We will remember them

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 11 November 2007 21:56:53

Having a stinking cold and lack of sleep, I was not best pleased to have to get up early for a 9am start, having to fit an extra Remembrance Parade service into the morning. However, mindful of the fact that life was not too comfortable for the soldiers on the front many years ago either, I soldiered off to church armed with pockets full of tissues. It's strange how you often sing better with a cold. We looked very smart in red and white with matching red poppies as we sang 'We will remember them' (Ogden), with haunting solos and SATB response. The ahhh factor was well-and-truly satisfied by the presentation of a giant-sized poppy made by the toddler group, and was as large as the little girl carrying it. Any dry eyes left in the house soon altered with the haunting sounds of 'Nimrod' (Elgar) from the organ as we processed out.

As soon as the first service ended, we marched across the road to the war memorial for the wreath laying and two minutes' silence. It's fun to sing with the brass band for a change (O God our help; Praise to the Lord the Almighty; The National Anthem) and by some miracle - as always - it stayed dry.

Evensong saw us using the Common Worship books for the first time - with BCP words except for the Psalm. As I don't know all 150 Psalms off by heart I don't think the modern words will concern me too much (and we can always snigger at the changes if we get caught out), but it was really strange singing 'Glory to the Father............... and to the Holy Spirit'. Especially as we still had to sing the 'Glory be..... Holy Ghost' version for the Mag. and Nunc. I think there will be a few 'Girit's and 'Spost's until we get it sorted out. Fortunately, there were no word changes in the anthem, 'Never weather beaten sail' (Campion) which chuntered along quite joyfully without a hitch.