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Every year for a week in August Edigton Priory Church holds a festival of music within the liturgy and this is the week.

Last night I went with my mother to Solemn Evensong followed by Compline and it was wonderful. I’m not someone who could be described as high church but this week is a time when I can experience the whole cathedral type worship and I thoroughly enjoy it, including incense.

The singing is provided by three different groups, all the singers come from various cathedrals and colleges (about 60 in total), and this is probably the only time they sing together. The organists are also from these establishments with clergy from various places supporting the local clergy. Last night’s settings for the evensong music were by Charles Wood and the anthem by Brahms with Mendelssohn for the organ music at the beginning and end. Compline was in candlelight.

At the end we came out to a full moon shining in a clear sky – neither my mother nor I could find words to express what we were feeling other than to say that we felt a peacefulness.

If you can’t get to Edington this week (see their website www.edingtonfestival.org for the list of services – usually three a day) you can hear them live on BBC Radio 3 on Wednesday 25 August at 4.00pm.

How right that is and it has been demonstrated over this weekend for me – accompanied by encounters with nature and two small boys.

Friday night we gathered in Pewsey church to welcome Michael McHugh as the new team vicar in that team, the church was packed, the singing was good and the sermon was excellent (thank you John). I caught up with people I had not seen for sometime and enjoyed the chatter. On my drive home I saw a flock of birds flying cross the sky making wonderful patterns as they did.

Saturday saw me having a trip to Branksome St Clements church, very urban, and on the way home from that seven swans flew in formation in front of me.

Sunday and I was at Fittleton @ 9am taking part in a quiet said Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion service. A lovely quiet way to start the day – no birds although we heard them singing. At 10.30 I was at Figheldean with the music group playing – this week they were mostly wind instruments with drums and keyboards, a very nice sound. After the service I spent a long time talking to Patrick and Ivor about all sorts of things including rainbows, birds and whales. They were delightful children and I couldn’t stop smiling at their views on nature and life in general. No birds but later I did sit in my garden with my mother watching a female blackbird gathering food for her offspring, she seemed to not mind how close we were to her and later we saw her offspring in all his glory.

It has been a delightful three days and I enjoyed the differences.

Trinity Sunday found me back in the parishes where I’ve been enjoying a parish pastoral visit.  Today was the turn at St Francis’ Church, on Castle Road.  It was a real mixed bag, eye opener, and privilege to be able to spend the morning there.

At 0800, we had a traditional Prayer Book Communion service, which was led by a retired priest.  Mike took such care over the whole service, and offered a helpful reflection after the Gospel.  Small number in the congregation, but very much appreciated by all.

At 0930, we had Morning prayer.  Here we had a robed choir and organ accompaniment, and a Daily Prayer style of liturgy.  An innovation was a set of responses and tones for the psalms which had been written by a former organist and a Franciscan brother.  They were very good, and the congregation and choir belted out the hymns and psalms.  I did notice that the reasonably sized congreation was very much older and female in composition, probably down to widowhood or non-church attending men. I preached a sermon on the Trinity, suggesting that community and living in the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit would bring the church as a credible and sought out place to be in today’s society.  More coffee!

At 1100, we had an informal worship, with a baptism.  The service was led by Paul, the Vicar, and accompanied by the music group that I met at the Awakenings! event blogged previously.  This service was much more in the style of worship songs, informal prayer, and full of families.  It was well taken by Paul, and he has a great style for interviewing guests [me!] and inviting people to participate.  We had a moving and inspiring testimony from a young man.  The sermon slot was me again, but I must admit that getting into the notes, I felt that the delivery needed to be much more focused on those actually here in church – so I abandoned the notes and tried to engage the congregation more appropriately.  Not sure what I did achieve!!  Then more coffee, and some great conversations with the congregation, who contained some potential ordinands, and some who have started training.

The pastoral visit events will go on, but do check out their website [http://www.st-francischurch.org.uk/] to see events such as the Picnic in the Park [3 July] Rockey’s Plaice Holiday club [24-27 August] and many other great events.  I’m looking forward to toddler worship next on my visit programme.  Thanks to you all.

SSF?  SSC? This time, not the Society of St Francis, nor the Society of the Holy Cross, but the Benefice of Sarum St Francis, and Stratford sub Castle, on the northern outskirts of Salisbury.  I’m starting another Parish Pastoral Visit – and regular blogwatchers will know that in the past this has been two or three days intensive visits within a particular place working alongside the local ministry team.  It is one of the best things about being an Archdeacon, seeing, listening, and reflecting on what God is doing in this world.

