The Adventists have what is called a 777 prayer at 7 pm, and we paused for it outside the church before the service. The voice leading the prayer over the PA system was soothing. It was good meditation. It was easy to be "in the presence of God" with a background of various creatures sounds. Crickets...unlike the usual cricket noises. Forest sounds.
This evening's service was led by their Handbell Choir. There were also piano, strings and wind instruments. I have been invited to attend service once in a while, to listen to the music hosts. Some days there is the organ, some a choral group.
It was not my plan to be publicizing my personal thoughts especially about my religion. It's just that this experience comes after some disappointment over my own church's having changed the melodies of standard mass songs again. I do not like the new melodies at all. I cannot seem to learn them. Never caught on with the new Ama Namin melodies. I miss the old, original ones. I mean, Manoling Francisco, SJ's melodies were lovely. Why fix what to me is not broke.
We can assume why they have to change melodies...an effort to liven things up? To ''make new''? Sad...because my own young child had just started enjoying what many young church-going children I know enjoy...the "Hossana" with all the sss-es in the song.
Anyway, I regret not having brought a proper video recorder for this one. Even the audio does not capture the gentle tinkling of the bells. They come out rather shrill in parts. But here they are, the AUP Handbell choir, composed of Filipinos and students of other nationalities:
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