Soundwaves at St. Bedes: Recent Episodes
The Reverend Ryan D. Newman
A weekly broadcast of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, California—a vibrant and inclusive community of faith serving Venice, Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Ocean Park, Marina Del Rey, and beyond. Each week, Soundwaves will feature the sermon from last Sunday’s worship services. In addition, as often as possible, we will share selections from the extraordinary St. Bede’s music program, update our listeners on church news, and convey the stories of our faith as we live out our baptismal covenant.
Pastor Ryan explores one of the most “dangerous” words in the English language, change. Change is hard, but change is inevitable, says Pastor Ryan. However, can change be a blessing too?
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections:
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There shall a star come out of Jacob from Christus | Words: Numbers 24:17; Psalm 2:9 | Music: Felix Mendelssohn
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Prelude on “How Bright Appears the Morning Star”, BWV 739 | Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
The Reverend Dr. Akani Fletcher preaches on the Sermon on the Plain.
Following the sermon, there are two musical selection:
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Lass dich nur nichts nicht dauren| Words: Paul Flemming |Music: Johannes Brahms
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“Little” Prelude in g minor, BWV 558 | Music: Attrib. Johann Sebastian Bach
Regardless of what life offers us and what we offer life, the best life is a rooted life grounded in a constant state of awareness, says Pastor Ryan. Awareness is a life skill. Awareness is an art. Awareness is a spiritual practice. Awareness means that we are rooted in what grounds us, in what sustains us, and in what empowers us. Without awareness, we will miss the Messiah among us.
Following the sermon, there is one musical selection:
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How lovely are the Messengers | From: St. Paul | Words: Romans 10:15 | Music: Felix Mendelssohn
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“Little” Prelude and Fugue in F Major, BWV 556 | Music: Attrib. Johann Sebastian Bach
At the water’s edge of Lake Gennesaret, Jesus commissions Simon to “fish for people.” What does it mean for the Church today to fish for people? Pastor Ryan’s message weaves together the ancient Hawaiian practice of fishing, the Hakilua, and Jesus’ call for the Church to fish for people--breathe life, love, and joy into others’ lives as an embodiment of the Good News.
Following the sermon, there is one musical selection:
- Prelude on “Ebenezer” | Music: Charles W. Ore
Jesus has returned home to Nazareth to preach in the synagogue. When he began to preach, Luke’s Gospel tells us, “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” By the end of the sermon, an angry mob, presumably many who knew Jesus, chase him out of town and look to toss him off a cliff. Something does not add up, says Pastor Ryan. What does this passage reveal about the Jesus of Luke’s Gospel and the radical intent of the Good News?
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections:
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Day by day | Words: Richard of Chichester | Music: Martin How
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“Little” Prelude in d minor, BWV 554 | Music: Attrib. Johann Sebastian Bach
In today’s lesson, we hear the story in Luke’s Gospel of Jesus’ return to Nazareth and his hometown synagogue. As an honored guest, Jesus is invited to read from the prophet Isaiah and offer the sermon. Jesus’ return to Nazareth is anything but ordinary and leaves us to wonder what is the “job description” of the Messiah we expect? Do our expectations align with Isaiah’s prophetic vision that Jesus reads and intends to fulfill?
The Rev. Dr. Akani Fletcher preaches on the life and legacy of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections:
- Wade in the water | Words: Traditional African-American Spiritual | Music: Trad., arr. Carl Haywood
- Lift Every Voice and Sing | Music: J. Rosamond Johnson
Jesus comes to the shore of the River Jordan to be baptized. Since Christ’s Baptism, countless Christians have come to the faith through the waters of Baptism. Pastor Ryan’s message challenges us to explore what it means to not only embrace but embody Christ in our lives. We find both our personhood and purpose through the waters of Baptism.
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections:
- Deep River | Words: Traditional African-American Spiritual | Music: Trad., arr. Carl Haywood
- “Little” Prelude and Fugue In C Major, Bwv 553 | Music: attrib. Johann Sebastian Bach
On this Second Sunday in the Christmas Season, Pastor Ryan’s message focuses on our experience of the Epiphany story. It is a story that has grown and been embellished over many centuries. Yet, it is also a simple, beautiful, and very personal story of our individual journeys to be in the presence of Christ.
Following the sermon, there are three musical selections:
Saw You Never in The Twilight | Music: Cecil Frances Alexander, Music based on Or dites-nous Marie (French carol); arr. Hal H. HopsonChorale Prelude on "How Bright Appears The Morning Star" | Music: Johann Pachelbel
The “Birth Narrative” of John’s Gospel offers a very distinct perspective of Jesus’ birth. Our Savior coming shines brightly on a world in need of love and compassion. Pastor Ryan’s message explores how we can embody the Light and share it with others. We need to go and claim that Light, says Pastor Ryan, and share the Light with the world.
On the eve of our Savior’s birth, we hear of God’s extraordinary plan for the Savior of the world. Christ was born in Bethlehem, and the world is forever changed. It might look and feel like the most absurd plan in the world, and it probably was; yet, it also was the perfect plan for the perfect child, at the perfect moment.
Following the sermon, there are three musical selections:
- “Lo, How a Rose/The Rose” arranged by: Craig Hella Johnson
- “Go tell it on the mountain” Words: Traditional African-American |Music: Traditional, arr. Philip Kern
- “In the bleak mid-winter” Words: Christina Rossetti | Music: Gustav Holst
Advent 4 offers to us two ordinary yet extraordinary women and one superpower summit that will forever change the world. In this week’s episode, Pastor Ryan’s message focuses on Luke 1:39-45. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, come together for a sacred conversation. “God gave both these women a starring role in this divine drama,” says Pastor Ryan. Soon the world would be turned upside-down, and we owe a great thanksgiving to Elizabeth and Mary for their role in our Lord’s Advent.
