Categories: uncategorized
Date: 12 October 2008 22:40:15
So, this evening was my "practical assessment". This was to demonstrate that although I understand the theory of liturgy, I can do it as well.
I wanted this to be as normal as possible, so I opted for it to be this evening as I was already on the rota to officiate at Choral Evensong which meant that the service could go ahead without any disruption to anyone else. By coincidence, today is actually the 16th anniversary of my Admission and Licensing as a Reader by Bishop Roy Williamson in Southwark Cathedral. That really is coincidence though, as it hadn't occurred to me until after the date was fixed.
I shouldn't have been nervous about this. After all, I've officiated at Evensong goodness knows how many times, so why should this evening's service be any different? I was in my own church, doing something I'm familiar with among my friends. Well, it was different, and I was nervous!
A few years ago, I was invited to lead the prayers at a big diocesan event at the cathedral, This involved standing in the pulpit, under a very bright spotlight, in front of several hundred people and with the Diocesan bishop presiding. That didn't phase me at all, I just got up there and did it. However, this evening it was terrifying to know everything I did was being watched and scrutinised! As it happens, everything was fine.
The rehearsal of the new hymn went OK. Well, mostly anyway. Having taught it line by line, I asked everyone to stand and sing a verse all the way through. What happened next I suppose was my fault. I should have explained to the organist that I only wanted to sing one verse at this point, but I didn't, so after we'd finished singing, he launched straight into the next verse. This is a six verse hymn, and I certainly didn't want to sing it all the way through at this stage!
A few of the congregation and most of the choir could see what had happened here. I spent the whole of the next verse trying to catch the organist's eye to try and stop him carrying on, but he didn't look in my direction at all, so at the end of this verse, and before he had a chance to start playing again, I said in a loud voice "LET US PRAY!"
The organ stopped and we prayed. We then sang the hymn all the way though at the end of the service as planned.
The examiner was happy with how things went. He congratulated me on the confident manner in which I conducted the service and on the prayerful atmosphere during the intercessory prayers and went on to say how much he'd enjoyed the service.
We then went on to talk about my portfolio. This was a dossier I'd made up of the services held between Advent Sunday and Pentecost. Again, he was happy with most of it, but did have a couple of minor criticisms.
1. Considering the very rich choral tradition we have, he felt I should have emphasised the music a little more than I did
2. He felt I should have "blown my own trumpet" a little more with regard to my own liturgical role in the church, in particular the frequency of preaching, leading intercessions and leading non-sacramental worship.
I can't really argue with either of those criticisms.
Anyway, I'm glad it's over. After we finished, Tina and I rewarded ourselves with a curry at our favourite Indian restaurant. OK, I know the budget's tight at the moment, but I deserved it at and damn well enjoyed it!!!