Well, I asked for volunteers, and this evening I was absolutely delighted to see lots of smiling new faces! Handel's "And the glory" is going to be great.

(Someone tells me that the local newspaper has picked it up wrong and is saying we're singing the whole Messiah. No, we aren't - so there will be plenty of time for you to finish wrapping your gifts after our evening carol service!

As well as the augmented choir, and the other choir contributions, and the congregational carolling, and the kids singing, there will be bible readings and a couple of seasonal poems. Don't miss it!

Advance notice of some of the goodies in store for you at the Christmas Carol Service on 21st December:

Our children are joining the Choir to sing "Away in a manger" and "Once in Royal David's City". This is the first time they've been involved in this service, so please give them your support!

Also - a brand-new carol dedicated to our Minister. (Well, he wrote in the Newsletter that he was notching up "first baptism, first wedding, first Christmas" and so on, so it seemed only right that he should have a "first dedicated carol" to add to the collection ...)

And, just in case you missed the church notices this morning - the choir is also singing "And the Glory of the Lord" from The Messiah, during the Carol Service.
If you've sung it before and would enjoy singing it again - please come and join the choir just to sing this one "big number". You're welcome to attend Thursday choir practice on 11th or 18th December to have a quick run-through. We already have two volunteers. Twenty-two would be absolutely fantastic!

Tis the season to be jolly,
Sniffle, snuffle, splutter,
Cough, cough, cough ....!

As your caring, sharing organist, I thought I'd offer a few suggestions to get through this awful damp, cold-ridden season:-

- Many folk swear by zinc, echinacea, & vitamin C - how effective are they? (Click on the link to find out!)
- visit the BBC website to find out how garlic prevents the common cold
- I discovered this intriguing weblink to the Scottish Really Garlicky Company - who wants to be the first to try it out?!

Lastly, if you're a member of Killermont's congregation - please be forbearing if we are low in numbers due to seasonal indisposition!!

Well, did you make it to our Celtic Praise? I felt it went quite well, didn't you? My grateful thanks to everyone who participated in any way in making the event such a success. (We have every reason to be grateful to Rev John Bell of the Iona Community, too - he's one of the guiding lights behind Common Ground. Click on this link to read more about him.)

Incidentally, I was gently scolded for not including any Welsh Celtic music, so maybe one day my choice of music might just reflect my own half-Welsh background ... Because I know I'm not alone in Killermont!

What next? Advent begins next Sunday. How can it have crept up on us so fast? (I tell you, I had a nightmare the other day - it was Christmas morning already, and Santa had nothing for the stockings ...!)

For anyone keen to know what the choir will be singing, I'm helpfully posting our "menu" for December:-

KILLERMONT ADVENT 2O03

30 November : 1st Sunday in Advent & card Communion

Introit CFC 35 p.162 Whence is that goodly fragrance (v.1 & 3)
Anthem CFC 39 p.182 The angels and the shepherds
Recess CG 28 v.2 Hear the herald’s proclamation

7 December 2nd Sun in Advent : Bible Sunday & Baptism

Introit Archer p.8 Balulalow : My Jesus ; Malcolm Archer
Anthem Archer p.9 Hush my dear, lie still ; Malcolm Archer
Recess Archer p.8 Balulalow : No, I will never cease my praise

14 December : 3rd Sun in Advent & Gift Service

Introit SGP 45 How lovely on the mountains
Anthem CFC 49 page 212 Patapan ; arr. Jacques
Recess Beside Thy cradle here I stand

21 December 4th Sun in Advent

Introit CH3 194 v.1 Love came down at Christmas
Anthem Archer p.43 The Virgin’s lullaby ; Malcolm Archer
Recess SGP 8 Hallelujah, my Father

Lessons & Carols (evening) - miss this at your peril! It's going to be great!

