A love story in Washington, D.C.

I like listening to and singing along with a good rendition of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" as much as the next person but for me, nothing captures the true meaning of Christmas quite like listening to Handel's "Messiah." This year we saw it performed at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts- a magnificent hall.

The easily recognizable Kennedy Center For Performing Arts hosts many televised events- the Bolshoi Ballet and the Kennedy Center Honors to name a few.

Although not as old as Washington National Cathedral, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has an equally interesting history. President Eisenhower first saw its vision in 1958 when he signed bipartisan legislation creating a National Cultural Center.  That act included four specific parts: authorized the Center's construction, defined an artistic mandate that included a wide variety of classical and contemporary performances, established an educational mission for the Center and stated that the Center was to be an independent facility, self-sustaining and privately funded. I think it's interesting that although Congress birthed the project, they do not appropriate any funds for it- nor do they exercise any control over it. It is an example of the people's desire for a national stage to promote the arts without government influence as to what that art is. It is, in my opinion, a testament to the strength of our government. There are few places in the world where controversial plays, music and literary readings can be performed in a government-created institution/building without reprisal.

Fund-raising began immediately after the National Cultural Center Act was signed but it wasn't until President Kennedy took office and began promoting the Center through fundraiser luncheons/receptions at the White House that construction seemed likely. After President Kennedy's death, Congress designated the Center a "living memorial" to him and authorized $23 million to build what is now known as The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Fundraising soared and The Kennedy Center  for Performing Arts opened in1971.

The interior is beautifully elegant in an under-stated way. 

(My apologies for slightly blurry indoor photos- no flash or tripods allowed!)

Janne and Adam joined us for the evening of music and celebration. Unlike our experiences at theaters in Arizona where there is no dress code, patrons at the Center dress up for performances. While there was the very occasional jeans-clad couple, it was nice to see so many dressed in holiday attire. Whether this is an east coast vs. west coast phenomenon or something else entirely is a discussion for another blog post. Suffice it to say here, we enjoyed dressing up!

We took advantage of the "Coat Check Room"- a first for us!

The music of Handel's Messiah is completely captivating. As the orchestra began playing the first few notes, the auditorium became not just quiet, but still. There was no rustling of programs, candy wrappers crinkling or hushed whispering. As I looked around, I could see tense faces relaxing into slight smiles. And then I, too, became lost in the music and story.

George Frideric Handel composed the music for Messiah after a friend, Charles Jennens, asked him to set his "Scripture collection" (53 Scripture verses from the Old and New Testaments) whose subject "excels every other subject. That subject is 'Messiah'" to music. The work has three sections that tell the story of Jesus Christ: 1) prophecies of salvation, a coming Messiah, the Virgin Birth, and Christ's redemptive miracles on earth, 2) the scourging and agony on the cross, Christ's sacrificial death, resurrection, ascension and identity in heaven, the world's rejection of the Gospel and God's triumph, and 3) Christ's Second Coming including the Day of Judgment and general Resurrection and victory over death and sin. 

Working unceasingly, Handel completed the musical score in just 24 days! However, it was not performed for almost a year- and its premier was not in Handel's adopted country, England (although German-born, he had lived in England for decades), but in Ireland. Why? Because Handel's passion for oratorio- "a composition for orchestra and voices telling a sacred story without costumes, scenery, or dramatic action"- was very controversial. The Church of England was outraged that a Bible story was being told by "common mummers" and even worse, in a theater, and fought against its performance as well as other oratorios Handel composed (Esther and Israel in Egypt, for example). Handel's Messiah, many say his greatest work, wasn't generally appreciated in England until long after his death. Although Handel considered it "a piece appropriate for Lent" it has become a traditional Christmas concert.

Today, in this age of political correctness where great care must be exercised not to offend anyone, where Nativity displays in public places have been litigated in court, we can attend a performance of Messiah. Even with its still controversial and often rejected message of God's love for mankind. Even in our "National Cultural Center." A Christmas miracle? Perhaps...

After the performance, my sweet husband wrote a "love note" to me in the snow. What a wonderful way to end a performance telling God's love story!

first snow...

Today was our first official snow storm- apparently "flurries" don't really count.

It has been "frigidly cold" for the past week or so with "real feel" high temperatures in the teens to mid-twenties. We brought out the heavy coats, scarves, thermal gloves and wool sox last week. We wear a coat and gloves to get the mail... just 22 steps (yes, I counted!) from our door. So we were not surprised when snow was forecasted for the end of the week.

A light snow started falling at 11:00 am and continued until about 5:00 pm this afternoon. As I sat in the warmth of our apartment watching the snow fall through the window, several thoughts came to mind. I was awed by this beautiful fluffy stuff that looks so light and airy yet creates major havoc on the roadways. I wondered where the thousands of homeless people in the DC metro area were spending the storm. I marveled at the peaceful tranquility of the snowscape.

Columbia, Maryland received a little over an inch of snow today and is expecting another, potentially bigger snow storm on Sunday. I guess it is time to get winter supplies for our cars and apartment... 

"Hear the bells..."

I love Christmas music... carols from long ago and songs from yesterday... traditional music as well as  jazzy, country, silly, instrumental, crooners. One of our traditions, starting when our children were in band and orchestra,  is the annual Christmas concert(s). We've been to many through the years- but this year's concert was, by far, the most notable.

Saturday afternoon we went to Washington National Cathedral for their Joy of Christmas concert. We arrived early to explore the grounds and cathedral before the concert. Okay... and because we drove into Washington DC and wanted to allow plenty of time to get lost- but we didn't!

