My dear Friends
Today is the start of a 40 day journey with Christ, experiencing his pilgrimage on earth, His Death, Resurrection and new life with God in heaven. It is a journey through the desert, as it was for our Jewish ancestors, to the Promised Land. Our hearts and minds are especially attuned to loving others and the graces we may receive on our individual pilgrimage, which is also a pilgrimage with the whole Church round the world.
Today we receive the ashes, which remind us of our dying in and with Christ. Our humble mortal and earthly state in which, vulnerable as we are, we nevertheless can receive our divine life, whcih stretches into eternity.
The desert is never completely barren; there are always oases along the way, and the liturgical cycle of 40 days is interspersed with Feasts such as ST Joseph's day on the 19th March. It is a fallacy too that we give up things in Lent; we should be striving to love more and to listen to the Word of God as He speaks to us more profoundly in the still small voice, to which we must be attentive.
The culmination of Easter is ever before us as we journey along. This year I will again be conducting a Passover meal in my church for about 70 people, re-enacting the Exodus narrative of my childhood, which has so many parallels with the Resurrection. And of course which is valid in its own right as the remarkable story of a people, who seem to be going through another desert experience politically right now with the unfolding of the terrible events of Israel/Palestine.
Time to rethink and take stock of our lives! Lent is always a good opportunity. I wish you JOY.
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Glorious Suffolk
My dear Friends
It's not difficult to see why they call Suffolk 'Constable country', after the famous painter. The undulating countryside, the open views and, above all, the wide skies. And I followed my swan all the way to Clare Priory, where Barbara and I went on the second day. Sitting in lovely grounds, the Priory celebrated the 750th anniversary of its foundation not too long ago. Barbara and I were given a warm welcome, and then we meandered through the not too extensive but lovely ground where my former mentor, Fr Billy Baldwin, is buried.
We glanced into the Oratory in the house and then saw the church in the grounds, a place suitable for deep meditation. As are all the Churches in Suffolk, one favourite being Long Melford, which goes back pre-Reformation and which shows the traces in its Lady Chapel, a separate building which may be unique in the country for that fact. The atmosphere was deep and still.
Barbara and I attended morning Sevice in this lovely church and it was like going back in time. The Vicar, Ian, couldn't have been more welcoming and preached a beautiful sermon on the Gospel reading of the Transfiguration, whcih is usually contained in the Lenten calendar, soon to come upon us. The singing was lovely both by choir and congregation and I chatted to some people at the end, who seemd interested in my Project.
It was a time to go back in time: the previous day we visited the gorgeous village of Lavenham, where every building seems to lean and have wooden beams. Having tea in the Swan Hotel was a delight!A little hilly, we wandered round one or two antique shops; one seemed to go on for ever!
Perhaps the highlight of the trip was the Evensong in St Edmundsbury Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. The setting was perfect, the reading was the still small voice that Elijah heard (my favourite and one I really resonate with) and the choir sang beautifully, men and boys.
All in all, a trip to remember! Thank you, Barbara!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
It's not difficult to see why they call Suffolk 'Constable country', after the famous painter. The undulating countryside, the open views and, above all, the wide skies. And I followed my swan all the way to Clare Priory, where Barbara and I went on the second day. Sitting in lovely grounds, the Priory celebrated the 750th anniversary of its foundation not too long ago. Barbara and I were given a warm welcome, and then we meandered through the not too extensive but lovely ground where my former mentor, Fr Billy Baldwin, is buried.
We glanced into the Oratory in the house and then saw the church in the grounds, a place suitable for deep meditation. As are all the Churches in Suffolk, one favourite being Long Melford, which goes back pre-Reformation and which shows the traces in its Lady Chapel, a separate building which may be unique in the country for that fact. The atmosphere was deep and still.
Barbara and I attended morning Sevice in this lovely church and it was like going back in time. The Vicar, Ian, couldn't have been more welcoming and preached a beautiful sermon on the Gospel reading of the Transfiguration, whcih is usually contained in the Lenten calendar, soon to come upon us. The singing was lovely both by choir and congregation and I chatted to some people at the end, who seemd interested in my Project.
It was a time to go back in time: the previous day we visited the gorgeous village of Lavenham, where every building seems to lean and have wooden beams. Having tea in the Swan Hotel was a delight!A little hilly, we wandered round one or two antique shops; one seemed to go on for ever!
