Brehm Center

“Hands up who’s going to “Jubilate!” tomorrow night?”...this was my effort at a punchy facebook status advertisement early last week.  Undeterred by the fact that NOBODY replied (shame on you facebook friends) I showed up to both the dress rehearsal and the performance with tingling anticipation.  This was to be the inaugural performance of an “ancient-future Mass.”  As a choir we had been rehearsing Ed Wilmington’s creative, complex, and challenging offering once a week for five weeks.  Yep, five weeks.  The tingling anticipation was therefore as much a result of my nervous curiosity concerning how this thing would (could) actually come together, as it was indicative of my inherent trust in the prowess of the piece.  I needn’t have worried though.  Reports, both from those listening and performing, state that the evening was a delight of musical intensity, spiritual refreshment, and inspiration to those interested in fostering creative community that seeks to bring worship, theology, and the arts into conversation. 

A bit of background for those of you who don’t know:  The “Jubilate!” Mass was one part of a two day Brehm Centre event entitled “Just Art” (‘just’ as in ‘justice’ not as in ‘barely’...you’re welcome).  It was the first of what will be an annual lecture series designed to encourage ideas, conversation, and action in the arena of theology and the arts.  World famous philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff, and practicing worship consultant Marcia McFee, came to us to explore and share ideas about art, ethics, theology, worship, and practice.  It was inspiring and sobering to listen to their ideas about the relationship between art, beauty, and justice in our diverse, pulsating global Christian community.

The Tuesday evening event which showcased Ed Willmington’s Mass was, therefore, an opportunity to truly experience theory birthing practice, action embodying concepts.  It was a privilege to be a part of that evening.  Ed had embraced the structure, text, and heart of the age old Catholic Mass, fusing it with both contemporary and ancient musical expressions.  The technological track, the live musicians, and the choir were admirably threaded in a mutually beneficial manner which resulted in an eclectic musical tapestry.  Alongside the music there were visuals also.  The dramatic walls of Pasadena First Congregational Church held projections of key texts and images, whilst Marcia McFee gave physical embodiment to the music by gifting us with deeply insightful dance interpretation.

The full title of the event was “Just Art: The Place of Art in the Ethical formation of Christian disciples.”  Especially meaningful to me personally, was the effort that Ed Wilmington took to explicitly link the artistic process and the real life living.  Time after time he would tell us as a choir that he hoped the rehearsal and performative process would be deeply enriching to us.  He gently exposed us to the formative (and sometimes painful) privilege of living with art during its gestating period.  He took time to explain the Latin biblical texts.  He took time to pray with us.  And he took time to remind us that we were taking our place in a long line of Christians who had sought to glorify God and bless others through those exact words expressed through music.  To those listening I truly hope and pray it was a blessing.  As one performing, I know that it was.