Last week there was a benefice group service, at a church where I now play, at 10.00. This morning - as the vicar needs to get to the next church for 1100 - the service (at the same place) was at 0930. I arrived at 0900 but the church was locked: the person due to greet worshippers was waiting outside.
The key-holder rota had gone wrong and we were temporarily locked out so the heat was not on, which is (I was told) the job of the person who unlocks.
Eventually it all got sorted out. There was no heat (the current energy crisis is causing caution) and the main door was left open (a hangover from COVID ventilation rules). Surprisingly, there was a small choir up in the chancel and the congregation (of 9) sat mainly at the back. It was decided that the communion setting would not be sung so it was just hymns today. One wonders what the point of a choir is in these two circumstances.
As a consequence the service was snappy and brisk without any needless padding. I played atmospheric music beforehand and a communion piece. My post-service voluntary was 3 minutes but half that would have done because the (digital) organ is right next to the coffee servery and people wanted their drink and biscuit.
It was a very autumnal day on the way but the sun had come out for the return journey.
Evensong tonight in another of the benefice churches.
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