Just occasionally you read a sloppy poem in an obit notice and feel it's right.  I saw one for Dennis, one of our lunch club members, whose funeral is today at the same time as we sit down to eat.  It spoke of a special smile, and it was right.  Dennis was always smiling.  He was an uncomplicated chap who told me my explanation of Easter last year was the first time he'd ever understood it.  He had a lot of pain and failing health but he was always gracious and smiling.  I will miss saving him a seat at the front of the coach today; we will all miss his smile.  At least now he is pain free, and I pray, at peace.

Sunday 17th June is one of my 'let the peeple choose the hymns' Sundays.  Secretly, I relish the challenge of making a coherent act of worship from the things people pick.  This time it's a bit diffenret - D+1 and D are together; intriguingly, and perhaps because it's only a couple of month's since D last had the opportunity for this, most of the choices are from D+1.  As expected (and I'm almost ready to say, 'come back These are The Days, most is forgiven' but only almost) Dibley's own 'glowing spirits' hymn has been picked.  Ah well.

So, what hymns await us...

• Tis sweet, O Lord, to sing Thy praise til all our spirits glow 
• My God, I thank Thee, who hast made the earth so bright
• Dear Lord and Father of us all ('mankind' in original)
• How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
• Blessed Assurance
• I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus
• Let me have my way among you, do not strive
• Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah

I've had to pick a couple of other things to begin and end the service (as Guide Me, which is a great 'ender' is being used for Communion) and fitting in a 'thought for the day' will be 'interesting' but overall, even if not all would necessarily be my choice, the hymns are, 'melting hearts' excepted, pretty good.  What's mildly amusing, and probably a bit of a shame (with the obvious exception: have you worked out I can't stand this song yet?!) is that a good proportion of English Baptists aged under 40 won't know any of them! 

Just spoke to someone from church and asked how yesterday's service went.

"It was just an old fashioned service.  Some of your services are a bit strange, but having an old fashioned service seemed rather boring."

I think that's a compliment! 

I'm also mildy bemused because liturgically (in its proper meaning) you don't get much more traditional than my services.  Ah well, strange it is then.

It's a funny thing you can't get used to, as my mother would say.