Introit Archer p.20 Lute book lullaby ; Malcolm Archer
Carol 1 CFC 6 p.16 Nativity carol ; John Rutter
Carol 2 CFC 28 p.123 The shepherds’ cradle song ; Leuner
Carol 3 Archer p.6 Away in a manger (children v.1)
Carol 4 Archer p.31 Once in Royal David’s city (children v.1)
Carol 5 CFC 25 p.107 Sans Day carol ; arr. John Rutter
Recess Messiah . And the Glory of the Lord ; Handel

Congregational items as follows:-

Hymn 1 CH3 165 O come, O come Emmanuel (v.1 choir)
Hymn 2 CH3 170 It came upon the midnight clear
Hymn 3 CH3 176 Still the night, holy the night (with descant)
Hymn 4 CH3 191 O come all ye faithful (with descant)

24 December Watchnight

25 December Christmas

28 December

Introit CFC 4 p.12 All my heart this night rejoices
Anthem Archer p.22 Mary had a baby
Recess CFC 4 p.12 [verse 3] Come then, let us hasten

Now you positively HAVE to come to our Celtic Praise service on Sunday night - our piper will be wearing his birthday suit. Well, um, not exactly, but certainly a new birthday outfit. And very smart I'm sure he'll look, too!

To anyone who was worrying about the Rebel Rabbit - I'm told it gets out regularly, but to date has always come home safely. (And no, it wasn't either of the Manse bunnies, either! They haven't learned how to escape yet.)

Back from Berlin and Dessau - wow, what a weekend! (Did my husband HAVE to phone me on Sunday lunchtime - when I was looking at a mediaeval bible in a hushed church exhibition area - just to ask how to roast potatoes?!)

Anyway, here I am back and raring to go. I'm looking forward the Celtic Praise on Sunday 23rd November at 6.30 pm. I've already hinted that there will be a wide variety of instruments involved, and I'm not about to spill the beans - just wait and see!

Singers and instrumentalists, we're going to meet after the morning service on Sunday on 23rd November, to run through arrangements. I hope we'll get everything sorted out so that we don't need an afternoon practice!

Here follows the full programme. Wearing tartan is optional!

Before the service: clarsach music played by well-known clarsach professional, Karen Marshalsay

Introit: CG127 The Lord’s my shepherd v.1 (Brother James’ Air)
Welcome
Prayer

CG138 We cannot measure (Kelvingrove)

CG66 Jesus calls us here
CG112 Sing to God with gladness

How lovely is thy dwelling place (Choir and organ)

Reading: Psalm 69
Harp Meditation (Karen Marshalsay)
Prayer

CG78 Lord of life (Lynn Keating, soprano, and Karen Marshalsay, clarsach)

CG146 Whoever lives beside the Lord
CG60 I waited patiently
CG82 Mallaig Sprinkling Song

Sermon

CG117 Spirit of God

CG39 Glory to God above

Benediction

CG148 Will you come and follow me (verse 1)

Now, watch this space, because my next contribution will mention our Advent and Christmas arrangements.

What a morning! It began with a cat up a tree, and ended with a rabbit in the garden. In between, we had the choir singing Babylon's Fall (the first time this millenium, I guarantee); cool kids learning a rock chorus; and assorted characters from Bob the Builder to assist the minister in his children's address. Let's build, and don't let's procrastinate, was the message.

The cat, you'll be pleased to hear, was rescued by Lynn's husband, who I'm told is "an absolute hero". I've no idea what happened to the bunny, or indeed to whom it belonged.

Choir practice as usual at 7.30 pm on Thursday, folks, but you will have a visiting organist next Sunday, as I am escaping to Berlin to visit my penfriends for the weekend.

Well, did you enjoy our Praise Him with Trumpets? Our thanks to David and his brass quartet for their vigorous leadership of our singing on Sunday night! I've received some very favourable comments, so thank you to everyone who took part. The choir's "God's gonna set this world on fire" went down well, too. (So we'll be performing it again very soon!)

This Sunday morning, the choir will be singing something very different - Babylon's Fall, by John Beaumont. Who was Beaumont? Well, he seems to have been an Englishman who wrote a book of hymns in 1801, called the "New harmonic magazine or compendious repository of sacred music in full score". (Makes our hymn-book titles sound punchy by comparison, doesn't it?) Beaumont's book includes our anthem. The words of Babylon's Fall are attributed to Isaac Watts and are derived from the Book of Revelations. And I found the music copied out in some nineteenth century manuscripts from Dundee. Here's the interesting part. John Beaumont expressly wrote that "if any person chuses to alter my composition, let them remember it is not with my consent". The Dundee owner of the manuscripts was clearly unaware of the prohibition, and seems to have altered things merrily and with gay abandon! Including (choir, please note!) transposing it down a tone. Who said copyright was a new problem?

