Trick or Treat

The meme below has appeared on Facebook in our local group. Clearly it seeks to defend those who trick or treat by making those who dislike the activity feel guilty (or something).

It is an American tradition which apparently came to the UK once peopke had seen it on the film "ET".

IMHO it is just an invasion of privacy and potentially a cause of anxiety and upset to older people. How do those who engage in the practice know whether or not someone has recently been bereaved, for example?

The church seems to do little to discourage children from embarking on this form of entertainment.

Bible stories

I have trouble with many Bible stories, especially when somebody reports something which was uttered even though they were obviously not present at the time. In fact I have serious doubts about much of the Old Testament.

Whilst some stories are, I suppose, 'fun' for children, what are we seriously asking them to believe? The image says it all.

Indoctrination

Slightly off my church topic, I came across this video. It does, however, link in with my view that the world is changing and strongly influenced by people with opinions out of line with mine.

A new hymn

I will be playing a hymn which is new, to me, on Sunday. I quite like it though. It is by Bernadette Farrell.

The service is a special one for the recently bereaved.

Christmas

It is still October but I have started to work up some Christmas voluntaries. I have a few Advent pieces up my sleeve.

The power of music

I have been a musician for as long as I can remember and my daughter - a rather clever scientist with a PhD - is also a fine vocalist. She has done her share of cathedral singing (sometimes with me) and choral work at university. (It is good to pass things on for others to carry the baton as it were.)

Quite a few years ago, even before she was an undergraduate, I accompanied her for her DipABRSM exam. One of the songs was "O Mio Babbino Caro". I have just come across this in a most unusual way. From this video I was able to find Jessica Norton (below) and I was moved to tears when I heard the song again.

It is not that I particularly love the song but I do love my daughter and the memories came flooding back.

Rain

The thing about being a roving organist (i.e. playing somewhere other than the place where you live) is the fact that one cannot just stay at home if the weather is bad. I had a 25 minute drive this morning on a dual-carriageway but the rain was tipping down. I would much rather have stayed at home. The rain was hitting the church roof through most of the service too and it made quite a noise.

This is one reason organists get paid. The congregation can stay at home and, sadly, many did.