The idea of a national cathedral dates back to the late 1700's when Pierre L'Enfant (commissioned by George Washington to create a plan for the nation's capital) first envisioned "a great church for national purposes." 

Construction began in 1907 when the cornerstone was laid- a stone from a field near Jerusalem laid into an American granite stone inscribed with "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."  (John 1:14)  The Bethlehem Chapel, the first part of the cathedral completed, opened in 1912 and soon became a place of services of national focus. The state funerals of four American presidents- Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford- and a memorial service for the victims of the 9/11 attacks are but a few of the services held at Washington National Cathedral. The completion of the west towers in 1990 marked the end of construction- an 83 year-old work in progress!

The Gothic architecture style is evident in the pointed arches, flying buttresses, gargoyles (not visible in this photo- but there are 112 of them!), vaulted ceilings and stained glass.

When viewed from above, the cathedral is in the shape of a cross with a long nave (a tenth of a mile long!) and two shorter transepts. As we walked through the building, we noticed works in wrought iron, stone, stained glass, wood and fabric decorating the building. These icons teach Christian beliefs (Creation, redemption through faith) and pay tribute to our country's history and values (a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln with a stained glass window depicting the agony of Civil War). There are many beautiful works of art and we saw only a few of them.

There are 231 stained glass windows in the Cathedral. As the sun streams through them, colors are projected on the opposite walls creating a rainbow of color. Majestic!

Now back to the music. The high tower in the photo above the stained glass photo is the only place in America to house both peal and carillon bells. We had the privilege of hearing the carillon bells playing Christmas music- absolutely heavenly! You can hear them in the video below. The Great Organ is immense- and sounds just as heavenly- with over 10,000 pipes! I could have listened to it all day but the conductor had other plans. An ensemble from Washington Symphonic Brass regaled us with several familiar carols as well as some old European Christmas songs. The two trumpeters walked down the aisles as they played- it was the ultimate stereo performance! Teen-agers from a local school performed an African Christmas song- the words told the story of Christ's birth and the music was very upbeat and joyful. And, finally, one of the Cathedral's choirs sang a selection of Christmas music- the ones in Latin were particularly lyrical and beautiful. The audience was invited to sing along with two familiar Christmas carols ending with Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!  

So what made this concert notable? The building is certainly historic and memorable. And the music was varied, performed well and a sweet dessert to my ears. But mostly it was sitting in a cathedral that so beautifully depicts Christ, listening to music that celebrates His birth and praising God for a little over an hour that made this concert so memorable. What an inspiring way to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas!

First Flurries...

It was with great excitement and anticipation that Maryland received her first flurries. The news on both television and radio has been filled with talk about it for weeks... when it will happen... how to prepare... and if a white Christmas is in the offing. For my desert-dwelling friends, flurries are "a light, brief shower of snow."

We were at the mall when we heard people excitedly talking about "the flurries" and sure enough, when we went outside, there was a light layer of snow on the ground. The streets were wet but no snow stuck to the warm asphalt. Mall maintenance crews had already salted the sidewalks so they also were wet but not snowy.

The top of our parking garage was snow-covered... except for the mysterious circle that had no tire tracks or foot steps around it.

The snow stayed until the next day when it rained... and washed the snow away!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Since I was a child I have loved putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it.  There is just something captivating about an evergreen covered in lights and sparkly ornaments. It has been our tradition to put up a rather large tree early in December. Richard spends several hours making sure the branches are "fluffed" just right (yes, it's an artificial tree!) and the lights are spaced evenly. The ornaments are unwrapped with love and carefully placed on the tree as we remember where or from whom we got each one. It's a time to reminisce about Christmases past.

Yesterday, as I was admiring our much smaller (apartment vs house!) Christmas tree with borrowed ornaments, I wondered how it came about that people put a tree in their home and decorated it. The internet revealed quite a few stories about the origin of the Christmas tree but the one I liked the best is this:

"When Christianity first came to Northern Europe, three virtues- Faith, Hope and Charity- were sent from Heaven to find a tree that was as high as hope; as great as love; as sweet as charity; and one that had the sign of the cross on every bough. Their search ended in the forests of the North where they found the Fir. Lighted from the radiance of the stars, it was the first Christmas tree."

As I look at our Christmas tree, I will see faith, hope, charity and the cross... another way I am keeping CHRIST in CHRISTmas!

Baby, it's cold outside...

Winter does not officially begin until December 21st this year... 15 days from now. We have noticed the days getting shorter- it's dark by 5:30pm now- and colder- the highs are only in the 40-50's now. And yesterday at 3:30 in the afternoon (so the warmest part of the day...) when we returned to our apartment complex, we saw...

ICICLES!!

A series of storms are providing lower than normal temperatures, lots of wind and "frigid dry air" giving real-feel temperatures in the teens and low twenties. For those who are wondering- yes, I pulled my heavy coat out of the closet and have worn it! And gloves. And the ice scraper is in my car. Today I am getting windshield cleaner for freezing weather. Then let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

Happy Holly!

Did you know that holly grows on trees? Well, actually, it is a tree- or shrub, depending on how it is pruned. I was astonished to discover that for myself! Holly grows wild throughout the northeast and we have seen a lot of it as we've explored Civil War battlefields.

Holly and Christmas go together like soup and a sandwich!

Holly is a traditional Christmas plant often used in wreaths. Christian tradition says that the pointy leaves represent the thorns of Christ's crown, the perennial green leaves represent eternal life and the red berries represent Christ's blood shed for our salvation. As this Christmas season approaches, I will remember this bit of Christian folklore as a way to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas!