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The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Cearley
Lead Pastor of Congregational Life
Dear Friends,
How many times have you been moved by Montview's beautiful music? When instruments and voices are tuned for God's praise, the soul of every listener is lifted and filled. Our beloved Westminster Choir, through the years, has given of their talent, expertise and dedication in a ministry that has touched us deeply and taken us to great heights.
Behind and beside this ministry are those who lead it. This Sunday, we have an opportunity to offer our profound gratitude and appreciation to our Minister of Music, John Kuzma and Organist, Barbara Hulac. Barbara has served as organist at Montview for 35 years! John, as Minister of Music for 25 years! At 10:30 worship Barbara will play an extended organ piece and John has chosen Benjamin Britten's Te Deum in C Major for the choir. They will be recognized for their significant contributions and we will have a chance to greet and thank them personally at a reception following worship.
Additionally, an opportunity to honor them with a legacy gift to the Sacred Music Foundation of Montview will be provided by an envelope in the pews. These funds provide support for musical needs not covered in our operating budget. The beautiful orchestral music that accompanies our concerts through the year are supported by these funds.
We hope you will join us! Wouldn't it be amazing if we had a Christmas or Easter-size service of worship to let John and Barbara know how much we love them? As we gather to praise God together, we will count our many blessings as we gather this Sunday. Make a joyful noise to the Lord!
Blessings and gratitude,
Cindy
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The Rev. Ian Gregory Cummins
Lead Pastor of Spiritual Life
Hi Everyone,
Here is the Lectio Divina passage for this week:
"Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness...Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!"
Psalm 150: 1-2, 6
Psalm 150 is the last psalm in the Psalter, and the message is clear, simple and complete: "Praise the Lord." Standing by itself, this psalm might be mistaken as naïve - an adolescent gladness that had not been tested by real world fires.
But coming as it does at the end, we can be sure it is well acquainted with fear (Psalm 6) and knows the loneliness of being forsaken (Psalm 22). It has tasted only tears for food day and night (Psalm 42). And it knows the sick sensation of drowning (Psalm 69). It can tell you what it feels like when all you can do is beg for mercy (Psalm 123).
And yet, after all of the suffering, the sorrow and everything else that is part of our human journey so honestly expressed in the Psalter, the last word is still...praise the Lord. Not a naïve praise. Not a simplistic gratitude. But, rather, one that is arrived at through the struggle and through the dark nights; having come to the end still grateful for life's gift. May it be so for us too.
Grace and goodness,
Ian
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