Perhaps the highlight of the trip was the Evensong in St Edmundsbury Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. The setting was perfect, the reading was the still small voice that Elijah heard (my favourite and one I really resonate with) and the choir sang beautifully, men and boys.
All in all, a trip to remember! Thank you, Barbara!
Shalom from
Sister Gila
Sunday, 22 February 2009
The Plough
My dear Friends
I am coming to the end of a marvellous weekend in Suffolk with my dear friend Barbara. Last night in the depths of the countryside I looked up into a clear night sky filled with the plough and other stars. I have seen some really beautiful churches, quite ancient and this morning resonating to the sound of Sunday worship.
This is just a taster! More tomorrow!
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
I am coming to the end of a marvellous weekend in Suffolk with my dear friend Barbara. Last night in the depths of the countryside I looked up into a clear night sky filled with the plough and other stars. I have seen some really beautiful churches, quite ancient and this morning resonating to the sound of Sunday worship.
This is just a taster! More tomorrow!
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Post concert
My dear Friends
Well, in the end it was a great evening! We had a modest turnout, but the people got very involved. First to arrive were 2 women, who came because of a leaflet I gave out in the street-they turned out to be very musical and enjoyed the Jewish music, as did everyone!
Speaking of which, next to arrive were 2 Jewish women, who added their own songs in Hebrew and Yiddish, and who ended up teaching everyone the Horah! This is an Israeli circle dance, danced to the tune of Hava Nagila, so we pushed back the chairs and got on with it.
In between I sang many folk songs and popular numbers such as 'You've got a friend' and I got a lot of pleasure letting the audience sing the chorus on their own and a verse or two as well!
Liesel, my friend to whom I owe a big thank you for coming from London and supporting me and taking my stuff to the venue, comes from South Africa and requested 'Swing Low, sweet chariot' which I have just added to my repertoire and which I sang twice. But it was definitely the Jewish music which won the evening. I had to sing more when a friend called Jonathan arrived with six foreign language students from France, Switzerland, Japan and the Czech Republic - I sang the Lorelei in German but the students did not seem to know it!
Jonathan was moved by Psalm 23 in Hebrew. I learned the tune from a Japanese nun on the top of the Mount of Beatitudes; apparently it was composed by a survivor of the Shoah.
Anyhow I enjoyed the informality of it all (venue was similar to my wild youth) and it must have been successful because the Israeli manager has asked me to repeat it all sometime.
Ole! And Shalom
Sister Gila
Well, in the end it was a great evening! We had a modest turnout, but the people got very involved. First to arrive were 2 women, who came because of a leaflet I gave out in the street-they turned out to be very musical and enjoyed the Jewish music, as did everyone!
Speaking of which, next to arrive were 2 Jewish women, who added their own songs in Hebrew and Yiddish, and who ended up teaching everyone the Horah! This is an Israeli circle dance, danced to the tune of Hava Nagila, so we pushed back the chairs and got on with it.
In between I sang many folk songs and popular numbers such as 'You've got a friend' and I got a lot of pleasure letting the audience sing the chorus on their own and a verse or two as well!
Liesel, my friend to whom I owe a big thank you for coming from London and supporting me and taking my stuff to the venue, comes from South Africa and requested 'Swing Low, sweet chariot' which I have just added to my repertoire and which I sang twice. But it was definitely the Jewish music which won the evening. I had to sing more when a friend called Jonathan arrived with six foreign language students from France, Switzerland, Japan and the Czech Republic - I sang the Lorelei in German but the students did not seem to know it!
Jonathan was moved by Psalm 23 in Hebrew. I learned the tune from a Japanese nun on the top of the Mount of Beatitudes; apparently it was composed by a survivor of the Shoah.
Anyhow I enjoyed the informality of it all (venue was similar to my wild youth) and it must have been successful because the Israeli manager has asked me to repeat it all sometime.
Ole! And Shalom
Sister Gila
Friday, 13 February 2009
Towards the concert
My dear Friends
As I am slowly building towards the 'Music at Starbucks' I bear in mind that Benigna (whom you see on the picture on the right with me) used to play the piano at these muscial events, sometimes in a hall but now and again in the house at Newton Road. With its beautiful drawing room and elegant Blutner grand piano, the house was very conducive to music- making.
