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.