Global Majority Heritage

I have recently seen an advert for musicians in a church in London which carried this text. I admit I had to check that I fully understood some of the terms.

"... We actively welcome applications from people who are currently underrepresented in our community including people with global majority heritage, people with lived experience of poverty and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

Candidates do not have to identify as Christian or belong to a religious faith, however we are looking for candidates who connect with our ethos and values."

So there you are.

Things do not always work out

 I feel a chapter of my musical career is about to end.

The missing hymn book

I played for two services yesterday: the last time I shall do so in the benefice.

When I arrived at church #2, I found that the organ copy of the hymn book was not there. A cupboard was located with spares and so this was not a disaster.

Later, I emailed a contact in the choir (the choir had not been at the cafe service) to say that the actual organ copy was missing. I was stunned by the reply which was:

"I think they all got swept up together and put back into the case after the wedding last week"

Hold on!

Who played the organ for the wedding? Not me: I had not even been offered it. As yet I have not had a reply to my query to this effect. I suppose the couple could have supplied their own organist. As I am not the officially appointed organist I suppose I was not due the 'bench fee' in lieu. If, however, the vicar had engaged someone else I do feel this is unfair.

I have been playing at that church for several months, for both the monthly services and they pay a fee which I have accepted but which is small in the grand scheme of things: £20 each service, on which I pay tax. Many organists would not get out of bed for that sum.

The cafe service yesterday was particulaly tedious and dragged on for a whole hour because it was taken by somebody different: the norm has been 45 minutes.

So, to have me turn up - reliably - and play for the run of the mill services and then not to offer me the perk of a wedding fee is rather unfair I feel.

A hive of activity

A lot takes place before a service in the C of E. The list below will probably omit things which even I do not see as they take place in the sacristy.

• Lights turned on
• Coffee ladies prepare cups, milk, hot water
• Hymn boards are prepared (and checked - there was an error this morning, put right in good time)
• Notice sheets made ready for 'greeters'
• Bells rung up
• Candles lit
• Sound system turned on
• Streaming equipment made ready
• Screen lowered (the church I am playing at project what YouTube viewers see)
• Choir members robe and practise
• Eucharistic prayer choice conveyed to organist so the correct 'twiddly bits' are ready
• Readers find their places in the lectern bible (and bookmark)
• Communion wafers located
• Flowers will have been arranged the previous day
• Cantor selected for the psalm (well it isn't quite a psalm, just a verse)
  
• Many other things!

One does not just turn up and hope for the best.