• Christmas in St Mary’s (with a twist at the end)

    Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, and there is perhaps no better place to experience the magic of the season than at St Mary’s Cathedral in the Scottish Episcopal Church. With its stunning architecture and rich history, this beautiful space offers a truly special and meaningful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

    One of the highlights of a Christmas service at St Mary’s Cathedral is the music. The cathedral’s choir is known for their beautiful voices and their ability to bring the festive carols to life. The church also features a grand organ, which adds a sense of grandeur and majesty to the service. Whether you’re a fan of traditional carols or more modern hymns, you’re sure to be moved by the beautiful music at St Mary’s Cathedral.

    Another highlight of a Christmas service at St Mary’s Cathedral is the sense of history and tradition. The cathedral dates back to the 19th century and is known for its stunning Gothic architecture. The service itself is filled with rich traditions, such as the lighting of the Advent wreath and the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible. These traditions help to create a sense of awe and wonder that is so fitting for the holiday season.

    But perhaps the most special aspect of a Christmas service at St Mary’s Cathedral is the sense of community and togetherness. As people from all walks of life come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, there is a feeling of unity and love that is truly special. Whether you’re a lifelong member of the cathedral or a newcomer to the community, you’ll feel welcome and included in the celebration.

    In short, Christmas services at St Mary’s Cathedral in the Scottish Episcopal Church are a truly special and meaningful way to celebrate the holiday season. With their beautiful music, rich traditions, and sense of community, these services offer a chance to experience the magic and wonder of Christmas in a truly special and meaningful way.

    If you’ve made it through this blog post this far and you have a slight sense that there’s something odd about it the you’d be correct. The post above, not in italics wasn’t written by me. It was written by a machine – specifically the ChatGPT bot that has recently been released to the world. You tell  it what you want it to write and it does it.

    This one was generated by the prompt, “Write a blog post about how wonderful Christmas services are at St Mary’s Cathedral in the Scottish Episcopal Church”.

    Now, it doesn’t sound quite like me and it isn’t the most exciting writing there is. Perhaps it is even slightly stilted. But it is a fairly convincing attempt at the problem I gave it to do.

    This technology is going to make all things new. Academia in particular is going to have to change very quickly in the way it assesses students.

    This is disruptive technology. It can be used to do funny things – I could just have easily got it to write the above post in the voice of Donald Trump.

    Thus: “Let me tell you, folks, this place is amazing. The music is absolutely incredible, with the choir singing all of your favorite carols in the most beautiful way. And the organ! Wow, what a sound. It’s truly something to behold…”

    But this isn’t just entertainment. It is something completely and utterly new. Nothing you ever read again comes with a guarantee that it was written by a human being.

    The world is changed. As someone once sent with a telegraph key, “What hath God wrought”?

6 responses to “Ceilidh! Ceilidh! Ceilidh!”

  1. Ryan Dunne Avatar
    Ryan Dunne

    Alas, “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” by Scissor Sisters has almost life-verse significance to me so I probably won’t attend. It does sound fun though. So will you yourself be participating, in robes and all ;-)?

  2. kelvin Avatar

    I shall be robed for Evensong. Gloriously so.

    I shall be also be mustering up a little soft shoe gentle sway at the ceilidh. Gloriously so also.

    Oh, and there is social chat space for those who, like Jake Shears and Ryan, don’t feel like dancin’.

    Yes, and ice-cream too to cheer the soul.

  3. padrerob Avatar

    Blessings on your centennial celebration! It sounds like y’all will be having a wonderful evening!

  4. Ryan Dunne Avatar
    Ryan Dunne

    Ice cream? Is there no end to the Cathedral’s temptations ;-)?

  5. Dennis Avatar

    Congratulations to St Mary’s. You’ve certainly been in my thoughts today. Twenty years ago today (Whitsunday 1988) I was confirmed at St Mary’s Glasgow by Bp Derek.

    After it was over and done the GU students who had been confirmed gathered at the home of John Turner (the chaplain) for food and drinks. It was the first time I ever tried champagne and I think that I tried a bit too much that day, if I remember correctly.

    Twenty years of Episcopalianism and champagne. I wonder if it is too late to rethink this whole thing?

    Best wishes to St Marys and the people there!

  6. Shynee Shoos Avatar
    Shynee Shoos

    Wot a ceilidh – and the Provostorial Shoes got not just dusted but must have been especially shined for the occasion of a light fandango or ten. ‘Fit for duty’ ? – Emminently !

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