If you would like to know what the words were, for 'The Hillwalker's Benediction' last Sunday, then I'll copy them here:-

The heather soft beneath my tread,
The bothy where I rest my head;
If I my maker's touch would feel,
Scenes such as these my sorrows heal.
For Scotland's grandeur,
In sunshine or in rain,
Is a symphony in nature
To restore my soul again.
If I'm made to know such beauty,
If it's truly made for me,
Such a harmony of purpose
Must affirm God's deity.

Copyright Karen E McAulay, 2004.

While I rehearsed the choir this evening, a disaster was unfolding at home. Our youngest son had just gone to bed, when he came back downstairs in a complete panic. He told our babysitter that he had just swallowed a small metal ball from a construction game. What induced him to do something so stupid, when he was meant to be going to sleep, I can't imagine! The babysitter dialled 999, and apparently we had the ambulance with sirens blaring, lights flashing, paramedics with an oxygen tank - except that he was actually okay. He wasn't choking - he had literally swallowed it.

I went to Yorkhill with him, where they waved a metal-detector over his tummy and agreed that yes, something was in there, but it would pass through with no further bother. He thought it was all a very exciting adventure. We have to go back for another metal-detector scan in a fortnight – at 10 am on Thursday 9th December, just for a check-up.

Earlier in the afternoon, the poor wee soul got a bump on his head when he tripped over on the way home from school. You could say it hasn’t been his day!

And at 00.58, I am shattered. Good night!

21 November 2004

The organ music before the service was Bach's Air on a G string, followed by Ashokan Farewell, by Jay Ungar.

Our visiting clarsach player, Karen Marshalsay, played during the offering.

The outgoing organ voluntary was England's Glory, by Nigel Ogden.

Forthcoming Choir music (Advent and Christmas)

It might be of interest to you to know what the Choir will be singing for the next few weeks:-

5 December

Introit CFC2 (orange) 27 p.120 O come O come Emmanuel
Anthem CAB 48 p.231 Mary’s Magnificat ; Carter
Recessional CFC2 (orange) 3 p.10 Adam lay y-bounden ; Ord

6.30 PM CHOIR GOES TO BUCHANAN HOUSE

12 December

Introit Archer p.34 v 1 The Linden tree carol ; Archer
Anthem Archer p.14 In dulci jubilo ; Archer
Recessional CFC2 (orange) 35 p.162 Bethlehem, there (v.3) ; arr. Willcocks

19 Dec am

Introit Archer p.18 verse 2 Flocks were sleeping ; Archer
Anthem Archer p.29 Rise up, shepherds ; Archer
Recessional CFC2 (orange) 6 p.16 Nativity carol : Born in a stable so fair ; Rutter

19 Dec pm LESSONS AND CAROLS

Introit CFC3 (blue) 2, p.15 A babe is born in Bethlehem (vv 1-2)
Lighting of Advent Candle & Call to Worship
Praise CH3 165 O come, o come, Emmanuel

1st Lesson Isaiah 40, vs.3-5
Choir Carol CFC3 (blue) 19, p.74 Jesus Child (vv 1,2,4,5) ; Rutter
Prayer
Praise CH3 193 Once in royal David’s city

2nd Lesson Mark 1, vs.1-7
Choir Carol CFC3 (blue) 20, p.86 He smiles within his cradle ; arr.
Willcocks
Praise CH3 176 Still the night

3rd Lesson Luke 1, vs.26-38
Choir Carol Archer, p.11 I saw three ships – with children
Prayers
Praise CH3 190 Christians, awake

4th Lesson Luke 2, vs.1-7
Choir Carol See the baby in a manger ; McAulay
Offering
Offering Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

5th Lesson Luke 2, vs.8-20
Choir Carol CFC3 (blue) 29 p.123 King Jesus hath a garden, vv.1,3,5
arr. Rutter
Praise CH3 191 O come, all ye faithful
Benediction & 3-fold Amen

Choir sing “Glory to God”, from Handel’s Messiah (no.17, p.68)


24 Dec 11.30 PM Watchnight

25 Dec 11 am Family worship

26 Dec

Int CH3 203 v.4 Joyful, joyful, all you people
Anthem Archer p.22 Mary had a baby
Recessional Archer p.50 Of his love and mercy mild (vv.4-5)

2 Jan

Introit CH3 611 O God, our help in ages pas
Anthem CFC3 (blue) 7, p.31 Flemish carol ; arr. Rutter
Recessional CFC3 (blue) 9, p.40 v.5 Jesus, whom the Gentiles worshipped

Today, you heard - carefully chosen for Remembrance Sunday -

Pie Jesu, and Agnus Dei, from Faure's Requiem
An introduction to the last hymn - the tune for "God of the nations"
"Nimrod", from Elgar's Enigma Variations

The truth will out - the new "Gaelic-sounding" tune is actually called Govan Cross - because that's where it first saw daylight. I'm afraid it is no more Gaelic than your organist! However, if the proof of the pudding is in the eating, then the proof of the tune must be in the singing. And it did turn out to be singable!

This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. Alan has found a great new hymn to end the service, "God of the Nations" - the words are very apt. Finding a tune was challenging, but I'm pleased with the result. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Where did she get to?

Relax - the organist is back! After Church on Sunday, I nipped down to Norwich for a very quick visit, just to reassure myself that my Ageing Father really is recovered after his operation and ill-health earlier this Autumn. I'm happy to report that he does seem much better.

Yesterday was spent recovering (and trying to do a decent day's work) after the trip, so this is my first opportunity to post anything on Killermont Praise!

On Sunday, you heard:-
Prelude in blue, by Blinko
Sunday morning swing, by Mawby

- and as the outgoing voluntary, John played The trumpet shall sound, from Handel's Messiah. Wasn't it great?

This coming Sunday, hymns are taken from Common Ground, The Church Hymnary, and two hymns are in neither. All will be printed on the order of service and projected onto The Big Screen.

The Choir will be singing:-

Introit - Thou knowest, Lord (Purcell)
Anthem - Kyrie = Lord, have mercy, from The armed man (Karl Jenkins)
Recessional - God be in my head (Walford Davies)

And next week - just wait for this - the Choir is singing "The hillwalker's Benediction" - music by RSAMD Lecturer Eric Rice, words by "yours truly", clarsach played by eminent proponent of the art, Karen Marshalsay, and violin by Helen Dale. Be there!

What do you need to bring to Killermont tomorrow? Yourselves. Your youngsters. Because it's a Youth Service, on the theme of The light of God.

Everything will be on the order of service, and on The Big Screen. (Bring your CH3, Common Ground and Songs of God's People if you need them, but most folk will manage fine without.)

And the band played on. You'll hear the praise band, the choir, the organ, the piano - and John (our new Youth Worker), who turns out to be a virtuosic trumpeter to add to his youth working and vaulting skills. (Ask any member of the Boys' Brigade about the latter.)

The choir starts off with a rock/blues influence, then turns to an updated Negro spiritual, Ain't that good news?, during the offering. (Wouldn't they look great in kaftans? I keep telling them!)

The uniformed organisations will all be there, and hopefully a good helping of their mums and dads. The place will be packed. Don't miss it!