Right relationships – with God, each other and all the world are key to our flourishing. We tend to want to suit the rules only to ourselves. This Sunday is a chance to take a review and check where we take our guidance from.
The concert began with Clara Schumann’s Variations, Opus 20, which are variations on her husband Robert’s Opus 99 and which she composed as a present for Robert’s 43rd birthday. The second section of the recital featured pieces by Debussy, whose own romantic life was dramatic and tempestuous and yet he wrote many beautiful and joyous pieces of music about love. Ikuko played La fille aux cheveux de lin, Ondine and L’Isle Joyeuse. L’Isle Joyeuse was my favourite of this recital as it absorbs and wraps the listener in spirals of complex music. The third section featured movements 1 and 3 from Tōru Takemitsu’s Uninterrupted Rests inspired by Shūzō Takiguchi’s poem about the heaviness of a dark night of wind and cold, movement 3 is called A Song of Love. Takeguchi’s love life was the least turbulent of the composers featured as he was happily married to the same wife for 42 years. The recital ended by returning to the Schumanns and was the eight movements of Kriesleriana, a piece is inspired by Clara and written by Robert Schumann. Robert wrote it for Clara at a time when her father was threatening to shoot Robert if he married her. After all this glorious music the recital was not quite over, Ikuko played Liszt’s St. Francois de Paule marchant sur les flots from Deux legends, on the theme of compassionate love, played as a tribute to the victims of the New Year’s Earthquake in Japan.
Thank you to our audience for bravely turning out in the heaviness of a dark afternoon of wind, cold and rain for this wonderful concert and for contributing to Ikuko’s retiring collection of donations for the Japanese Earthquake relief fund. Thank you also to the volunteers without whom the concerts could not run, especially John, Elaine, Linda & Simon. Stella Robinson
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for this week Thank you to Sally for this week’s prayers which are based on “Traces of Glory” by David Adam. Almighty, God, creator of all things, we give you thanks for the resources of our world, for the wonders and mysteries of the universe. Lord, help us to use wisely all you have given to us, for the benefit of others, for the well-being of the earth, and to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen. We give you thanks for the beauty and order of our world. We give thanks for special holy places and for our own church; through them may we learn awe and respect for your world. We ask you to guide all leaders of worship, to inspire all preachers of the world, to direct your faithful people in the ways of holiness and peace. Lord, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We pray for all legislators, for those who set standards for us to live by. Guide all those who influence the minds of others: We pray for broadcasters, the press, for political leaders. We pray for all dealing in world trade, in commerce or industry, not forgetting tragic situations, not only in Ukraine, but also in the Holy Land. Give to each the wisdom and will to use properly what you have given them. Lord, you will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We give thanks for those who have shared with us as sense of wonder or mystery. We pray that we may learn to live simply, and to be willing to help others to simply live. Lord, protect us, our homes and our loved ones. Be with all who have been made homeless, with young people who have recently left home. Lord, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We pray for all who have become possessed by possessions, for all who are captive to greed and covetousness. We remember all who have suffered through the selfishness of others. Be strength, O Lord, to all who have suffered, robbery or violence, for all who have faced the murder of a loved one. We pray for all who have lost their possessions or livelihood, for those who have become bankrupt. We pray for all who are ill at this time and those who care for them. Lord, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We give, thanks for all who have faithfully obeyed your will, for all who have worshipped you in the beauty of holiness. We give thanks for those who founded this church. We pray for loved ones, departed; grant that we may share with them in your heavenly kingdom. Lord, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.