I’m with Rev Paul Taylor and Rev Gale Hunt, and their colleagues, and rather than the intensive two or three days, Paul has identified a number of events that he wants me to observe, and last night was the first.  Awakenings! is a Fresh Expression of church, held at Sarum St Francis church each Wednesday evening.  Once a month it is focused within worship in church, and the other evenings they meet for Bible study, prayer, and social activities, such as pub walks.  It is aimed at the twenty-thirty age group – so it is not a youth club, but aims to fill the gap that so many congregations seem to have.

We started at 1930, quite normal for church evening events.  We met at the back of church, where there is a cafe style seating area and coffee bar.  We had real, decent coffee!  And a selection of cakes [I swooped on the chocolate cornflakes] and then met up, introduced ourselves and chatted.  I chatted to people about what makes good church for them [mainly a warm welcome; that people will talk to them; the worship is attractive and accessible; and the message useful and encouraging for their daily lives]. Election hopes [a government that will help people into employment - several people are looking for first jobs] Family life [several people had very young children, or expecting new borns, and a church that can accommodate the whole family without any worries is important].

Around 2000 the worship began, lights were dimmed, and a music band led the worship songs.  The band was led by an acoustic guitar, and lead guitar, a bass guitar, drums and keyboards, with two vocalists.  The songs I noticed were mostly around the theme of hope in God, and assurance in Christ.  They were in the ballad style, and people tended to sit and listen then join in when they felt ready and able.  There was sofa seating at the front of the church, that was popular [Anglicans? Front of the church?]  Some stood at times, but mostly people sat, relaxed, and engaged with the worship as appropriate for them.  There was not much prayer, a little extempore prayer at one point, and then some prayer before and after the address. 

The address was on the theme of worship, and led by a teacher and mother, who had carefully researched the topic and took us through the Qs: What is worship? Why is worship important? Why worship?  Early in the address she engaged us by giving out sheets of paper with WORSHIP printed down the page and invited us to suggest words against each letter, which built up into a collage of expressions of what we all thought worship was.  She used helpful scripture texts, and reflected that children often are able to worship spontaneously, and that we should seek to be about to see worship as all day, every day, and ended with Ps 150.  We then stood to sing the final worship song and then at around 2130, ended.  Tidying up with the leadership group at the end, I had the opportunity to hear a little more about the ambitions of the service, and that some 25-40 people now regularly attend the event, from various churches across Salisbury, and from different denominations.

The start of the pastoral visit – a good start, and I’m looking forward to telling you more about what this benefice is doing to enable God’s mission and ministry in this place.  Check out their  website for details of this event and others: http://www.st-francischurch.org.uk/

On Saturday 13 November 2010 the Diocesan Music in Worship Day will take place at the Dorford Centre, Dorford Baptist Church, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset. The day will start with Opening Worship and will be followed by a keynote address from David Ogden. David is well known as a conductor and composer and is much in demand as a conductor and director of choral and church music workshops, courses and festivals in the UK and abroad. His unique mix of highly skilled music-making, inspirational teaching and leadership and sense of humour makes him an extremely popular choice for workshops of all kinds. He is Director of Music at Westbury-on-Trym parish church in Bristol and is also a Special Advisor for the Royal School of Church Music.

Following this there will an opportunity to attend a workshop in the morning and afternoon. The workshop leaders will include: Trevor Jarvis, who will specialise in Choral direction and plainchant; Paul Taylor, the Archdeacon of Sherborne, who will offer workshops on Music for Evensong and in the Eucharist; Robert Fielding who will offer organist workshops for beginners and non-beginners. Chris Moorsom and Steve Ball will lead workshops for Worship Groups, Glyn Bush and Ralph Cree provide sessions on rhythm and drumming and David Bruce-Payne will offer a chance to have a go at Music Composition.  The day finishes with all the groups coming together to make a joyful noise in the penary worship session.

Everyone is welcome to attend and booking forms and further details of workshops can be obtained from Jill Minchin at ‘Music in Worship’,8 Alexandra Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2LZ, email: salmusic@hotmail.co.uk  or telephone (01305 263757).

I’m very grateful to Sharon for acting as the guest editor  for last month’s parish magazine reviews.  I am always pleased to receive parish magazines, and always read them.  I try to pull out the innovative ideas from them, and wish to share the good news.  However, from time to time, it is good to get another’s perspective on the news. Thanks Sharon for a new pair of eyes on this aspect of our Area Life.

