A lovely time was had, many carols sung, much food consumed, much laughter shared.

Massive thanks to M for organising, N for accordian playing/providing the keyboard, K for photography and everyone who came along and made it such a fun time

Photo (c) Ken Fisher

I've just been copying the music for today's carol singing to save me lugging a big fat BPW half way across Glasgow.  In the course of that, I inadvertently copied the 'second tune' to 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', the rather lovely, if rarely used Walford Davies rather than the familiar Vaughn Williams.  I have since 'corrected' my error, but it did remind me, yet again, how much I love so many of the 'second tunes' and how, one day, I 'd love to have a carol service using only these less heard melodies.

Here are a few for you to enjoy...

O Little Town of Bethlehem

In the Bleak Midwinter

Away in a manger

But first some printing and admin!  Heading churchward in a few minutes to print off the song sheets for today's carol singing by the Coffee Club, then dining with them, then back churchwards to prepare for evening prayer.  A slightly mad, but hopeful, day in prospect.

The Annunciation

by Edwin Muir

The angel and the girl are met.
Earth was the only meeting place.
For the embodied never yet
Travelled beyond the shore of space.

The eternal spirits in freedom go.
See, they have come together, see,
While the destroying minutes flow,
Each reflects the other’s face
Till heaven in hers and earth in his
Shine steady there. He’s come to her
From far beyond the farthest star,
Feathered through time. Immediacy
Of strangest strangeness is the bliss
That from their limbs all movement takes.
Yet the increasing rapture brings
So great a wonder that it makes
Each feather tremble on his wings.

Outside the window footsteps fall
Into the ordinary day
And with the sun along the wall
Pursue their unreturning way.
Sound’s perpetual roundabout
Rolls its numbered octaves out
And hoarsely grinds its battered tune.

But through the endless afternoon
These neither speak nor movement make,
But stare into their deepening trance
As if their gaze would never break.

Well, I have to confess that I had a very enjoyable time, was well fed and received a very generous hearing this afternoon.  It transpired that two of the audience had professional links with past employers of mine, one was a reader of this nonsense (and had seen my speech before I delivered it!) and several were retired clergy.

So thank you for your welcome and hospitality, I am now replete and relieved!