Sunday 26th June - a sunny Sunday

Before the service:-

• On the lake ; Heinrich Hofmann
• Arioso ; J S Bach
• Memories of Childhood ; Granados
• Trumpet tune ; Charpentier

And the trumpet tune prompted memories of his own wedding-day, for our minister. Appropriate, since he was preaching about Jesus' changing the water into wine at the wedding feast. And a bride-to-be liked the Charpentier piece so much that it is to be played at her own wedding later this year!

By process of association, the rest of the organ music had to be celebratory. So, the music during the offering was Funiculi, funicula, by Denza. (The words celebrate singing and dancing.) And the outgoing voluntary was Verdi's Drinking Song, from La Traviata.

However, amidst all this frivolity, let's not forget more serious matters. Please continue to pray for members of the congregation who are sick, or who have family members in need of our prayers. We give thanks for operations successfully endured, and pray for continued recovery and an increase in strength. We pray for consultants, surgeons, nurses, and give thanks for their expertise. And we pray for the relatives of those suffering, that they may have continued strength to support their loved ones.

Nothing if not topical - torrential rain outside prompted me to play rainy music inside, on Sunday 19th June :-

• When sunny gets blue
• Raindrop prelude ; Chopin
• Pavane ; Paul Drayton

During the offering, the Choir sang a Caribbean Lord's Prayer.

The outgoing voluntary was The Hornburg, from the Lord of the Rings (by special request).

I've been so SLOW to catch on! I've been searching the web for good prayers - prayers that would say exactly what I wanted them to say. But, I hear you say, why waste time searching?

Quite so. So, I've written my own. Here's An Organist's Prayer:-

Dear Lord,

We thank you for the many blessings that we in the western world enjoy. In particular today, we thank you for the medical profession and for the knowledge that allows them to treat us when we are ill. We thank you too for the constant care that they show us, for their willingness to listen to our complaints and their continuing efforts both in diagnosis and treatment. We thank you for research into surgical procedures and new pharmaceutical products - and we pray that all these blessings might be made available to those less fortunate than ourselves in other parts of the world.

We thank you for taking care of people near and dear to us, and rejoice when we hear of improvements in their condition. At the same time, though, we pray for patience when things aren't going quite so well, and for the strength to keep on going at times when things seem very hard. Help us to remember that all things are in your hands.

When we make music, help us remember that using this gift can in itself be a form of prayer, if it is an expression of gratitude for the many and varied gifts that you give to your people.

And help us, please, to remember that you aren't just there for the bad times, but for the good times as well. If we are in a crisis situation now, help us not to forget to give thanks to you when things are going well, too.

And all these things we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

The Christian fellowship at Killermont Parish Church of Scotland (Bearsden, Glasgow) were heartened to hear that our brother and sister's daughter came through major surgery "remarkably well" last Tuesday. There's a long way to go, and further treatment to be endured, but let's keep praying for a steady improvement.

Pray for the faith of the Roman officer in Matthew 8 (5-13), and read on just a few more verses - such is the power of healing.

The music played today?

• Before the service: Sarabande, by Arnold Cooke; Berceuse by Ernest Tomlinson, and Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, arranged by Burleigh.
• Offering : Prelude, by C. S. Lang
• Postlude : Toccata in 7, by John Rutter

Members of the Killermont church family in Bearsden, Glasgow, have a burden of prayer for someone seriously ill at the moment.

I've plundered the WorldPrayers.org website again - they're very happy for me to promote their website, so I can quite comfortably quote this prayer for doctors and nurses:-

Lord God, Giver of Life, Source of all healing, who alone can help us grow in wholeness: We thank you for the gift of life and health, and remembering your faithful servants Cosmus and Damian, we ask you to guide and uphold all doctors, surgeons, hospital staffs and all engaged in the ministry of healing together with those they serve, that disease and disunity may everywhere be overcome; through Christ the Divine Healer, who suffered and died, and lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, our God of Salvation, now and always.

Amen.

(Parish prayer - St. Cosmus & St. Damian in the Blean)

Please join me in saying this prayer for medical workers and sick people everywhere, and especially for anyone dear to you.

• I thought I should make the effort to discover who St. Cosmus and St. Damian were, and where the Parish Church of St. Cosmus & St. Damian in the Blean is situated. So, if it helps you to know where the prayer originated, I can tell you that it's in Canterbury, Kent (England).

Update: It would be inappropriate to post a running commentary on our friends' situation. For now, please give thanks that the operation has taken place, and let's also give thanks for the skills of the medical team who are doing their best for those suffering from severe illness.
Your continued prayers are much appreciated.

