One Sunday morning some years ago, whilst on sabbatical, I drove down to Gloucester to attend the morning Eucharist at the Cathedral. It was the feast of All Saints, and I'd unashamedly, self-indulgently chosen that particular place having scanned the music lists of various cathedrals within easy driving distance. Nevertheless, I was prepared for worship and expectant.

Sitting quietly before the service began, I observed the organ with more than usual care. It towers above the screen,dominating the Nave. In my imagination it became a great locomotive waiting at the platform, or an ocean liner soon to embark. I'd have been entirely unsurprised had smoke started to pour out of the funnels on the corners. The image is a fitting one: in the worship, we should be carried  together to a new place, journeying more deeply into the heart of God.

Then, as the organ started to play, the image changed. Now, the notes were being flung around inside the building, ricocheting from one wall to another until eventually they found a way out and, reaching heaven's gates, battered them like a volley of gunfire. But the notes were not just music. The notes were ourselves, caught up in worship, freed from the constraints of our buildings and our petty material concerns, and flung into the presence of God.

I have to admit I wasn't very conversational over coffee afterwards, being reluctant to let go of the images and of the phrases slowly forming in my mind. I'm sure that can be excused on a sabbatical! You can read the result below.

What will happen this Sunday morning as we gather to worship here? Will we arrive prepared and expectant? Will we hear if God speaks to us, inspires us, offers us fresh insight, encouragement, strength, and perhaps rebuke? Will we allow ourselves to be caught up to heaven, to worship with angels and archangels and the company of all the redeemed? Will we allow God to shape our lives, to use us more fully in his service? Will we accept God's love, forgiveness and hope? Worship has a purpose, a fundamental purpose, in the life of every Christian; our duty and our joy is to participate, and be transformed.


Gloucester Cathedral Organ
All Saints' Day Eucharist 2009

Thick thunder-throbbing pulse of platform edge
Oppressing heart-beat deep in stomach pit.
Earth quakes, awakes; shakes shiver into roar
Reverberating pipe core coursing awe
Nor more raw glory into tawdry nerve
And vein could pour, set verve aflame, and soar.

Turreted edifice o'ershadows throng,
Expectant ocean-voyagers await:
Hark! Let adventure spark! Embark! No dark
Tumultuous sea or cloud of night blinds sight,
Makes fright where flight of seraph-songs unite
Enticing blighted souls to realms of light.

Notes chatter, meet and scatter, shatter-sharp;
Collide, elide and coincide, as dice
In cup; trajectories enfleshed in souls
Freed, flung unslung, to starred horizons hurled
From world to spatter spotless gates of grace
With wounds of hope and tearful prayers unfurled.

No earthly station here, no quayside hall.
This transport of delight bids spirit fly,
Prise wide the needle eye, espy, and cry
In rapture bitter-sweet; each sated sigh
Soft-soaked in undeserving love's embrace
Outpouring 'Glory be to God on high!'

(c) Christopher Wilson 2009

 

Following our first food hygiene inspection since re-opening, which took place last month, we've just received our result and certificate.

We're delighted but not surprised to have achieved the highest rating.

Many congratulations to Emily and her team for their hard work.

Having trouble sleeping? Excellent! Come and join our friendly team on NightLight!

More seriously, this evening we celebrated our fifth anniversary (attained in April) with an impromptu party, during which the anecdotes flowed as freely as the excellent tea, coffee, home-made sausage rolls, potato wedges and cake (all supplied by the coffee shop). Clearly the NightLight volunteers enjoy the experience of standing outside in the dead of night, serving hot drinks to passers-by irrespective of the weather and the lack of sleep. It certainly gives us plenty to talk about!

We considered how things are going, reflecting both on the enormous appreciation we receive and on the reduced footfall in the town compared with Friday nights when we started.  We noted the significance of staffing the project ecumenically - it really challenges public perceptions of the Church. (Those attending tonight came from no fewer than 8 congregations.) We discussed whether we're running at the most effective time, noting that the recent change to open and close half-an-hour earlier than previously has been positive. We decided to experiment with even earlier times during July and August, when the town is normally much quieter. And we resolved to cover, subject to resources, up to three forthcoming nights which are expected to be particularly busy, in addition to Fridays.

Our programme will be as follows:

Fridays in June: 11pm - 3am (14th and 21st are expected to be busy).

Monday 24 June and Thursday 27 June: 11pm - 1.30am (we've been asked if we can cover these two nights).

Fridays during July and August: 10pm - 2am, with a review of times towards the end of August.

Thursday 15 August: 10pm - 1am ('A' level results)

Currently we rely on around 20 active volunteers and another 10 or so occasional helpers. We'd welcome additional volunteers: come along one evening to see what we do. If you'd like to join up, you need to be a regular member of your church and to be recommended by your vicar or minister.

Donations of money or supplies to NightLight are always welcome. Supplies should be Fair Trade: tea, coffee, hot chocolate (the sort which is made with hot water) and sugar. They can be brought into church during opening hours or handed over on any night when we're operational. Money is used to purchase supplies, cups, kitchen rolls, bin bags, etc, and to put towards repairs and replacements. Currently we aim to add a laminated surface to the trolley counter (or, failing that, to repaint it), and we'd also like to design and fit a roof to keep the rain off. Money can be given through the website here or brought into church in a marked envelope during opening hours. We have a strict policy never to accept funds at night - not least to safeguard the security of our volunteers. 

Of course, we prayed together too - as we do at the start and end of every NightLight session. We gave thanks for the past five years and for all those whose lives have been touched by NightLight. We prayed for the project and the team; for clubbers; for those working at night, including those upholding law and order; for the homeless and vulnerable; for the life of our town. And then, as we cleared up, we just couldn't resist a few more anecdotes. After all, which insomniac would ever rather go home for a good night's sleep?!

'I've seen the Bishop and now I know what a crook looks like.'  

So said Bishop John during his sermon - but tonight's Confirmation service was anything but flippant. Twenty-three candidates from various churches made their commitment to be disciples and followers of Jesus Christ during the service at All Saints' Bedworth. Ruth, Thomas and Jack from our own All Saints' were among them.

The church was full and the atmosphere was expectant, welcoming and supportive. The deep-pile carpet, band and lyrics, and informal approach  hinted at a rather different tradition to our own - but the sense of unity and prayerfulness, of shared commitment and shared prayer were profound. The extended sharing of the Peace and the warm conversations over refreshments afterwards spoke of a meeting together of the People of God.

Bishop John reminded us early in the service of St Augustine's words: 'Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless 'til they find their rest in you.' He reminded us again of those words during his sermon.

He preached on the Gospel reading, Luke 12.32-37 - 'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom...' He likened the words to Brighton rock: 'Fear not', or 'Do not be anxious', are words which run throughout Scripture; the images of the sheep and the shepherd do so too. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the one who brings us the peace which the world cannot give. He longs to give us his kingdom, a sharing of heaven on earth.

'Your faith will grow when you live in it', he said. 'It will wither if you sit on it.'

The candidates gathered around the Font to articulate formally their decision to follow Christ and to profess their faith in the words of the Creed. They were then sprinkled very liberally with holy water. Subsequently, time was taken over each candidate as they were anointed and then Confirmed with the laying-on of hands.

The service, of course, is the easy bit: a highlight, with a strong awareness of the support and prayers of the community of faith. Greater challenges follow, as they do for us all: to live out the faith hour by hour and day by day, even when doing so cuts across our preferences or makes us feel isolated or counter-cultural. 

So we pray for the candidates and for us all, 
'May God, who has given us the desire to follow Christ,
give us strength to continue in the Way.' Amen.