Benjamin Keach was the main protagonist for the singing of hymns among early Baptists. He was also a writer of appalling doggerel, which possibly set back his cause, but which seems to find continued expression to this day.  Here, in his honour, is a hymn 'inspired' by some contemporary worship songs that I actively dislike or find offensive because of poor or ill-conceived theology.  Enjoy!  And apologies if I just destroyed your favourite.

To the tune Winchester Old (While Shepherds watched) or other 8686 (Most of Keach's songs are in this metre)

Ten thousand reasons why these are

The days of my lighthouse

Our praises shake the bowels of hell

The devil cr*ps himself.

I love the sound his robe does make

As he walks in the room -

More intimate than a lover

His praises make me swoon.

My praises are a raging flood

To drown my enemies -

But that’s okay because I know

God’s love runs after me.

I’ve got a lion in my lungs-

And a frog in my throat:

I wish that all these song lyrics

Were nothing but a joke.

(C) Stroppy Cow Worship 2025

This morning I helped with our new, monthly, Messy Sunday School - it was great fun, with five children all busily making badges, decorating biscuits, making a collage and learning about Jesus the Good Shepherd.  Sometimes it's nice to get out of the 'pulpit' and into the 'classroom'

The photo is my decorated 'sheep' biscuit... I never new you could get 'edible eyes' for cake decorating!  Every day is a (Sunday) school day!!

Today I enjoyed some lovely rabbit holes researching assorted bits of information relating to the Vicar School.

In the chapel there is a wonderful tapestry that I have long admired (and lament the reality that it is now mostly hidden behind a rather large projection screen. Next to the tapestry is a small, almost eroded dedication plaque, just a few centimetres in either direction...

By photographing it, zooming in (a lot) and studying it closely, I was able to discern what it said...

TWO CITIES

THE EMBROIDERED PANEL IN THIS CHAPEL
WAS DESIGNED AND MADE BY RENATE MELINSKY IN 1978
AND PAID FOR WITH MONEY GIVEN
IN MEMORY OF
DAVID HALDEN

With a little bit of digging, I discovered that Renate Melinsky entered the UK via kindertransport,and her husband, Canon Hugh Melinsky, was the great grandson of a rabbi tortured in the 1905 pogrom.  Their connection to the 'vicar school' was the Church of England's Northern Ordination Course which was based here in Manchester for many years.

I don't know, and can't find anything to help me identify, the two cities (or the person in whose memory it was created)... is it Manchester and Mirfield? Or is it somehow linked to the vision of Revelation?  And does it matter?

An enjoyable diversion this evening, and one that, for me anyway, made a few connections.

I love Rutter's arrangement of the Aaronic blessing, and I am enjoying learning the alto part to sing along with our 'Occasional Choir' for Pentecost.  My ability to sight read is reasonably good, but my ability to pitch is not, so I am very grateful for note-bashing videos (what did people do before such things existed?) and also for backing tracks that allow my test out my singing with a little more of challenge.

I think I have nearly sussed the 'Amens' (probably the most challenging rhythmically since all four parts are very different) but still wobble off key in the middle.

It's fun giving it a go, and I am grateful that people are willing to give it a go.

Goodall's Psalm 23 next...?!

Three months ago, the specialist vet described Sophie as 'a very sick pussy cat'.  After a raft of tests, we worked with our regular vet and, finally, after three months Sophie is now collar-free and (so far) not over-grooming.  She will be on meds for the rest of her little pussy cat life, but she seems to be happy and, overall, healthy.

When I took her with me to church on Christmas Day (the vet said she should on no account be left at home) I wondered how much longer we might have... as we pass Easter, I know she's a senior cat with conditions that will eventually catch up with her, but she has a good quality of life, at least for now.

Maybe that's some sort of parable or something - about not changing the overall trajectory but at least making the most of the the here and now - and maybe it's just an excuse to put more cat photos on the internet which is, after all, why it was invented.