Here are the most interesting things I’ve read this week.
One of the interesting things about choral evensong is that in some places it can seem like a living tradition that can speak to anyone, whereas in others it can appear to be dry as dust, pompous and irrelevant. What do you think the “method” is that produces a living choral evensong as opposed to an antiquarian one?
That’s a good question, Martin and I agree, it can be miserable.
I think that worship tends to take off when those planning it and organising and leading it care more about what we are doing when we worship than in the form in which we worship.
I suspect that Choral Evensong is not best led by liturgical, musical or prayer book fundamentalists or by those who happen to find this a way of encountering the holy.
A culture of offering the best we can be to God helps. Good relationships between musicians and clergy help. As usual, clear liturgical books in the hands of the faithful help. And whoever is leading needs not to be frightened of a bit of silence now and then amidst the music.
To Govan Corps of the Salvation Army last night for the installation of their new Chief Secretary, Lieut-Col Bill Cochrane. Apart from a single family funeral, it is I think, the first time that I’ve been back to Salvation Army since I left it at the age of 16 or so. Last night’s visit was…
"Kelvin, notwithstanding the fact that I know that you dance around the flat with your cat doing Dusty Springfield numbers together, people do find you scary."I mean, really!
Oh, what a disturbing set of art installations made up the Ron Mueck show in Edinburgh. A large in your face baby lying on the floor, a teenager who looked like she was 58 and miserable, a man in a boat which was clearly taking him no-where and two sour biddies having a gossip. The…
Oh yes, and I nearly forgot. I saw a brilliant flash of blue darting over the River Kelvin yesterday. The sight of a glorious kingfisher. The kind of sight that makes you so glad you live in the city.
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