Prayers for the end of the day with the Compline Choir.

DIGITAL OFFERING

Schaffe in mir, O Gott, ein rein Herz,

[Create in me a clean heart, O God,]

und gib mir einen neues gewissen Geist.

[and put a new and right spirit within me.]

This prayer of David expresses the kernel of our Lenten need – for a pure heart, a new spirit. He offered it after the prophet Nathan confronted him about a grave sin. At the time, David was consumed by selfish desire, leading him to commit grievous acts without thinking. Nathan tells him a story about injustice to a little lamb – a story that arouses David’s indication. Then Nathan reveals that the story is about David.

We often don’t realize what we’re doing or saying until we have an opportunity to reflect. Lent provides us this chance to pause and think about our words, our actions, and our need. Music, too, gives us time and space for reflection, and I often find that hearing something in another language causes me to pay more attention to the words and to seek out their meaning. I hope this musical setting of David’s prayer will help us reflect, and pray.

Featuring members of the St. John's Parish Choir:

Morgan King, Margaret O'Neill, soprano

Christina DeMaio, Jennifer McPherson, alto

Andrew Maurice, Andrew Sokol, tenor

Joseph Harris, Olin Johannessen, bass

John Stromgren, director and author of program notes

Olin Johannessen, technical direction and production

Recorded live in Roberts Hall at St. John's Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, NH, on March 15, 2023