https://youtu.be/2el5YwegO0M Blessed are the Merciful - The Porter's Gate
We know that Christmas comes but once a year, but are we ever ready? In my case nope! No matter how hard I try to be organised before I know it it has sneaked up behind me and all the good intentions cascade to the floor in a messy heap. There I told you I am human :)
With all the time in the world that we have had this year I seem to have morphed into a person working in their own time zone. Not sure I am cut out for being a solitary figure, I would have been useless as an anchorite or hermit, how did Julian of Norwich do it? Let alone St Guthlac, alone on the river Welland just outside Market Deeping. Nonwithstanding the cold, the north wind of the fens are evil at this time of year, and I really couldn't cut it in a single cell in Norwich either, hats off; your courage Julian and Guthlac and fortitude was something else!
One of the things I have been missing recently has been the playing of early Advent and Christmas music with my Ruff Recorder friends. At this time of year we usually gather with mince pies and mulled wine (essential recorder player fuel - but not whilst playing) at St Rumbold's in Stoke Doyle and enjoy seasonal and reflective playing of music that really lend's itself to this time of year. I have always seen Advent reflection as a counterpoint to the madness of all 'that stuff' going on out in the real world. This year the real world has been a bit too real and we have had to retreat further in order to survive. It has not been easy and the little things like our community gathering and playing of music has been keenly felt be not being able to be done, as it should be together.
As church, us as a body of church that togetherness and sharing of the good news with our fellow wayfarers is key to our faith. It is all very well being in seclusion but it is how we put that faithful study to into activity and answer to need that is so important. Need comes in many shapes and sizes, what may be our perception of need may not be what someone, an organisation or recipient really wants. We with all good intention could be reacting to a need within ourselves, and overlooking what is being asked for, often without words. Responding to need is a tricky activity and it needs to be held in prayer, and a prayer for ourselves to open our sometimes closed listening ears. Our hearts are in the right place, but sometimes the messages get confused and we need to ask for clarity in prayer to sort out all the mess from what is really, desperately needed, and perhaps it is as simple as someone just listening. After all Julian of Norwich was very good at listening, she couldn't get outside and act, but she could be still, listen and pray. Be still, listen and pray. This is probably one of the hardest tasks we are asked to do, to be still and listen to God in prayer.
Before you get to comfortable...
https://youtu.be/1OD4jAOp5So O'Carolans Dance with Appollo's Fire
Reflection can come in many guises, I love this expression of conversation through dance. Our relationship with God can be like this too, a beautiful dance - sometimes we are in step, sometimes out of step but there is something joyous in that which propels our journey forward with Himself! I also couldn't resist sharing this rather lovely seasonal musical journey from Apollo's Fire one of my favourite niche music tastes...
https://youtu.be/XUHtg4So5po Il est ne le divin enfant - Apollo's Fire
I haven't got a recording of the Ruffians' but this is one we play, I love a good ground bass and a rattle of tambour and bells! This is one of our absolute favourites!
There is a time for stillness and quiet but there is also a time to dance.
"...3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace..."
Ecclesiastes 3: 3-8
from 2015 when we first started! Five years!?! Where did that go! Old friends and new ones, I miss you all x
Plus this is another joyous find....
https://youtu.be/-5kw7c005SI Star in the East from the Shepherds Star with Apollo's Fire
Peace be with you friends :) x
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