Vespers is an evening prayers, originating in the sixth century, traditionally involving the lighting of candles, an opening prayer, and the singing of Psalms.

      The tradition of jazz vespers began in the mid 1960s in New York City and has since spread all over the country, and been manifested in a variety of expressions, from informal to liturgical. Though not adhering strictly to the form, Metanoia is a meditation, a prayer – for healing, for transformation. We can and must inagine a world of understanding and of compassion, and in that imagining, begin to make it so.

       In an earlier incarnation the mass from which these are drawn was called Namaste, a Hindu word meaning, literally, “I bow to you”. For sixteen years, as cantor for a Catholic church in Berkeley, California I would begin the mass with the words “Namaste. The divine in me greets the divine in you.” Like the word shalom, and ancient Hebrew word meaning ‘harmony’, it acknowledges our essential oneness, that we are all connected.

       And so we are called to metanoia, or radical transformation, to release ourselves from the destructive paradigm of ‘us versus them’ and live in shalom.

       Peace be with you.

—Daniel Zwickel ben Avrám MacJean

“In the Stillness, Listen”

In the stillness of the morning,
In the shadows of my of my soul I perceive the Divine.
And so I say, "Namaste, my brothers and sisters."
Namaste, Blessed be. Amen.

            Listen. Listen. Listen. Listen.
Listen to your heart's song. It will help you to face what you fear.
It will show you the way, if your heart you obey,
It will keep your vision clear.

Listen to your heart's song. It will help you begin to see
That the love in your heart is the strongest part.
It's the music that sets you free.

Listen to your heart’s song. It will tell you who you are.
You can reach from the depths of the deepest sea
Outward to the highest star.

Listen to your heart song.
It will help you be kind, it will make you strong.
Listen (listen, listen ...) to your heart’s song!


 

“Sing To the Heart”

Imagine ... imagine ....

Imagine in our darkness shines a light with which we see
A hope and promise of a world where we can truly be.
Imagine living in a world where justice will prevail.
And working with compassion in our hearts we cannot fail.

Imagine creating a world where people live as one;
Imagine now, my friends, our transformation’s just begun.
                       [Sing to the center of the universe.]
Sing it out loud and clear, so that everyone can hear.
                       [Imagine people feeling that they’re no longer apart.]
Sing to the Heart – Sing to the Heart!

            Baruch ata Adonai,
            Eloheinu melech ha’olam;
            Halo lechol shirayich ani kinor.
            Baruch ata Adonai!
                       [We praise You, Eternal God,
                       Sovereign of the universe
                       Behold, I am a violin for all your songs.]

            Now sing!
Sing to the center of the universe;
Sing it out loud and clear, so that everyone can hear.
Sing to the Heart – Sing to the Heart!

“Song For My Father”

Today is a day like any other day.
I got up, got dressed, came to church, and here I am with you.
And I’m singing a song because you asked me to.

And this song is a song like any other one.
It starts up, has words and a melody.
And if it speaks to you, then it’s yours for free.

But this church is a church unlike any other one.
It accepts me as I am, and as I wish to be.
And it brings all kinds of good and loving friends to me.

And my father is a father unlike any other one.
I’ve received much of the best of what I am from him.
And it’s my father, Abraham, for whom sing this hymn.

And this day, and this song, and this church are special
Because of him.

“Within the Center Of Your Heart”

Within the center of your heart, whispering
Sings the voice of God, whispering.
Within the center of your heart, crying low
Sings the voice of God.
            Hear you now; hear you now.
            Listen to the voice.

“De Profundis”

(De Profundis.)

From the depths I cry to Thee, O Lord.
Grant me strength to live Thy holy word.

I despair that ever shall I see Thy face.
In a world of fear that cannot feel Thy grace.

Oft I feel the world turn into ice.
Love is dear. No one will pay the price.

I but seek to learn how to forgive,
That I may be free, and in Thy mercy live.

“As We Gather In This Sacred Place”

As we gather in this sacred place
Let us remember those who have died
And will die for our sins in numbers beyond counting.

As we gather in this sacred place
Let us acknowledge those who yet live
To grant us grace in blessings ever mounting.

Let us not forget those whose lives end, as ours begin
In this sacred place. Amen, amen.

“Songs Of Micah”

For the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks;
Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more

And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

“Beatitudes”

And, seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain.
And when he was set, his disciples came unto him.
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called the children of God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, praise God!

We are called to be servants of God,
Witnesses to God’s kingdom on earth,
Where peace and justice shall reign,
Where no one shall hunger, or thirst, or want.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, praise God,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, praise God,
Praise God, praise God!