Can we find joy in a pandemic? Grounded in Philippians 4:4, Pastor Ryan's message of hope focuses on finding joy in our lives amid these unsettling and challenging days. He reminds us that Paul wrote his final joy-filled words to the Church at Philippi from prison. Despite the pain and suffering, Paul still found the conviction not only to see and name joy but to exemplify joy. So likewise, our faith reveals joy is present in our world, even amid the most heartbreaking and difficult situations.
Music following the sermon:
- Prelude on Veni Emmanuel, Music: Flor Peeters
In this week's episode, in stark contrast to other Gospel accounts, the Gospel of Luke introduces us to a more reputable John the Baptist figure than the traditional eccentric, desert-dweller John who is clothed in camel's hair and eats locusts and wild honey. Pastor Ryan believes John the Baptist has a particular role to play in the Advent drama as the CAG, "chief advice giver." John's call to repent is an invitation for us to reorient our hearts and fine-tune our lives, values, and priorities as we are awaiting the coming of the Lord.
Following the sermon, we offer the Advent Festival of Lesson and Carols from St. Bede’s on Sunday, December 5th under the musical direction of Frank Basile. Musical selections include:
- Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Daniel E. Gawthrope)
- There’s a voice in the wilderness (Hymn #75)
- The Truth from Above (trad. carol, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, adapted by Frank Basile)
- He shall come down like rain (Dudley Buck)
- Comfort, comfort ye, my people (Hymn #67)
- The Best of Rooms (Randall Thompson)
- And the Glory of the Lord (George Frideric Handel from Messiah)
- Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding (Hymn #59)
- Prelude on Winchester New (Malcolm Archer)
In this week's episode, the season of Advent kicks off, and Pastor Ryan's message centers on the anticipation of not one but two different comings of Christ. Even though secular culture wants us to anticipate a holiday, we are anticipating a life-changing savior.
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections:
- CHOIR ANTHEM: “People, Look East” – Words: Eleanor Farjeon | Music: Besançon Carol Tune, arr. Martin Shaw
- ORGAN POSTLUDE: “Chorale Prelude on ‘Savior of the Nations, Come’” - Music: Johann Pachelbel
On day the Church celebrates Christ the King, Pastor Ryan message wrestles what it means to be a citizen in the Kingdom of God. He challenges us to turn our attention to the citizens Jesus cherished the most--those who exist on the margins; and those who have been displaced and abandoned. "We cannot declare 'Christ is King' in this sanctuary," says Pastor Ryan, "and then walk out of here and simply go about our day." What makes us Christians and citizens in the Kingdom is what we do outside outside the walls of Church between Sundays.
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections:
- CHOIR ANTHEM: "Haec Dies" - Words: Psalm 118:24, 1 | Music: Brent Adams
- ORGAN POSTLUDE: "Now Thank We All Our God" - Music: Sigfrid Karg-Elert
In this week's episode, Pastor Ryan explores the Jesus of Mark's Gospel through the lens of Mark 13. "Jesus is a provocateur—one who provokes," says Pastor Ryan. Therefore, the Gospel invites us to "consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24)
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections:
CHOIR ANTHEM: “Soon and Very Soon” – Words and Music: Andraé Crouch | Choral Setting by: Jack Schrader
ORGAN POSTLUDE: “Prelude in d minor, BWV 539” - Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
In this week's episode, Pastor Ryan's message focuses on The Raising of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha from John 11. Following Mary's invitation, "Lord, come and see," Jesus weeps, but why? Pastor Ryan explores with the congregation a vulnerable Jesus and the factors that led to his very genuine human response. What can we learn about our own limitations and challenges from this unprecedented and dramatic Gospel scene?
Following the sermon, there are two musical selections from the St. Bede’s Choir led by Frank Basile:
- “Justorum animae” - Words: Wisdom 3:1-2a, 3b | Music: Camille Saint-Saëns
- “Ave verum corpus” - Words: Medieval sequence for Corpus Christi | Music: Edward Elgar
Happy to announce we have significantly enhanced the audio quality of Soundwaves at St. Bede’s. In this week’s episode, Pastor Ryan looks at Jesus’ restatement of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) with one notable addition. Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and MIND! Yet, each day we are tempted to weaponize our minds against the will of God. Therefore, pastor Ryan invites us to examine the centrality of God in our lives—heart, soul, strength, and mind.
This week’s installment does not only feature Pastor Ryan’s sermon, “On the Way… Sight Unseen,” where he explores a unique hero in Mark’s Gospel, Bartimaeus; the podcast also features two pieces of music from St. Bede’s extraordinary music program. The first selection was Sunday’s Offertory Anthem, “Dona Nobis Pacem” (Beethoven) from Mass in C Major, Op. 86. The final musical selection is a preview of November’s Friends of Music Concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth. The piece is “Nutturno in E-flat Major, op. 148” by Franz Schubert is from last Sunday’s Friends of Music Concert.
Welcome to the inaugural installment of Soundwaves at St. Bede’s! In this episode, utilizing the backdrop of Mark 10:35-45 (the sons of Zebedee outlandish request), Pastor Ryan explores how the Gospel of Mark uniquely portrays the disciples. Spoiler alert: The disciples are a major disappointment in Mark’s Gospel.