A good morning

To avoid an excessively long post (but it has turned out to be long), I shall reflect upon today’s events over the coming week as and when thoughts crystallize in my mind. There is, however, a good chance that I shall forget what I was going to say: I am sure my reader will not mind!

I got up at 06:30, dressed, had breakfast and, wearing my deputy organist hat, drove some 54 miles to play for 2 services – one at 09:30 and another at 11:15 at different churches in a benefice. I have been there before.

There was a short choir practice before the service in the first warm church (the heat was on) and I had had the music a few days in advance. I set up the pistons, although I did 50% of the registration by hand. I had prepared “Sheep may safely graze” by Bach as it is Good Shepherd Sunday although it took me a page to get used to the organ again so there were some odd notes! I played a second pre-service piece and then the vicar came to start the service. This is just what I like: a clear beginning and a moment of calm before the first hymn. None of the dreadful chatter I get locally nor the need to shout “Good morning” over the sound system. (Also, the sound systems worked very well in both churches whereas, locally, there is always some issue or other with flat battery, poor reception or crackles in the sound).

The service – at both places – progressed straight through according to the service book. Each was orderly, dignified and totally lacking in “Show and Tell Church”: the act of worship was indeed an act of worship in which I was fully focussed throughout and the chatty, socialising aspect of the occasion was reserved for post-service coffee; as it should be.

I knew I was going to hear the same sermon twice today but I enjoy listening to this incumbent, because she is worth listening to. It was a joy to hear lovely clear diction, a genuine sense of conviction combined with a sense of friendly authority. In so many services I attend I do feel that the priest is verging on banter with the congregation or is actually being far too ‘chummy’. It could be that – by virtue of my upbringing and my pre-retirement job – I expect clergy to have about them the air of an educator. I did feel we were being given advice about how to incorporate both God and religion into our lives which is something I seldom feel. More on this tomorrow.

Normally I am relieved when a service ends and I can go home. After the first service I drove to church #2 ready to repeat the same hymns and most of the same music to a fresh set of ears. The second organ keeps one on one's toes because it is new and very responsive. It is, however, small so it needs careful registration to allow one to keep sound in reserve yet still lead the singing.

Sadly there were only 18 people present, including myself the priest and the server(s). The sermon was almost identical but not read from notes; again it lasted just 10 minutes but seemed shorter. It turns out that the priest was previously a barrister and so she would have needed to speak clearly and with conviction to win over a jury!

The drive home (mainly up the M1) took 1 hour 20 minutes and, no doubt, I shall be tired tomorrow. Nevertheless it was well worth going and I do feel uplifted, not just because I played tolerably well but because my jaundiced view of the C of E could well be affected by the diocese in which I live.