Spirit as Mindfulness: A Learning Fair of Mindfulness Practices – February 16

Yearning for en”chant”ment? Join us for free session on Christian chanting practices on February 16 at the Vancouver School of Theology!

In a distracted world, mindfulness has becomes a desirable religious expression in the West. While persons in the West have increasingly found such important insights in Buddhist and yogic practice, the Christian path too has diverse practices that promote mindfulness. If most familiar today as practices of breath that integrate body and spirit, Christianity historically has attempted to develop practices that include multiple sensory and postural attentiveness–everything from meditating with icons to centering prayer to the ascetic arts (e.g., fasting) to Quaker sitting and Mennonite simplicity. This pre-Lenten learning fair—open to the public—invites person to acquaint or re-acquaint themselves with practices which not only restore us to the passionate equanimity of the Spirit, but re-mind us of our ethical responsibilities to our neighbors, to creation.

[Persons are invited to participate in VST’s community worship at 12 noon in Epiphany chapel, followed by a free lunch hosted by the principal in the Iona 3rd floor lounge.]

Full details are available on the VST website. Come one, come all!

Aha! (Epiphany)

The Adoration of the Magi
The Adoration of the Magi, Unknown Ottonian, Regensburg, about 1030 – 1040

Epiphany blessings, everyone! And to our Orthodox sisters and brothers, Merry Christmas! Here’s a rhythmic chant for the day and for throughout the season of Epiphany, a simple song in many parts with an ancient Latin text celebrating Jesus:

 

⇒ Continue reading

Live broadcast – A Black and White Christmas launch concert

A quick update for those who can’t join us for our launch concert for our new intercultural Christmas album, A Black and White Christmas, on November 21: we’ll be streaming it live to the internet starting at 5pm Eastern time. Visit the MelodicArts streaming channel at 5pm, and if you can’t watch it live it will be archived for seven days afterwards. Enjoy! And if you’re loving the music, you can order the CD or download the mp3s and help support us in our music-making. Thanks!

Advent Tour in Southern BC – December 1-22

The Virgin Annunciate
The Virgin Annunciate

In the busyness of Christmas preparations, with Christmas parties, shopping, extravagant meals and family travel for which to get ready, it is no wonder that many people find December to be tiring. We know many people who even take their Christmas trees down on Boxing Day (December 26) because they are already tired of the season!

Despite what our consumerist culture and corporate ethos has done to our Christmas celebrations over the past century or so, in the Christian calendar, Christmas is actually the twelve days between December 25 and January 5, before the feast of Epiphany on January 6! The four weeks leading up to Christmas are traditionally known as Advent, a season of longing and expectation, as we prepare for the birth of the Christ Child. And so in our ongoing desire to have people experience Advent, we are again continuing a tradition as we hit the road throughout southern British Columbia, sharing songs of Advent and providing an oasis of musical space in the midst of busy Christmas preparations. We’ll be in the Okanagan valley, in the Vancouver area, and on Vancouver Island for Evenings of Singing and for a few Blue Christmas services, December 1-22. Please join us if you can, and help us spread the word! Details are on our events page.

May we be filled again with anticipation of the joy to come!

A Black and White Christmas – New Intercultural Album!!

A Black and White Christmas album coverWe’re excited to announce that our newest album, A Black and White Christmas, is finished and now available! You can listen to samples and get it right now in CD form or as mp3 download (saves the environment!) through our sales page. In the coming weeks (by mid-December) it will also be available through all major online retailers. A joint production by MelodicArts Media in association with Raga Gospel MinistriesA Black and White Christmas is a wonderful IndoCanadian fusion approach to traditional Christmas carols from Canada and India, featuring the amazing talents of Hamilton, Ontario sitarist and vocalist Neeraj Prem in partnership with Bruce Harding (flutes, voice, guitar, bass and percussion). Bruce and Neeraj worked on the project when they were together for their BC tour in April, 2009, putting final touches to the recordings this September. What a feast of Christmas music it is!

We launched the album in Hamilton, Ontario, on Sunday, November 21, in a dinner concert with amazing food and, of course, amazing music! Thanks to all who came out and supported us.