Kilrenny Church Chronicle for Sunday 28th June.
Thursday 02 July 2020
Contact: Corinne
email: corinne@peddies.com
or telephone (01333) 311408
KILRENNY CHURCH CHRONICLE
ISSUE 15 Sunday 28th June 2020.
Kilrenny Church website
https://e-voice.org.uk/kilrenny/
EMERGENCY HELP:
East Neuk Covid19 Emergency help numbers:
0800 999 6543 - 07818 414178.
Scam Warning.
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This is a free NHS service. Do not give any details.
Worship and personal reflection:
''Our homes are in a Real and Important way the places of worship''
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 22: 1-14 & Psalm 13
Genesis: Some time later God testedAbraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offeringon a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.
As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son)”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Praise CH 4 364 'All Glory, laud, and honour'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHN8UAk6Yow
Reflection 4th Sunday after Pentecost
(Archie Gray)
The suggested readings (in the Church lectionary) are Genesis 22: 1.14, Psalm 13, Psalm 89: 1-4, 15-18, Romans 6: 12-23 and Matthew 10: 40-42
Like any non theologically trained individual, I considered starting in the Old Testament and working my way through to the New Testament readings, I may then have interpreted some thread that I could draw on. Well the Genesis reading almost stopped me in my tracks as it speaks of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac to show his loyalty -hardly what we read about God's eternal love encountered in the Gospels. Moving on quickly to Psalm 13 this is a Lament by David, written at a time when he was persecuted by Saul;-
How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation,
I will sing the Lord's praise,
for he has been good to me.
At this point I realised I would never proceed to the New Testament readings and my long forgotten schoolboy interpretative skills in trying to understand the poetic psalms.
In comparison the collaborative works written by John Bell and Graham Maule (who died just last December aged 61) which appear in CH4 are easily understood.
To personalise my reflections in this regard I met John Bell in the late 70's when the former Leader of the Iona Community Rev. Ian Reid then a serving minister in Kilwinning Abbey Church introduced the sandal wearing, hippy looking bearded young man with a wooden cross round his neck. He sat at a piano and sang hymns new to the CH3 but now familiar to us in the CH4 hymnary. I digress but will return to John Bell later.
So David who is expressing in this psalm his feelings to God in a series of questions is writing of real events that produce real feelings and real struggles that he has to find a way through on. He is afraid, he is angry, he feels deserted by others but also by God. He starts the Lament by repeating, “How long,” four times, thus confirming his feeling of abandonment as being a lasting feeling. Even the strongest Christian among us can feel like this.
The turning point is when David speaks to God and asks for three things – look at me, answer me and, “give light to my eyes.” My interpretative skills needed assistance at this point and on learning that the phrase is based on “eyes growing dark” for approaching death. That hits home. As we get older our thoughts are often reflective and depressive when events and situations are outwith our control. So David is asking for rescue from death.
The psalm shifts dramatically and ends with David's firm resolve to keep trusting, rejoicing and singing to the Lord. He found reason to trust whereas before he only doubted, he found reason to rejoice whereas he could only lament. As like David when we are particularly down we must seek God at all times even though he seems far away. He himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” ( Heb.13:5) The covenant made with David as expressed in Psalm 89 confirms the steadfastness of God's love and the promise that one of his descendants would live forever and for all generations. For Christians the eternal establishment of the David's covenant is accomplished with the coming of Christ. Faithfulness and Steadfastness are rewarded by God and will receive his protection.
Returning to John Bell and Graham Maule, both untrained in music and writing lyrics, we find the CH4 has in excess of 60 of their tunes and lyrics which are both easy to the ear yet with challenging lyrics. Having faced the task of giving reflective notes on a Psalm I can appreciate the wealth of stories contained within Ps
alms in general.
Not that I would wish to be controversial but I wonder what form of worship will emerge following lockdown. Will it include singing to tunes which are not melodically familiar and with words written centuries ago making the experience less than fulfilling? Should members of our community without a background in church worship be pleasantly surprised to sing praises in modern verse and with melodic and recognizable tunes? Singing praise inclusive of John Bell's and Graham Maule's contributions in this connection would enhance and enrich our services. The words being modern and relative to every day events allow us to appreciate the words when singing rather than struggle with a usage of words not currently spoken.
An example of John Bell's treatment of a Lament:- Psalm 40 Praise: CH4 31
I waited patiently for God,
for God to hear my prayer,
and God bent down to where I sank
and listened to me there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_zbiTcsQYk
Or from an uplifting hymn Praise CH 4 501
Take this moment, sign and space;
take my friends around;
here among us make the place
where your love is found
Take the time to call my name;
take the time to mend
who I am and what I've been,
all I've failed to tend.
Take the tiredness of my days,
take my past regret,
letting your forgiveness touch
all I can't forget.
Take the little child in me,
scared of growing old;
help me here to find my worth
made in Christ's own mould.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EFbMwM4aWo
Surely both were moved by the Holy Spirit in their lives in order to enrich us with words and music which allows us to express our faith without struggling to interpret the unfamiliar.
As Christians we are frequently tested but are we prepared to trust and obey as there is no other way.
On this 4th Sunday following Pentecost in the year 2020, do we question or accept what Governor Cuomo of New York said at a press conference on April 13th.
“ The number of Covid 19 cases appear to be plateaued due to social distancing and people staying in their homes. The numbers are down because we brought them down – God did not do that, faith did not do that, a lot of pain and suffering did that.”
Is this similar to the Lament of David but without the resolution - Trust in the unfailing love of God? Our laments are a response to the pain of life. We cry to God when life gets hard and we discover there are no quick and easy solutions. Covid 19 has proved that. Steadfastness and faithfulness has been put to the test the world over and if we truly believe, we must rely on God's love to see us through this crisis.
(With thanks to Archie for leading our worship this week).
Let us pray (Allan)
A Celtic prayer for summer
The warmth of the sun's embrace,
the gentle breeze swept in by incoming tide,
the rhythm of seasons,
of new birth,
death and recreation.
All these speak so clearly of your love,
your power
and your beauty.
All are expressions of your creativity,
and more importantly of yourself.
As an artist might share his personality
within each brushstroke,
so within the myriad colours of a butterfly's wing
you share the exuberance of your love
That we can glimpse you within creation
is a beautiful thought,
but also tells us that you desire to be seen,
to be found and known.
Open our eyes, Lord,
as we walk through this world,
feel the wind and sunshine,
see the majesty of
creation
unfolding before our eyes.
Help us to see you
Under the warmth
of the summer sun
the world awakes and blossoms
into every imaginable colour.
You created a garden for us to enjoy,
and within it planted
the most magical of flower and trees.
You needed no horticultural training
to plan your colour scheme,
no gardening expert
to recommend variety or design.
Your garden is perfect,
its colours harmonious,
its scale immense,
spoilt only by the clumsiness of those who tend it.
This world
Your creation
Rolled into a sphere
Packaged in sunshine
Gift-wrapped in love
Given to us.
Thank you Heavenly Father. Amen
(with thanks to Allan for leading our prayers each week)
A Reflection
Rev Ian W. F. Hamilton
THE INTERNATIONAL, IMMORTAL AND PERFECT PRAYER
Our Holy Land pilgrimage is just a memory now, but what an inspiring one! We visited so many bible locations especially the Church of the Nativity at Manger Square in Bethlehem built over the cave where Jesus was born, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem which encompasses all that remains of the traditional rock at Calvary and the site of Jesus’ tomb. We reached the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by way of the Via Dolorosa, the route Jesus took to Calvary.
A particular location we visited was the Church of the Pater Noster (Our Father) on the Mount of Olives situated high above the Kidron Valley where Jesus taught his disciples The Lord’s Prayer.
Today an uncompleted church marks the spot. On the walls of the cloisters, The Lord’s Prayer is inscribed in over sixty languages. Visitors can even read the international and immortal prayer, yes in English, but also in Gaelic and in Doric!
In the stillness of the unfinished church open to the skies, pilgrims experience the scriptures suddenly coming alive. One can imagine the disciples right there excitedly asking Jesus to teach them how to pray! They wanted to pray, but what they didn’t know was how to set about praying! “Lord” teach us to pray.” Said Jesus in response, “When you pray, pray like this, say ‘Our Father’……”
Jesus, in his teaching gave them far more than a form of words to be repeated parrot-fashion. He gave them a prayer pattern to help them say what they wanted and needed to say.
Jesus began by assuring them that God was their Father and that they could confidently address him as a child would speak to his or her earthly father, but a father whose name must be hallowed or honoured. Christ’s disciples must pray for the coming of God’s kingdom, a situation when God’s will is done as perfectly on earth as it is done in heaven. Jesus then encouraged his disciples to ask God to “give us” bread for our bodies and nourishment for our souls, and to “forgive us” for the wrong things in our lives as we must forgive the wrongs of others.
Then disciples must pray that they don’t fall into the hands of temptation, and that they may be delivered, rescued, from everything that‘s evil. Finally comes the prayer’s built-in epilogue….”For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory …..!”
In fact this epilogue was never part of Jesus’ original prayer, the words are not in the earliest manuscripts. However it soon became part of the prayer because in the days of the early church it was the natural response of the people TO Jesus’ prayer! And to this day it is the response of Christian people everywhere, namely that the kingdom, the power and the glory are forever His…and His alone! This is how we should pray the prayer of “Pater Noster” whatever the location, whatever the language! Yes, it was a perfect pilgrimage……and it is the perfect prayer!
Let us Pray:
Our Father, which art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For Thine is the Kingdom
The power and the glory.
For ever and ever. Amen
(Ian)
Postcard from Kingskettle
Rev Michael Allardice
Once more, greetings from sunny Kingskettle!
Sitting in our back garden these past few days has been a pleasure and a pleasant antidote to the constant news on Covid-19. What was particularly nice was the chance to meet our daughter for the first time in person since the lockdown began. We were able to sit out and enjoy each other’s company, catch up on news and just have that precious commodity: quality time. Online contact has been fine but being in the same space makes so much difference. The amount of our communication that comes through body language amazes me, even though I’ve often taught on the subject over the years. Being able to see the other person, judge their physical presence as well as the words that are spoken tells us more than words themselves.
Like me, I’m sure many of you have been wondering what life will be like after the immediate crisis subsides, and we return to something resembling “normal”. I’ve noticed this past week that the BBC have begun a series of discussions, radio shows and Podcasts called “Rethink”. The aim is to explore how our society might change, what change might look like and how change can be for the better. The BBC are not the only ones encouraging these discussions, but it is important that all of us engage in these conversations and be part of any change that takes place.
The Church also must face the implications of the changes that have already taken place. The lockdown has forced certain changes on us, but in the face of necessity some other changes have emerged – such as this newsletter which has been a great means of keeping people in touch and also sharing something of the stories of so many within the congregation and the community. What will our Church look like in the future: both at a national and a local level? Nationally, the Church of Scotland was already taking radical steps to change its organisational operations and streamline the way it was working – no doubt that process will be accelerated in the months to come.
Locally, we are moving into a Fife-wide Presbytery and that will no doubt create a good deal of uncertainty in the short-term. What will happen at the level of the individual congregation: who knows? What I would say is that now, more than ever, every member of our congregations needs to get involved and have their voices heard. Sitting back and letting the Elders and Office-bearers take all the decisions is not an option – we all need to get involved in shaping our future. Complaining after the event is a great tradition within the Church, but now is the time we all need to step forward and get involved.
What goes for the Church also needs to go for our wider society. It’s easy to complain that things are not right, that people don’t do the right things or that the politicians don’t listen. But now is an opportunity for all of us to get involved in the way things are re-shaped after the lockdown is over. Rarely in life do we get the chance to re-shape the way things are done or to have our opinions heard, but now is one of those occasions. For sure, we won’t get everything we are looking for, but if we leave it for others to do then there is a danger, we won’t get anything we would wish for.
Young or old we all have something to offer. But if we don’t share our thoughts then no one will ever know of our wisdom or our vision for the future. As Christians, we have an important role to play in the rethinking of our society: if we engage then we have a chance to improve things, if we step aside then others will take our place and make decisions on our behalf, but not necessarily for the better.
As we begin to return to some sort of normality, let’s take the opportunity to get involved in whatever changes are coming and shape the future of our Church, our community and our society.
Take Time for Personal Prayers
Additional worship
Sunday Worship on Radio 4 at 08:10 Songs of Praise on BBC1 Sunday 1.15 pm.
Church of Scotland - Kirk Services online
www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship Rev Dr Amos Chewachong:
http://www.notchurch.co.uk
The Great Peruvian Earthquake 1970
The BBC news app on my phone on the evening of 31st May had an item on the 50th anniversary of what has become known as the Great Peruvian Earthquake, which caused a wall of glacial ice and rocks to come loose from Peru's highest mountain, Mount Huascaran and career down the mountain at an average speed of 100 mph and buried the town of Yungay. The quake and slide of ice and rocks killed 50,000 people, with a further 20,000 missing presumed dead, and 150,000 injured. The earthquake is considered one of the world's most destructive quakes to date.
What caught my attention on reading the news article was the fact that all that remained of Yungay was a statue of Christ in the town's cemetery, and four palm trees. (Corinne)
The statue in the midst of devastation
Now serves as a memorial in the town
Members News
"Grateful thanks to the Anstruther Community Council and its helpers for the help and support which has been received over the last 15 weeks, not least, the bringing of the essential weekly shopping. This has kept us people going. Surely there are others who would wish to concur with this note of thanks from Helen Sharp and neighbour, John Ford".
News of those wearing a Dog collar!
Doddie's diary and the trials of Ann
This week marked a landmark in Doddie’s life – his first haircut! It was with some trepidation that I approached the groomers, saying that “I hope he lets you do it and I hope he doesn’t bite”. “No problem, we can handle him” was the rejoinder. I left Doddie in their capable hands fervently singing to myself my much adulterated version of the Brotherhood of Man’s Hit song “Save all your kisses for me” substituting nippies for kisses – “ Save all your nippies for me, save all your nippies for me, bye-bye, Doddie, bye-bye”. One and a half hours later I picked him up. Well, he fairly swaggered out of the groomers. Gone was the dreadlock Doddie and hello to Mr Cool Dude Doddie. He is now a close cut shiny boy. “How was he?” I asked, “Great” was the reply! So he does save all his nippies for me! Last Sunday also marked his first venture into “doing good”. He was joined by his mate Alfie Arnott to do a virtual walk on behalf of the charity created by Doddie Weir to raise awareness for Motor Neurone Disease. Well done boys. They will soon be sporting their new leads and Doddie will have his collar “My name’s Doddie” *, a very grown up week. I am sure normal service will be resumed by next week, this good behaviour can’t last! (Ann)
* 'My name's Doddie', autobiography by Doddie Weir.
Allan & Sybil's Quiz answers
Here are the answers to week 14’s musical instrument quiz. Hope you managed the full score!
1) Trombone 2) Kettle Drum 3) Accordion
4) Electric Guitar 5) Saxophone 6) Alpine Horn 7) Dulcimer 8) Double Bass 9) Castanets 10) Harmonica 11) Harpsichord 12) Mandolin 13) Panpipes 14) Tambourine 15) Triangle 16) Penny Whistle 17) Tubular Bells 18) Clarinet 19) Grand Piano 20) Didgeridoo
Allan & Sybil's Quiz
Our quiz returns to our feathered friends this week. Here are 20 mostly common bird names for you to unscramble.
Happy twitching.
- GOOD PIE NOW (4,6)
- CROOKED PEW (10)
- A SHOWER POURS (5,7)
- REST ELK (7)
- DUKE CRIED (5,4)
- GNAW LIP (7)
- I GET TART (5,3)
- OWLS LAW (7)
- GRILL RE HUNG (7,4)
- MR CARTOON (9)
- LEAPING ENFORCER (9,6)
- HUGH SNORTS (4,6)
- GENIAL THING (11)
- LAST RING (8)
- HEAT PANS (8)
- EPIC LIAR ALEC (12)
- AGILE ETHEL WAITED (5,6,5)
- ARMY HOME WELL (12)
- NO BRAWL (4,3)
- BALD BRICK (9)
The Naughty Choirboy
I suspect that many in our congregation are like me, and are pretty clueless when it comes to modern technology and all the acronyms created to describe things.
However, I tripped over this wee story in a proprietary publication which claimed no copyright, and I offer it to you today, having made only a couple of delicate, discretionary changes:-
"In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a healthy young wife by the name of Dorothy, who was known as Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, sturdy, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com.
And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?"
And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but he simply said, "How, dear?"
And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages telling about what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price and they wish to buy your goods. The sale can be made on the drums and you will make delivery by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."
Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent.
To prevent neighbouring countries from overhearing what the drums were saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was known as
Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pictures - Hebrew To The People (HTTP).
And the young men did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS.
And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates, who bought off every drum maker in the land. Indeed he did insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates' drum-heads and drumsticks.
And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others." And Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or eBay as it came to be known. He said, "We need a name that reflects what we are."
And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators."
"YAHOO," said Abraham.
And because it was Dot's idea, they named it YAHOO Dot Com.
Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot's drums to locate things around the countryside.
This GEEK tool soon became known as God's Own Official Guide to Locating Everything (GOOGLE).
That is how it all began.
And that's the truth!"
(which of course it isn't!)
Members stories
The search for a site to hold the annual scout summer camp
12 Fife ( East Neuk Scouts)
Malcolm MacDonald
Part 1. Preparations
The search for a site for the annual summer camp would start in early spring when the scout leader and patrol leaders would meet to discuss where they would like the camp to be held this year. Ordinance survey maps for Angus and Perthshire would be looked out and everyone would have their favourite place or glen where they would like the camp to be held. After a few arguments a vote would take place and several areas would be selected to visit on a Sunday in early May.
On that Sunday in early May the scout leader, assistant leader and the patrol leaders would go and visit the areas chosen for the camp. Several major points in selecting a suitable field would be, finding a field with water either a burn or river and a supply of fresh water, plenty wood for fires and for pioneering, a relatively flat field and not far from a village where we could order food.. After going round the selected sites and viewing them and picking out the most suitable one the next problem was to find where the farm was and if the farmer or land owner would allow us to hold our camp in that field. If everything went smoothly and we found a field the patrol leaders would then select a site in the field for their own patrol area.
At the scout night the following week the rest of the troop would be told where and when we would be going. In the weeks leading up to the camp which was usually held the 1st week of the school holidays in early July the patrol leaders would select a theme for the camp and each patrol would have their own name eg, Countries, Vehicles, Scottish clans, Planets etc. Each patrol's equipment for the camp would be looked out and checked over for damage.
A month before the camp any equipment we required, pegs, pots, pans, axes, saws, mallets etc would be purchased. The week before the camp the food would also be bought from a local Cash and Carry and packed into boxes. With the price of hiring a bus and to keep the cost of the camp to a minimum the scout mini bus would have to make several trips to the camp site take all the scouts to the camp. There would be an advanced party consisting of approximately nine scouts, some of the patrol leaders, and a few ventures ( Ventures are scouts over 16 years old ) that would travel on Friday night with a 14ft ex army tent and erect it so if it was raining on the Saturday the rest of the equipment would not get wet when the lorry was being unloaded.
On the Friday night before all the scouts would bring their kit bags or rucksacks along to the scout hall and all the remaining equipment was looked out.
Early Saturday morning the lorry would arrive be loaded and leave for the campsite following the mini bus which would be full of scouts. The mini bus would return early afternoon and the remainder of scouts would then leave for the camp. The mini bus would also have the trailer loaded with the food for the camp and the fresh food for over the weekend, bread, meat, milk etc. There would also be several cars in attendance at the camp in case of emergencies.
At the campsite, after the lorry had been unloaded each patrol would set about erecting their tent and claiming their equipment and begin to set up their patrol area. After the evening meal (which was usually a salad as no fires were ready for cooking) the scouts would collect wood, water and the rations for the next day’s breakfast. Sunday came and after breakfast and short church service the patrols would spend time setting up the rest of their areas, cooking shelter, wet and dry pits etc.
Sunday was when the parents would come and visit their boys, they would arrive early afternoon and spend a couple of hours in the camp (mothers telling them how to cook mince etc and fathers telling stories of when they were in the scouts and help bringing in wood and chopping and sawing it up). After a few hours the parents would leave for home but as usual some of the younger scouts, it being their first summer camp and the first time away from mum a few tears were shed but after the parents were out of sight it was all forgotten and the boys got on with camp work.
Next week.........Camp activities.
(Malcolm)
'Match of the Day'
(Jessie Lyon)
Some time ago, I was organist at the funeral service for Bill, who over three decades or more had devoted his free time to the training and organising of football in the town. Such was his enthusiasm for the sport (and the respect that he had earned over the years), I wanted to make a musical tribute to him.
I decided to play 'Match of the Day', as the congregation were leaving the church. This piece is a highly unlikely gem to be heard in the Kirk, but I knew someone who had sung an old gospel song to the tune in his church young children's group in Ireland long before it was heard on television!
Despite my lack of knowledge of chords, theory and musical composition I set out in elementary fashion to prepare a rendition of 'Match of the Day' that would do honour to Bill and his family. it was not to be cheap or tawdry, 'folksy' or jazzed up. It would have dignity, and pure joy. And I prayed hard that I would succeed.
I practised hour after hour, beginning with a German chorale-like, effect of the melody, slow and prayerful; then I experimented with variations, louder, softer, different tempo, minor key and all sorts of unorthodox gymnastics on the keyboard.
Before the funeral service I played music by Elgar, Mendelssohn and Brahms, to a congregation that filled the Church. Afterwards I played a hymn tune very quietly, then it was time for the huge congregation to leave.
Another wee prayer and a deep breath and I launched into 'Match of the Day'. To begin with such was the quiet chatter that the tune remained unrecognised. Then I ever so elegantly launched into variations of the theme, like Olivier Latri of Notre Dame. There was no turning back and once the congregation got the idea of what was happening, many sat down to listen.
I ended, by my way of it, with a Triumphal Processional march, and as the final chord thundered on, as in a cathedral, the last of the congregation moved outside. I sat still. Would I be called up before the Kirk Session?
As I tried to creep away from the scene, I was met with a chorus, "Was that 'Match of the Day? That was a proper treat!" Several times in the ensuing weeks, I was asked in the street, "Are you the GIRL(!) who played the football music at Bill's service? That was braw!"
Someone asked, "Do you have the CD?"
I am not likely to repeat this episode. With God's help I embarked on something far beyond my capabilities, and I got there. At present we are living in a 'soap' of negativity. If we change each note of pessimism into a chord of hope we will win through.
(Jessie)
A history lesson
(courtesy of Malcolm)
Do YOU remember the meaning and origin of old sayings & customs?
Those with money had plates made of pewter.
Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food,
causing lead poisoning death.
This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
And,
Bread was divided according to status.
Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle,
and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
The Kirk Session wish you a very safe, healthy and happy week ahead.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
the God whom we adore,
be glory, as it was, and is,
and shall be evermore.
Amen.
Editors note:
I am extremely grateful to all those who make a regular contribution to this Chronicle, and I know from emails and phone calls that it is all very much appreciated by recipients.
There is always room for more! So if you have not yet made a contribution please do so. We would love to hear from you.