Rejoice! Rejoice! O Christ Our Hope

This coming Sunday is one of those deliciously complex Sundays the church has given us, a Sunday with  rich and varied texts

• The Gospel we hear is the story of the Man Born Blind, 
• The Psalm we hear is one of the most beautiful and consoling texts in all of world literature, Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd.

• The First Reading we hear of the anointing of the youth David

• The Introit the church has suggested gives a wondrous image of a mothering God, an image of consolation flowing from the abundant breasts of a mother.

The traditional name for this Sunday—Laetare Sunday--is taken from the first words of the ancient introit: Laetare Jerusalem— Rejoice!  O Jerusalem

And this is indeed is  a Sunday for Laetare, for Rejoicing  in our own Holy City on 2^nd and Stewart, our own Jerusalem, Christ Our Hope 

and it is especially a Sunday to Rejoice!  O choir of Hope!

Rejoice!  the Choir of Hope has taken seriously its ministry to God’s people at Christ Our Hope.

Rejoice!  The Choir of Hope has such focus on being the best possible ensemble.

Rejoice!  The birthday celebration of rich voiced soprano, Felicidad.

Rejoice!  that we have the glorious, centering voice of our resident poet, Jani.

Rejoice!  The incredible concentration and attention to musical detail by

 Crystal, Mary, Elizabeth, Selena & Cora

Rejoice!  The loving assistance and costuming translating our singers into Women Religious by

  Kathy & Isabella

Rejoice!  The stunning soprano of our “Abbess” Khristy

Rejoice!  The deeply  spiritual sound of our Men’s Schola Cantorum:

 Daniel, Daniel, Daniel, Obi, Marc, with Jerome & Brandon

Rejoice!  The musical support of our pianist, Thomas

Rejoice! The incredibly beautiful nuns our Sister Singers Fe & Pricilla are

Rejoice!  In the  musical  excellence of Joanne D.

Rejoice!  For the prayerful leadership of Chaplain Jamie

Rejoice!  For the  touching sung portrayals by Lazarus/Marc, Dives/Daniel, Serpent/Jerome

Rejoice!  For the support of Father Magnano

Rejoice!  For the deep and profound love of music of Sharon

Rejoice!  For the love of music and lovely singing of our newest member Aley

Rejoice!  For the lyric playing of AJ and the generous and stirring gift of his father’s composition

Rejoice!  For the support and enhancement of leading professional musicians, Peggy and Eileen

Rejoice!  For the beauty of our church.

Rejoice!  For Carmen letting Elizabeth know she would not be able to attend this evening.

Rejoice!  For Choir of Hope, a group of wonderful  singers who reach out to help one another, who help care for the Holy Space, who commit so much time and energy and talent, who participate fully and actively and consciously in the Mass.    

jbs.