Now, I just need to type the final version of the Celtic Praise service, then I can start thinking about Christmas ...

Celtic Praise - 6.30 pm on Sunday 23rd November
Killermont Parish Church, Rannoch Drive, Bearsden (Glasgow)

Praise Him with Trumpets hasn't even taken place yet, and already I'm working on the programme for our Celtic Praise towards the end of November. Regard it as an early St Andrew's Day celebration if you like - other things are happening on the 30th, so it had to be early!

I can't wait to tell you what's in store for you, but it hasn't been finalised yet - so I suppose I'd better not spill the beans. Let's just say there will be a huge range of instruments, not to mention singers, piano and organ. I've drawn together a pool of really good Scottish songs from Common Ground, and the choir will be singing our favourite "How lovely is Thy dwelling place" to a well-known Scottish tune.

I've booked the flutes, the fiddles, the saxophone ... I'd better remember to phone the bagpiper next!

It's going to be very definitely Celtic in flavour, and uplifting in mood. Join us there!

Oh happy day - I got my brass quartet arrangement of "Jerusalem" done just after midnight so I was able to hand it over to our Quartet Maestro this morning. But of course, because "Jerusalem" doesn't meet with universal approval, we are singing it to the words of a psalm instead. I played it over on my computer and I must say that it sounds quite promising. Over to you, Maestro!

I'm looking forward to our Praise Him With Trumpets evening service next week (26th October at 6.30 pm). It should be joyous, bright and breezy - and just a little louder than usual! Let's dress correspondingly brightly to fit the occasion.

Celtic Praise, on the evening of November 23rd, will be different again. But you'll have to watch this space to find out more about it, as plans are still being made. Regard it as an early St Andrew's Day special...

It's the mid-term break this week, folks (as though anyone could have missed it!) -- so as a special treat, don't forget there is no choir practice this Thursday (16th October). I shall be in London on business that day.

However, I look forward to seeing everyone next Sunday, when we'll have a quick get-together before the service to run over the choir music.

My name is Karen McAulay, and I'm the Organist and Choirmistress at Killermont Parish Church. I'm going to post details of choral contributions Sunday by Sunday, but for now I'll just outline tomorrow's music.

Introit - Take the time to call my name (Common Ground 122 verses 1 & 2)
Anthem - Turn Thy face from my sins (Attwood ; CAB 95 page 512)
Recessional - Take the tiredness of my days (CG 122 verses 3 & 5)

Our Minister is preaching a series of sermons on the Lord's Prayer, and I hope that the theme of the anthem will tie in with this.

Advance notice! Another of our evening Sunday Praise services is coming up, on Sunday 26th October. If I tell you it's entitled "Praise Him with trumpets", then you can probably guess that there will be guest instrumentalists. Last month's evening Praise service had a modern slant, so this month we're going to be a bit more traditional. The Choir will hopefully be out in force, and everyone can be guaranteed of a Good Sing!

Only hours later, and I'm back! I thought I'd post the list of choral contributions from next week until the 23rd November. (After that, it's time for Advent and Christmas - yes, I'm thinking about it already.)

So, here goes:-

19 October
Introit Songs of God’s People 19, v.1 Christ be beside me
Anthem CAB 60 p.293 O Lord my God to Thee ; Arcadelt
This anthem is a special favourite of mine!
Rec SGP 62 v.1 Lead us, O Father, in the paths of peace

26 October
Introit SGP 107 v.2 Though we pass through tribulation
Anthem SFP 1E Blessed is the man
Rec SGP 29 v.4 You, creator God, have written

2 November
Introit CG 51 v.1 How can I keep from singing
Anthem Babylon’s fall ; John Beaumont, pre-1813
(found copied into an old Dundee manuscript, presumably from a printed book)
Rec SPF 126 When the Lord He turned again

9 November (Remembrance)
Introit CG 71 v.3 With the healing of division
Anthem CG 141 What shall we pray
Rec Abide with me ; Hogan

16 November (Youth)
Introit CG 21 Christ be our light
Anthem God’s gonna set this world on fire ; Hogan
Rec CG 112 Sing to God with gladness

23 November
Introit AB 79 O that Thou had hearkened ; Gounod
Anthem CG 95 O Lord the clouds are gathering
Rec CG 133 Today I awake