Benefice of St Bartholomew

Taking ‘fellowship’ to the max:  Benefice Autumn sailing trip. An epic journey to France crewed entirely by the benefice! Aboard the Morning Star 62ft Ketch ( a boat of elegant proportions by the sound of it!) take the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers and a bit of French shopping to boot! Sounds an ideal way to follow in the footsteps of the first ‘fishers of men’ and share some special time together. No sleepwalkers though!

 If you fancy something more rooted and on terra firma……try TOAST (time on a Sunday together) a family friendly start to the day….breakfast at 9.30! Semley School Hall each month. What a great idea to gather the whole church and domestic family together, and then move into church – gets the gossip and prayer foci sorted before the service.

 Arrowhead….the parish mag for Chitterne Orcheston, Shrewton and Tilshead must take this months prize for maximum use of space. I never thought it possible to get so much into an A5 MAGAZINE …

60 pages of info, events, recipes, ideas and news! Not to mention congratulations to Karen who raised £1200 on a Skydive for the New Life project (Baby Survival Equipment)

 The Bridge..and speaking of congratulations…..Well done to Woodford Valley Choir for their Merit Certificates at The Salisbury Music Festival…complimented for their ‘excellent tone and intonation’!

 Focus (Tisbury Community) offer something different in aid of The Sudan and Salisbury Hospice……..a talk on Catherine the Great by Professor of History and Politics at Moscow University: Ludmilla Selezvena.  There’s some church and culture for you! 

St Thomas Ensbury Park

[I know this is out of Area, but Alan's roots  go deep!]  If you fancy a bit more history get hold of the parish mag for St Thomas…they have a page of ‘dates in history’ for each month. Fascinating and useful at those awkward silences in coffee mornings! So brush up your general  knowledge…..April 20^th Napoleon’s birthday. 1^st April 1918 formation of RAF! Also useful for those fundraising quizzes!

 Whiteparish

Date for your diary if you can make it…….All Saints Church Choir sing Evensong at Southwark Cathedral…..a proud moment for all.  What a fine achievement for the parish choir to get to sing in a prestigious setting.

If you don’t see your parish magazine listed, why not send it to me?

Monday of Holy Week, and for all of my time as a member of the Bishop’s Staff, we have taken Monday of Holy Week as a Quiet Day.  Praying, reflecting, being together, being still, being attentive to the demands of the week, but also the need for being attentive to the inner call of Christ to journey with him through this week of all weeks.

Today we visited Roche Court, a private sculpture park at East Winterslow, on the Andover Road out of Salisbury.  You can visit the website and see for yourself some of the sculptures and the accommodation that we used, as well as the galleries: http://www.sculpture.uk.com/about/

The Bishop led the addresses this year – as this was yet another one of those “last” moments in this year when he  resigns his See.  He took us through some poetry, including George Herbert’s Easter and The Banquet, together with RS Thomas’ The Musician, and the anonymous Jesus Christ the Apple Tree.  The Bishop led us to meditate on the wood of the cross from which springs life, and the visual and aural concept that flowed from the tension and passion of music and art and words which led us into the reality of death and resurrection.  Excerps from Bach’s St John’s Passion helped us, as did pictures of the Christ Crucified.

I love looking at the sculpture, and you can see for yourself – it’s open most days 1100 – 1500, and no charge, but please make a generous donation to Salisbury Hospice while you are at the park.  Henry Moore, and Barbara Hepworth are more well know. Many favourites for me – but the Antony Gormley figures are stunning!  Angel of the North and Ecce Homo, are his most famous works I guess, as were the figures on the buildings of central London.

Some good space, some great sculpture and some good food.  A proper way to continue our journey through this week.

This last week has been an opera-fest for me, the Welsh National Opera came to Southampton and I went on three evenings.

The first was Mozart and in his comic mood, the opera was set on the Orient Express and the comic timing was very good. At times I couldn’t work out where to look as there was so much happening, often behind those singing. The evening felt very uplifting.

The second was Verdi and the drama of Tosca, a very powerful, passionate performance throughout. The evening left me in a thoughtful mood mulling over the way trust can be misplaced and emotions misread.

The final evening was Bizet and Carmen, another powerful and passionate performance but one that felt lighter than Tosca but still producing the thoughtfulness about relationships. However, the theme was again about emotions particularly love and people are killed because of that.

