Music and Meditation
December 18th at 5:30pm, Westwood Presbyterian Church invites you to take part in their Advent Vespers service. A guided meditation will be followed by spoken word, music, and periods of silence. Paula Hochhalter (cello) and Liz Myers (piano) will accompany the Vespers Ensemble, a small collective of vocalists, who will perform “Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (Jesus is My Constant Joy)” from Bach’s Cantata 147. This work is more commonly known as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”
Westwood Presbyterian is located at 10822 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA. Parking is ample and free in the lot next to the church. Register at www.westwoodpres.org
Image by Loic Van der Heyden
October is Earth Month at Westwood Presbyterian Church. October 9th vespers service at 7 pm will feature the Vespers Ensemble, a six-voice women’s group, who specialize in medieval music and champion compositions by women. Trufflemusik will accompany.
The vespers services at Westwood Presbyterian are contemplative in nature, and inspired by the Taizé movement, an evening prayer service based around songs, spoken word and welcome periods of silence. The repitition of simple lyrics leads one to easily memorize the song. The mind is then free to wander and find its own path. As one Taizé hymn says, “Guide me on the path of eternity, the path that leads to you, oh Lord.”
One of the most profound religious services in the liturgical calendar, Good Friday brings with it the opportunity to contemplate generosity, love and sacrifice. Join us on April 15th at Westwood Presbyterian Church at 6:30 pm for cello and piano music along with scriptural readings, a capella ensemble and most importantly silence.
Music and Meditation
Oct 3, 2021 at 4:30 pm is the date for World Communion Vespers, a religious service in the style of Taizé, which features readings, a guided meditation, prayers and periods of silence. Flutist Mary Opperman will join Liz Myers (piano) and Paula Hochhalter (cello) to perform seven Preludes by Alexander Scriabin, a 19th-century composer whose highly personal works inspire spiritual contemplation. The service is free but you must register HERE.
The service will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Mark your calendars for December 19th, 2021 at 4:30 pm where you can join us at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles for live music of the Advent Season. A Taizé-style service of singing, spoken word readings, and meditation. Come and be refreshed in the middle of a busy season as we join the original journey toward peace and light with the Christ Child at its center.
10822 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Register here.
Live-streaming also available.