Off to the Memorial Chapel of the University of Glasgow yesterday afternoon for the ordination of a third new deacon for the diocese – this time someone from St Mary’s congregation, now the Rev Kevin Francis.
The chapel was packed and there was an interesting mix of people from church and folk from the University. Kevin looked as though he had been born to wear the dog collar and looked radiant at the heart of the University Anglican community, which has blossomed over the last few years under his care.
One of the lovely things in this service was a new setting of George Herbert’s text “Come My Way” which was sung by the University Chapel Choir.
I get to meet various members of Chapel Choir from time to time when I’m doing the odd wedding up at the University and when they appear either en masse or individually down at St Mary’s for something or other.
There was a big something or other last night that drew some of them to evensong – we were baptising Samuel Patrick Grossmith, whose dad had been the organist at the deaconing earlier in the day. It did feel like a rather long day by the time I got to my bed last night. I’d been to church for many hours.
I found myself thinking yesterday afternoon that there might be something we can learn from the world of the theatre. I suspect that yesterday afternoon’s service might have benefitted from an intermission. A ten minute comfort break between the first hour and the second might well have helped. Perhaps I should suggest to the Provincial Liturgy Committee that we try to move the Peace in this direction. Had the Peace been introduced all those years ago with the option of ice-creams and gins and tonic, it might well have been less controversial.
Anyway, it was lovely to celebrate with Kevin yesterday afternoon and lovely to welcome Samuel Patrick as he was baptised by his grandfather at last night’s evensong. Kevin will be a blessing to the University and to St Brides’s, Hyndland. And Samuel Patrick? Well, who knows who he will be a blessing to, and that is the potential which give the thrill to any baptism.
A splendid day all round.
I love the idea of ice-creams and gins and tonic at the peace! It might even encourage one or two folk to come to church, and so it is a good tool for evangelisation and mission. 🙂
We held a service this spring in the village community woodland, and instead of preaching a sermon I sent people off to wander round the wood for ten minutes. They said afterwards how much they had liked having an interval.