In all three the music was wonderful (even though in the later I sat near someone who thought they could sing the more well known parts!) and with subtitles I knew what the words were. I am in great awe of those who can put words and music together in such a powerful way.

During the past 48 hours I have experienced two different forms of rejuvinating which did not include any surgery proceedings or loads of money.

The first was at Netheravon on Sunday, I was invovled in what is known as The Triple Decker. At one point in the service there are three different activities happening in the church for three different age groups – a creche,a Sunday school and the main service which adults attend. We are joined at the beginning and the end. This Sunday the music group played (I can’t remember if they play for every Triple Decker) and it added another dimension to the worship for me. There were electric piano, accoustic guitar, clarinet, (and here I show my ignorance) I think there was a violin and viola but it may have been two violins. With them were two singers. I was able to hear them run through the music before the service and knew that they were good but it was not until the serive that I realised how much they added to the whole. Not only with their musical skills but with choice of music. – Thank you.

The other time was Monday evening when I began my evening class in jewellery making. I was quite nervous at the beginning with the usual feelings of will I like the others, will I be less able than them, will I be able to find the place etc. By the end of the two hours I realised that all my fears were groundless and that I had spent two hours talking about creative things and finding that I can cut glass. If the rest of the weeks are like this the benefits will not only be new pieces of jewellery but a rejuvinated Rachel.

Both experiences have underlined the fact the I don’t need anything more drastic to regain my sense of balance and that for me music and creative are elements that I have to have in my life. My own small Fully Alive programme.

I’ve been enjoying this month’s array of Parish Magazines, which come through my door in the first week of every month.  I read each one, and delight in the variety of news, messages from the minister, and good ideas that they offer.  I thought I’d pass on some of these:

Downton Parish News: A group called the Trinity FUNders, who raise funds for the new heating system going into St Laurence’s Church [not sure why the Trinity?] offer a selection of events – Festive fun with Flowers; Sugarcraft Workshops; and a Community Christmas Card, which people sign in lieu of sending lots of cards to individuals, and then give the money to the FUNders.

The Bridge [Woodford ValleyParish]: I always enjoy reading the activities of the Woodford Valley Investment Club, a group of people who have put some interest into the stock market, and tell of their success and failures.  They are doing well at the moment – having taken profits on Caledon [coal] and sold Dignity [funeral directors] and have recently bought more BP and China.  Their homework before the next meeting will include research in Emerging Metals, Billing Services, and Alternative Sources of Energy. It means virtually nothing to me, but I am fascinated and almost tempted, and I do enjoy reading about it!

Arrowhead [Parishes of Chitterne, Orcheston, Shrewton & Tilshead]: Clearly a gastronomic month for the Plain Parishes, as they plan a Christmas Coffee morning for the church in Shrewton; Sudan lunches to support the Medical Link; Shrewton Girl Guides Cook Out, with strawberry, chocolate and marshmallow tortilla wraps [!];Shrewton and Till Valley Country Market, offering local producers a retail outlet; a coffee party for Avondale, a home for adults with learning difficulties; and a recipe for Moist Chocolate Cake. Mmm!

Steeple and Street [Whiteparish]: A whole list of social events over these next few weeks, including Firework display, Quiz evening, 100+ Club Social evening, Burns Night Party, Friendship Club Christmas shopping trip, Christmas Market, and I liked the idea of the Out and About Club, who had a wine and cheese tasting evening, which will be followed by a Curry Night at the local pub, and a trip to the Playhouse theatre in Salisbury. 

Focus [Parishes of the Nadder Valley]: Are forming a group to sing Compline during Advent this year; are singing a “Come and Sing” Brahms’ Requiem; and running  a number of film nights in the local Victoria Hall.  A particular interest might be found in their “Antiques Road Show” in January, which I expect will involve local experts offering advice and valuations on the contents of your attic.  Fascinating!

Parish News [The Donheads and Charlton, East Knoyle, Sedgehill and Semley]: Music is a main focus for gathering together as a community this Advent.  A Benefice Joint Choir will form to sing Advent Carols at Semley; Advent Praise, an evening of words and music at East Knoyle; and the Mill Singers, male voice choir will sing to raise funds for the Childrens’ Trust.  The Snowball lunches [a cascade of hospitality] mentioned in an earlier blog is doing well, with well over £1000 raised.

Want to see your magazine reviewed?  Then send it in to me, and I promise to read it!