to know other people. We I am the daughter of a post-WW2 couple, Oxford, UK. I feel that I was there in are a family, and families participate together Norman and Doreen Browning. My father a former life. I love it there. I would go in other aspects of parish life, not just worship. died when I was eight years old. I have back over and over. My first time there was 3 siblings and I am the eldest in the family. a singing vacation, and I lived in college How has giving to Christ Church After my Dad died, it was hard, but we residence and sang in Balliol College. Deer Park had an impact on you? survived. Growing up in Willowdale was Supporting my parish church by working with Volunteer Favourite sports team? like having a second family, a family of other members of the parish on events, bible I don’t watch sports. But when and if I do, Spotlight: friends that you knew would help you if the study, BBQs, picnics, clean-up... anything, I like watching golf. Kathy need arose. St. George’s Anglican Church, even just sitting in a pew conversing on Lindsey Willowdale, was also a mainstay of our life; Favourite ice cream flavour? a Sunday morning. These events provide Sunday school, Confirmation, youth group, Peanut butter and chocolate. growth, security, and nourishment so we altar guild—they all helped me be who go into the week feeling refreshed. Another By Deborah Wilkinson What book are you currently reading? I am today. component of parish life would be giving You Are Dead by Peter James, a murder mystery. Tell us a bit about your family. financially to support the work of the parish Ward and I have been married for 49 years, In what ways do you volunteer in our community. We know that the parish and we have one son. We both grew up in at Christ Church Deer Park? family will have our back in times of need. Willowdale and belonged to St. George’s When I first came to Christ Church Deer Park They will always be there...you just have to ask. Anglican Church. We went to the same schools I was on the Property Committee for a while; — and church…we grew up together. We had a I love buildings. I have helped out at the Christmas Fair and Rummage Sale. I also Deborah Wilkinson currently strong group of friends in youth group and serves as People’s Warden at finally decided to get married. So here we am on the Advisory Board and, as I said Christ Church Deer Park. are today, married and still friends. above, I sing in the choir. If you would like to be interviewed for an upcoming Music is very important to both of us, and issue or want to offer someone’s this was one of the reasons we came to the name, please contact Deborah parish.