Sing Something Simple - The Advent Candles

Back into lockdown for the second time - and back to focussing on pre-recording worship to broadcast on YouTube and Facebook live. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDnuuwT-yGPu8EbkjpxlcWg?reload=9 

Planning our Advent liturgy I suddenly realised I needed a song for the lighting of the Advent candle that was simple, easy for folks to follow/pick up even if they aren't looking at a service sheet, and that I wouldn't feel like a complete fool singing on my own as I record the services on my own.

So there's going to be a few. This one is set to "Be still and know" which has an 888 metre. I've tried to keep it simple while making it week by week specific too (Patriarchs/Matriarchs, Prophets, John, Mary).  In another context I think I'd just sing one stanza a couple of times - or encourage singing is as a round. 

Advent 1
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
The fathers and mothers of our faith
Declare the Lord is on the way
Declare the Lord is on the way.
 
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
Advent 2
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
The prophets told the Christ would be
A king of peace for you and me
A king of peace for you and me
 
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
 
Advent 3
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
Believe, repent, the Kingdom’s near
Baptiser John told what is here
Baptiser John told what is here
 
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
Advent 4
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
For Mary mother of our Lord
You carried Jesus, Saviour, Word,
You carried Jesus, Saviour, Word.
 
We light a candle on this day
We know the Lord is on the way
We know the Lord is on the way.
 
Christmas Day
We light Christ’s candle on this day
We celebrate this Christmas Day
We celebrate this Christmas Day
 
With angels now we sing our praise
One with us yet born to save
One with us yet born to save
 
The bright star shines to show the way
The longed-for Lord is here today.
The longed-for Lord is here today.

More to follow - as I have just found last year's Christingle song to Away in a Manger!

Baptismal Grace

I had the privilege of baptizing two young girls on Sunday morning. Baptism is always a joyful celebration but I was reminded by the comments of a lady attending the service of the strange attitude some congregations and clergy take to baptism.  She spoke of other services she had been to that were at best perfunctory, the sense of being barely tolerated by regular church goers, and coming away no wiser as to what was supposed to have happened and why.
I have myself on occasion been known to whinge about how many baptisms we have in my parish and the need to schedule extra services to deal with the demand (I know - what an idiot - only because I'm tired!) But I think we're in one of those situations where what was alleged to have happened in the rose-tinted imaginary golden days of church has been turned on it's head - and given us an amazing opportunity to share God's grace.
Church communities will comment that there is not enough Christianity in schools - that Christianity is no longer sufficiently part of the ingrained culture of the nation - that we need more Christianity - like we used to have (allegedly). Then almost in the same breath we complain about the number of people we don't know and have little contact with who come to our door expecting to be welcomed for baptism.
When my grandfather was a priest and nearly every child in the community was baptised and baptism service on a Sunday afternoon might have involved a couple of dozen babies - there was no opportunity to have baptisms in the main service as there were so many. I'm sure they were done with love and care, but the image that comes to mind is a bit of a cattle market - lots of people, lots of babies being passed back and forth. (As an aside I'm absolutely certain these kind of services could not have been quiet and calmly ordered - people are people and anyone who tells me old-fashioned babies didn't cry, throw up and generally act like babies is telling big fat fibs).
Now I work in a world were not everyone automatically brings their child for baptism. Bad times? Not a bit of it.  I have the luxury of getting to know the families who come to us for baptism. We have the time to talk together about who we all are and what it means - about God. I have the chance to make sure the language I use in liturgy is language which will communicate meaning to those involved. As a church community we have the regular opportunity to welcome and share in baptism in our main Eucharistic service.
I think my granddad would have given his right arm for these luxuries - and I think rather than whinging about less people being baptized than before we should recognize God's grace giving us the opportunity to explore the divine mystery of this sacrament.

Weird Gaps in Time

Not a reference to an exciting new episode of Dr Who I hasten to add.  I haven't posted here for some time as I have been in the middle of a move. Moving from my curacy to my first parish as vicar. (note if you follow the link - that fella in the collar on the homepage isn't me ;-)

I am to be vicar (as of the day after tomorrow) - though of course not 'incumbent' - as we are all now licensed under Common Tenure. As we are all now supposedly on the same terms and conditions I am unsure why some posts are still advertised as 'priest-in-charge' and others as 'vicar' - this used to be seen as differentiating between a 'vicar' who was an incumbent with freehold, and someone for whom the bishop was not extending that privilege.

Anyway - we have moved house, said a fond farewell to a parish and colleagues who have given me a brilliant curacy, and have been dealing with new nurseries, a new school, a big fight with BT over broadband service and vicarage phone number and all the other joys of change.  It has been a limbo-like few weeks - suspended between one place and another.

I'm excited about the challenges the new parish will bring, giddy to think about what God might have in store for this place and these people.  I feel both well prepared (nearly 10 years now since all this vocation stuff started - and that was without a hitch or a hiccup), and also completely clueless.  I'm trying to embrace this too in a "Hey, God, look at my blank canvas - come and make art!" kind of a way.

I think the blog may get a bit busier the next few weeks.