 |
| Trinity Episcopal Church Euclid at Washington, St. Louis MO |
Each month Compline has a different theme here. This month it was the Virgin Mary. Marian readings included the Magnificat, a selection from Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd, the poem "Terry Berrigan" by Anne Porter, and a translation of "Salve Regina." The scripture reading was Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. The canticle, a Ute prayer, "Earth Teach Me Stillness," read responsively. And Wendell Berry's poem "Great Trees" was first read then a recording played of the American Boy Choir singing it to the music of Malcolm Dalgliesh. Altogether a satisfying way to end the day.
"Great Trees"Twenty-one persons attended this Compline. Good conversation afterward with the deacon, the rector, and others...
By Wendell Berry
Slowly, slowly, they return
To the small woodland let alone:
Great trees, outspreading and upright,
Apostles of the living light.
Patient as stars, they build in air
Tier after tier a timbered choir,
Stout beams upholding weightless grace
Of song, a blessing on this place.
They stand in waiting all around,
Uprisings of their native ground,
Downcomings of the distant light;
They are the advent they await.
Receiving sun and giving shade,
Their life's a benefaction made,
And is a benediction said
Over the living and the dead.
In fall their brightened leaves, released,
Fly down the wind, and we are pleased
To walk on radiance, amazed.
O light come down to earth, be praised!
For CPE class time this week, Deana brought as sacred text a Chasidic tale by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov: "The Turkey Prince," which teaches about meeting people where they are and questions the distinctions between mental health and mental illness. The class topic that day was chaplaincy and the mentally ill. Then on Thursday, I brought in prayers of mourning from the Siddur Sha'ar Zahav and a poem on love and death by Chaim Stern. Our overall topic that day was emotional intelligence.
On my unit, I saw patients who were an interesting mix of ordinary and not-so-ordinary. One patient who had been in pain and unable to move in bed started moving about saying she was pain free and ready to get up and run after I prayed with her. I saw her several times over a period of days, watching her moods shift but her proclamations of faith never wavering. A patient who had been on the unit for quite some time moved on to rehab. A new set of patients came in...
On Thursday evening, I went to the movies, watching A Better Life at Plaza Frontenac and the final Harry Potter movie in Clayton. Enjoyed both.
Then Friday evening I was on call at Barnes-Jewish. It was relatively quiet, but I had two deaths, spending a great deal of time ministering to the needs of one very large family. And I spent time with a family with someone in ICU. Lots of suppressed feelings waiting to emerge.
Since I was unable to go to synagogue last night, I attended this morning. My first attendance at morning service at Central Reform Congregation. Torah study at 8:45, Shacharit service at 10:00... Well, those times are approximately correct. Rabbi Randy led the service and Rabbi Ed gave the Dvar Torah, the teaching on the Torah portion for this Shabbat. It is the section of Numbers in which Moses commands the people to kill the Midionites. Difficult portion. But a good teaching. Met some new people who regularly attend Saturday morning but not Friday evening.
 |
| Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad! Hear, o Israel, Adonai our God, Adonai is One! |
My this week passed quickly!
2 responses:
Please know that I have very much enjoyed following your summer reflections. I am a CPE resident at a Chicago hospital, where I also work on a Neurosurgical ICU. I appreciate your reflections in and out of the hospital, and you've helped me connect with a good deal of curiosity about Jewish prayer and worship.
Thanks for your comment, Benedict. I'm happy my reflections are in some way beneficial to more than just me.
Post a Comment