Zero Church

John and I saw Maggie and Suzy Roche perform ZERO CHURCH last night at Alverno. The first concert in what is looking to be an impressive season of offerings.

They (the Roche Sisters) were quick to point out that this was not really "a concert" as Zero Church is, if you will, the result of research into how people pray.

From their website: "This collection of prayers is a result of work we began at the Institute on the Arts & Civic Dialogue founded by Anna Deavere Smith at Harvard University. "The Institute focuses on artistic collaboration and discovery while exploring issues of race, identity, diversity and community."

We spoke in depth to many people from different cultural and religious backgrounds about their thoughts and feelings about prayers. We were not focused on an academic or historical study of prayer, we were simply interested in working with anyone who wished to share a prayer with us. Many of these prayers were written by folks we spoke to in and around the IACD community. Some are more traditional. However, this project is not affiliated with any organized religion, and by no means do we intend to represent religions of the world. It is an exploration of faith and belief and how it has affected individuals' lives."

I was totally moved by this work when I first heard it a couple of years back - went out and bought copies of the CD for several people immediately. The opportunity to hear it performed live was a real gift.

This concert is a part of the year long initiative ART/FAITH/SOCIAL JUSTICE being held throughout the city this year. Kudos in particular to David and Phylis Ravel and Polly Morris for their work on this project.

My favorite of the "prayers" is the following:

Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone
could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway