Category: church

evolution

wonderfulexchange11 Comments

The music nights continue to evolve.

This week we had … men.  (and carrot sticks.  there goes my excuse to buy cheese)

Music ranged from Tea for Two (ah, fond memories of the James Farrer Singers) to Snow Patrol ( do you think the Beloved Disciple might sing ‘Chasing Cars’ to Jesus on Maundy Thursday?).

And in between, rhythm games and the realization that we were better at keeping a beat with our eyes closed.   It was a surprise to me that a group that struggled to clap in time, once given the usual array of instruments, could create and hold remarkably complex rhythms, and even shift time  in response to an altered drum (quite complex– the drummer turned an 1/8th note upbeat into the third beat of four, and everyone followed).    Oh, and for the insatiably curious:  in the instrumental improv game, millet is far more versatile than split peas.

We also sang hymns. Lots and lots of hymns.  The game was ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’  starting at page one and working our way through.  There was remarkable agreement, apart from a techy rector who suggested that the trees of the field would clap on the off beat.

Most importantly, we had fun.  Laughter, and silliness, and even a quick waltz at the end (sorry, some of you missed that…).

Thanks to everyone who came, sang, played, laughed, and who said a tentative ‘yes’ to singing & playing a new canticle in a few weeks time.

joy upon joy

wonderfulexchange12 Comments

I have had such a good day.

It began in drearyness as I fret over a situation.

I’m trying to take a day each week this summer to seriously pray/ learn/ read/ step away and reflect, so off I went to brood.

(you can guess where)

I found  the very book I needed to help me think through the brooding situation constructively (and a few other books too) and spent seven hours in the library reading and transcribing long quotes (which is how I learn and give myself time to think).

The gulls and I shared fish and chips.  There was one lovely gull: so patient as he waited.  Then all the loud pushy types swarmed in.

Home across a suitably silver Tay and into a pink sunset,

to find that one friend has safely had her baby,
another has sent me a date-cake recipe,
and one of my new favourite blogs is offering up a very promising plan for caramel-corn.
Apparently the secret ingredient is baking soda:  who knew?

now time to mollify Molly, who feels somewhat ignored.

oh, and for those of you who may have a vested interest in what I learned today — it will take patience to find the benefit.  The brain got there in the library amidst the gull’s cry, but this particular brain is much better at jumping ahead than taking the rest of the body with it.

different ways

wonderfulexchange7 Comments

We’ve been having conversations, lately, about different ways of caring about people.  My way is this:

I stand in the rain, leaning against the east wall of the church, where I can watch the porch door without being seen.  It was time to lock up, and now it is not, because inside someone is praying.

10 minutes.
20 minutes.
30 minutes. raining.

Someone else?

someone else would have gone in and chatted with him and learned his life story and invited him to church.

and there is never any way to be sure which is best.

but my way is to stand in the rain, waiting.

trusting God in silence.