Categories: uncategorized
Date: 14 June 2004 19:37:09
A busy two weeks with several different types of services. The local prep school came en masse to the Family Service on Sun 6th, down the hill in a long crocodile in shorts and long socks, and the girls in kilts. The church looked very full with parents and teachers in attendance as well. We were not joined by the school choir on this occasion so had to do all the hard work ourselves - being Trinity Sunday we sang Tchaikovsky's 'Hymn to the Trinity', as you do.
Saturday saw us up at Exeter Cathedral for the Diocesan Choral Festival. A hot sunny day, so some people decided the beach was more appropriate, but that made for a more manageable mass choir, to sing music for baptisms, weddings and funerals. It was a treat to hear the Cathedral Choir sing the a capella and cantor parts, making for a good contrast with our less well-controlled beefy singing.
A normal parish eucharist on Sun 13th, with tales in the vestry of the choirmaster's adventure at Buckingham Palace - to collect his OBE. The Queen decided it must be 'very interesting' to play the organ - I wonder when she will take up lessons.....
Probably after the visit to Exeter Cathedral yesterday, we sang 'Lord for thy tender mercies' sake' by Farrant with great gentleness and attention to dynamics. There's hope for us yet.
A big beefy sound of a quite different nature in the evening, with Songs of Praise (not the TV version, but an ecumenical town service) accompanied by the Plymouth Salvation Army Band. A hymn-concert sandwich with a reading and a few prayers, entertaining those sitting on the grass outside as much as those within the four walls. I know to sit near the back when a brass band is playing.
I never thought I'd hear 'Onward Christian Soldiers' sung in our church, but we had to sing it as 'tez local' - the enthusiasm with which some of the Christians from other denominations clapped and waved their hands signified it was a popular choice.