Sometimes we would have a cellist and a soprano who would sing duets with me, which was rather nice. This was in the days when I was concentrating more on the classical side of my music.My favourite duet, which I sang with my friend Fay, is the 'Recordare' from the Verdi Requiem, a really sublime piece. But we sang Purcell and Mendelsohn duets as well.
The one advantage of playing with the guitar is that the music reaches more people and that the people can sing along: in this is the Reconciliation in that the common singing rises up in a kind of prayer, asking for the healing of the world. The combination of Jewish music, trad folk and songs of the 60's seems to touch on the human condition with also 'something for everyone.'
People can relive their own personal memories when I play this music: I sang to the man who came to fix the boiler and it was a beautiful experience. He told me that it was the first time in 25 years that he had been serenaded!
So, if any of you are coming along to Starbucks on Wednesday, I invite you to relive your memories, sing along and just chill out with a cup of coffee. Enjoy!
Shabbat Shalom
Sister Gila
As I am slowly building towards the 'Music at Starbucks' I bear in mind that Benigna (whom you see on the picture on the right with me) used to play the piano at these muscial events, sometimes in a hall but now and again in the house at Newton Road. With its beautiful drawing room and elegant Blutner grand piano, the house was very conducive to music- making.
Sometimes we would have a cellist and a soprano who would sing duets with me, which was rather nice. This was in the days when I was concentrating more on the classical side of my music.My favourite duet, which I sang with my friend Fay, is the 'Recordare' from the Verdi Requiem, a really sublime piece. But we sang Purcell and Mendelsohn duets as well.
The one advantage of playing with the guitar is that the music reaches more people and that the people can sing along: in this is the Reconciliation in that the common singing rises up in a kind of prayer, asking for the healing of the world. The combination of Jewish music, trad folk and songs of the 60's seems to touch on the human condition with also 'something for everyone.'
People can relive their own personal memories when I play this music: I sang to the man who came to fix the boiler and it was a beautiful experience. He told me that it was the first time in 25 years that he had been serenaded!
So, if any of you are coming along to Starbucks on Wednesday, I invite you to relive your memories, sing along and just chill out with a cup of coffee. Enjoy!
Shabbat Shalom
Sister Gila
Monday, 9 February 2009
A special day
My dear Friends
Today is actually the Jewish New Year for Trees and the 11th anniversary of the founding of The Little Sisters of Joy. I feel calm and relaxed after all the trouble of recent months ad look forward to the next 11 years!
When you open the Blog, you can see a picture of me and Benigna, which means 'kindly' in Italian, in the garden in Trumpington, Cambridge whre I lived for 16 years, and where The Little Sisters of Joy was born. On the bottom page you can see a picture of the little girl who is part of the Indian family now living with Benigna: she is standing outside the little building we used as a chapel for some time. Mass was said several times and different people also prayed there. A visitor once said it as a great place to come in from the cold.
Born as a religious community of women, whcih I still envisage one day,with the help of Maryvonne le Goanvic, The Little Sisters of Joy has grown into an international foundation for Peace and Reconciliation, with 600 Friends in 22 countries, who support the foundation in Friendship and Prayer. A Little Sister of Joy also has the meaning of someone from any religion or culture as long as she is joyful and shares the vision of peace,and of course there are Little Brothers of Joy in the foundation too.
I look forward to things moving on at God's pace and in His time, and in doing my little performance in Starbucks in ten days' time.
Joy and Shalom
on this happy day!
Sister Gila
Today is actually the Jewish New Year for Trees and the 11th anniversary of the founding of The Little Sisters of Joy. I feel calm and relaxed after all the trouble of recent months ad look forward to the next 11 years!
When you open the Blog, you can see a picture of me and Benigna, which means 'kindly' in Italian, in the garden in Trumpington, Cambridge whre I lived for 16 years, and where The Little Sisters of Joy was born. On the bottom page you can see a picture of the little girl who is part of the Indian family now living with Benigna: she is standing outside the little building we used as a chapel for some time. Mass was said several times and different people also prayed there. A visitor once said it as a great place to come in from the cold.
Born as a religious community of women, whcih I still envisage one day,with the help of Maryvonne le Goanvic, The Little Sisters of Joy has grown into an international foundation for Peace and Reconciliation, with 600 Friends in 22 countries, who support the foundation in Friendship and Prayer. A Little Sister of Joy also has the meaning of someone from any religion or culture as long as she is joyful and shares the vision of peace,and of course there are Little Brothers of Joy in the foundation too.
I look forward to things moving on at God's pace and in His time, and in doing my little performance in Starbucks in ten days' time.
Joy and Shalom
on this happy day!
Sister Gila
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Towards the 11th anniversary
My dear Friends
Hard to believe, but The Little Sisters of Joy is approaching the 11th year of its Foundation. Told in a dream by Cardinal Lustiger to hold the anniversary of the founding on the Jewish New Year for Trees, ten of us gathered in Benigna's garden in January 2000 and planted the first little sapling of what has now become a big and beautiful silver birch tree. We chanted psalm 96:
Hard to believe, but The Little Sisters of Joy is approaching the 11th year of its Foundation. Told in a dream by Cardinal Lustiger to hold the anniversary of the founding on the Jewish New Year for Trees, ten of us gathered in Benigna's garden in January 2000 and planted the first little sapling of what has now become a big and beautiful silver birch tree. We chanted psalm 96:
'Let all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for He comes,
He comes to rule the earth.'
at the presence of the Lord, for He comes,
He comes to rule the earth.'
I have another beautiful silver birch tree in my garden in the Arbury, which I planted when I moved there. Silver birch trees are mystical like the moon, used by native Canadian tribes to make the bark of their canoes, and I heard yet another very poignant story about them.
After the seige of Leningrad when so many died, young people used to visit the mass graves in the cemeteries. Often, there were groves of silver birch trees there. As part of their pilgrimage and to honour the dead, the young people used to hang red scarves round the silvery bark of the trees.
The silver birch was the favourite tree of Latif Freedman, the composer and son-in-law of Benigna who died just before we planted the tree. Watch this space for photos of Benigna, my former garden and the chapel 'in the woodland' where we used to hold services.
Here's to the next 11 years!
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
After the seige of Leningrad when so many died, young people used to visit the mass graves in the cemeteries. Often, there were groves of silver birch trees there. As part of their pilgrimage and to honour the dead, the young people used to hang red scarves round the silvery bark of the trees.
The silver birch was the favourite tree of Latif Freedman, the composer and son-in-law of Benigna who died just before we planted the tree. Watch this space for photos of Benigna, my former garden and the chapel 'in the woodland' where we used to hold services.
Here's to the next 11 years!
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
A light to enlighten the Gentiles
My dear Friends
Someone left a comment on the Blog to say they had been in the Christingle service, on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Sounded lovely, with people giving a candle to each other to celebrate the light coming into the world. Unfortunately I couldn't get to a service, but a few reflections, if I may.
This is the end of the Christmas season. In solidarity with my European brothers and sisters, I kept the crib in my room till yesterday. Jesus' entry into the Temple in the Jewish tradition of a young male child is very significant for Jewish- Christian history and tradition, especially when the old man Simeon, blessed with wisdom and insight into the coming of the Messiah heralds the baby Jesus as:
Someone left a comment on the Blog to say they had been in the Christingle service, on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Sounded lovely, with people giving a candle to each other to celebrate the light coming into the world. Unfortunately I couldn't get to a service, but a few reflections, if I may.
This is the end of the Christmas season. In solidarity with my European brothers and sisters, I kept the crib in my room till yesterday. Jesus' entry into the Temple in the Jewish tradition of a young male child is very significant for Jewish- Christian history and tradition, especially when the old man Simeon, blessed with wisdom and insight into the coming of the Messiah heralds the baby Jesus as:
'The light to enlighten the Gentiles
and give glory to Thy people Israel.'
This magical scene is the culmination of the account of the angel appearing to Mary, the visit of Mary to Elisabeth and the birth of Jesus. What a journey from the stable to the Temple! What a splendid setting amid all the Jewish people, albeit that Mary and Joseph had only a meagre offering for the purification of their Son-a couple of turtle doves!
And yet amisdt this joy is already more than a hint of sorrow, when Simeon predicts that with the mission of Jesus, Mary will suffer-as she is indeed to stand at the foot of the Cross.
This mysterious scene has always reminded me of the Synagogue of my childood. With hindsight, the combination of the Old and the New. The mixture of Joy and the sorrow of a people led into an unkown destiny, fraught with difficulties and tests of their faithfulness fo God and His justice.
But these mysteries such as Jesus in the Temple are utterly real. When my friend and her community were holding up their candles yesterday, they have trutly witnessed the Light of Christ coming into the world. Please leave your comments too!
Shalom and again Shalom
Sister Gila
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