The last Sunday

Hmm. Sounds more final when I put it that way, when it’s only the final Sunday in one place for one person. Even then, it was actually the final Sunday there for one other person too.

Right. Back to posting instead of waffling only marginally incoherently.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m now the regular pianist in Strand Presbyterian Church in Connsbrook Avenue, having been given the job in mid-May. However – I hadn’t had the chance to go back and say goodbye to the Church of the Resurrection, due to busy Sundays (Friends of the Centre service on the 20th and Global Day of Prayer on the
27th) so I only got back two days ago.

It was more than a little unusual as services go. The music was skewed towards the end of the service, as I wanted a particular set of songs towards the end, and at the last count we had 15 songs and pieces of sung liturgy – which is a lot – of which I played 10 on piano and the rest on bass. They were:

Holy holy holy, Lord God almighty
Gloria in Excelsis (like the other bits of liturgy, music written for the band by Tony Carver)
How great is our God
Lord, I come to you
Men of Faith
You never let go
Sanctus (by Tony)
Let our praise to you be as incense
Amen
Lord’s Prayer (both by Tony)
The Lord’s my shepherd
Indescribable
Act Justly (written by myself)
Blessed be your name
Be thou my vision (omitted because we were running VERY late…!)

Musically, it was a rather large party. Tony took the first half of the service, handing over to Paddy to take Communion, and played the Sanctus, Let our praise, the Amen and the Lord’s Prayer himself. I played bass for Blessed be your name, which we did with
guitars and djembe only.

All but one of the song choices were my own, the other one being Let our praise. The common theme that runs through nearly every song from Lord I come to you onwards is God’s faithfulness, protection, comfort and strength, strands that run through my
life and that God has used to hold it together through very dark times. I had difficulty singing in places as a result – there are bits of loads of those songs which make me cry.

We prayed for me during the service, which was an important part of me leaving and being sent – so I no longer belong to the Res, but on the other hand, I know I have a place there where I can go and hide and relax with friends and worship God. It’s been a great place for me, and as I step forward, it’s actually quite exciting, despite the
challenges I face at Strand.

And a really cool thing to finish off… I was given a present just before the service. I opened up a book token and thought “£25… how nice”.  Then I realised there were two more behind it – I turned and looked bewildered at Paddy.  I know I was liked and appreciated at the Res, but for it to translate into such a very generous gift (plus a £5 Wesley Owen voucher) is absolutely amazing.  God is amazing.

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