“Eucharist Suite”



In excelsis Deo!

Sing, “Hosanna,” Sing, “Hosanna, in excelsis Deo!”

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, God of Power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

Sing, “Hosanna,” Sing, “Hosanna, in excelsis Deo!”

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!

Sing “Hosanna,” Sing, “Hosanna, in excelsis Deo!”

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam,
Bo rei pri hagafen.

[Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, Sovereign of the Universe, creator of the fruit of the vine;]

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam,
Ha motzi lechem min ha'aretz.

[Who brings forth bread from the earth;]

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam,
Asher kidshanu, b’mitzvotav.

[Who has sanctified us with His commandments.]

When we partake of the Bread of Life and drink of the Spirit,
In your death we find our life, in your strength, our hope,
In your love, our peace.

De profundis we cry, O Lord, to the One who’s risen.
Bring us into God’s pure light; keep us safe in You
‘Til You come again.

Alleluia, alleluia,
Sing the great, “I am”!
We sing the great, “I am”!
Let us sing the great, “Amen”!

“Our Father”

We come to Thee, O Lord, in despair and in desolation.
Lead us from iniquity.
Help us to flow’r in the radiance of the light of Thy truth,
As flowers in the garden of our faith.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heav’n.

Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation,
But O Lord, in Thy mercifulness, by Thy grace,
From evil deliver us.

Oh Lord, be merciful. Grant us deliverance.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory
Forever, and ever. Amen.

“Marian Suite”

Panis angelicus, fit panis hominum.
Dat panis coelicus, figuris terminum.

O res mirabilis. manducat Dominum,
Pauper, pauper, servus et humilis.

[The bread of angels, made the bread of men.
The Bread of heaven puts an end to all symbols.
A thing wonderful! The Lord becomes our food,
poor, a servant, and humble.]

Te trina Deitas, un aque poscimus.
Sic nos tu visita sicut ti colimus,

Per tuas semitas. duc nos quo tendimus,
Ad lucem quam in habitas. Amen.

[We beseech Thee, Godhead One in Three
that Thou wilt visit us, as we worship Thee,
lead us through Thy ways, we who wish to reach
the light in which Thou dwellest.]

“Ave Maria”

Ave Maria, gratzia plena,
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jésu.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei;
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
Nunc, et in ora mortis nostrae.

Ave Maria, Sancta Maria, Mater Dei. Amen.

[Hail Mary, full of grace,
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.

Hail Mary, Holy Mary, mother of God. Amen.]


 

“In the Quiet Of the Day”

In the quiet of the day, the call of our passion we obey;
Look within in contemplation of God’s grace.

In the quiet of the day, let the light of compassion lead the way;
Look within in contemplation of God’s face ....

In the quiet of the day.

“It Seems To Me”

It seems to me that you and I could change the world together
We could make it better by being truly who we are.
It seems to me, together, we could learn to love a stranger,
Nullify the danger that confronts us near and far.

It seems to me, if we could see the wounds that must be healed,
We’d move our hearts to yield the compassion that they bear.
It seem to me the earth could be a garden filled with laughter,
To blossom ever after with a beauty all could share.

At night I dream, and in my dream above the hills I’m flying;
Tears of joy I’m crying from the depth of love I feel.

As I descend a hand I lend to one whose fingers fashion
Understanding and compassion, with a touch that surely heals.

Yes, in the end I find, my friend, ‘tis you, my sister/brother.
We find in each other strength we need to carry on.
For in your eyes I realize the joy I find in living.
Now, in wonder and thanksgiving I arise to greet the dawn!

Peace and love be with you all;
Grace divine bestow upon you
As you go forth to live and to serve in truth.


 

“Benediction”

Go forth now in peace, to love and serve all humanity.
O blessed spirit, divine within thee,
In truth be thou, grace without end.

Salaam, shalom. Namaste. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, praise God!

We are called to be servants of God,
Witnesses to God’s kingdom on earth,
Where peace and justice shall reign,
Where no one shall hunger, or thirst, or want.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, praise God,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, praise God,
Praise God, praise God!

“Ascension”

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech haolam.
Dona nobis pacem.
Asalaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
[May the peace of Allah descend upon you, and His Mercy and Blessings.]

Dona nobis pacem,!

Grant us grace and abundant peace. Amen.
Shalom, salaam, mir, peace.

All music and text copyright © 2013
by Daniel B. Zwickel (ASCAP)
All rights reserved

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