Categories: uncategorized
Date: 08 December 2010 20:16:30
The second advent candle was lit today by our littlest chorister - fortunately she could just about reach on tiptoes. I had not sung the full version of Rutter's 'For the beauty of the earth' before, although several others in the choir knew it well and propelled me confidently forward. Celebrating the return of the organ to good health (now the piano has decided to go on strike instead), it was given a good workout with Boellman's 'Toccata'. I swear I could feel the building shake.
Fortunately at evensong was the much more familiar anthem, 'O thou the central orb' (Wood), together with Noble in B minor and the Smith responses. These were all sung amidst the beautifully lit trees in our Christmas Tree Festival. All the lights were turned off for the sermon, which was preached by tree light and candle light. I heard no snoring, so presumably everyone was fully attentive throughout. Appropriately, the service concluded with an organ improvisation on 'O Tannenbaum'. And unsurprisingly several of the basses burst into song, 'We'll keep the red flag flying', as they entered the vestry.