The prayer below is from a website called WorldPrayers.org . It's a personal prayer by B.Madaras. The people at World Prayers are very happy for me to share this with you.

Members of Killermont will be aware of a family suffering terribly right now because a daughter is seriously ill, about to have yet another operation. This prayer is dedicated to them.

Heavenly Father, I call on you right now in a special way.
It is through your power that I was created.
Every breath I take,
every morning I wake,
and every moment of every hour,
I live under your power.
Father, I ask you now to touch me with that same power.
For if you created me from nothing,
you can certainly recreate me.
Fill me with the healing power of your spirit.
Cast out anything that should not be in me.
Mend what is broken.
Root out any unproductive cells.
Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild any damaged areas.
Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection.
Let warmth of your healing love pass through my body
to make new any unhealthy areas
so that my body will function the way you created it to function.
And Father, restore me to full health
in mind and body so that I may serve you the rest of my life.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Organ music played today, Sunday 5th June 2005:-

Beforehand:

Sanctuary of the heart, by Ketelby
Chanson de Matin, by Elgar

During the offering: Resignation, by Bossi

Postlude: I know that my Redeemer liveth, by Handel

Sunday 24th April - and my apologies for not posting anything about the music at Killermont Parish Church recently.

Today, I played:

On the wings of a dove (Veni Creator), by American J. G. Barr
An organ arrangement of a song by Satie
Chariots of fire, by Vangelis. (Well, knowing that this afternoon there is a marathon run, a football match and the Erskine Bridge crossing, it seemed appropriate to have a sporting theme!)

I should like to mention a song workshop called Freedom is in your head! This workshop with South African songs is being held at Renfield St Stephen's Church, Bath Street, Glasgow, on Tuesday 3rd May from 7 pm until 9.30 pm. Most music will be sung by ear, and anyone is welcome. To find out more, contact Victoria at the Iona Community Office on
0141 332 6343
- or email victoria.rudebark@gla.iona.org.uk

Finally - this week I have heard sad news about the serious illnesses of a colleague, and a friend's daughter. In both cases, anyone who knows them would protest that "surely they're too young" for what has happened to them. Alas, illness is no respecter of age.

• Please pray for these sufferers and their medical teams, and also for their families and friends.
• If you are blessed with good health, give thanks! It's something we don't value until we lose it, isn't it?

Easter greetings to all in Killermont!

This is the organ music I played today:

• Allein Gott in der Hoh ; Pachelbel
• Easter hymn : Jesus Christ is risen today ; Archer
• Alleluia (from Exultate, jubilate) ; Mozart
• Trumpet tune on "Hail the day that sees Him rise" (Llanfair) ; David Lasky
• John's trumpet solo, This joyful Eastertide (Vreuchten) ; Lasky
• Herr Gott, dich loben wir alle ; Volckmar

Our greetings go to Jean, church secretary extraordinaire, coming home today after a hip replacement operation. All good wishes for a speedy recovery, Jean. Our thoughts are with you as you take those first steps!

Lastly, while you scoff your Easter eggs and enjoy your Sunday roast, maybe you might like to look at the work of Plan - an agency improving the lives of people in the third world. There are some interesting alternative gift ideas for any time of year.

For the person who has everything - why not "give" them something that will benefit those who have nothing?

It's Easter tomorrow. Are you ready for a 7.30 am service? (Not forgetting that you'll have put your clocks forward before going to bed tonight. Yawn!)

So, what have we got? A 7.30 am service, with breakfast to follow. And the normal 10 am service - with a difference. Youthworker John will be blowing his own trumpet, literally, at the end of the service. And if that doesn't send you home with a spring in your step, then nothing will!

What will I be playing before the service? Wait and see ...

Well, Palm Sunday is one day where the music just chooses itself. In the morning, I played:-

• The Palms, by Faure;
• Settings of "Herzlich thut mich verlangen" (O, sacred head, sore wounded), by Bach, Zollner and Walther;
• O Mensch, bewein, by Bach (it's such a mournful piece. I always remember lying ill in bed with glandular fever when I was 18, and my father playing that piece on the piano downstairs);
• Nun danket, by Karg Elert

In the evening, Killermont Parish Church had visiting musicians in the shape of Rita McGhee's musical twin grand-daughters, Abbey and Aisling (violin and piano respectively). Didn't they do well? Rita can rightly feel very proud of them!

Don't forget to put your clocks forward on Saturday night. Get to bed early - the dawn Easter communion service is at 7.30 am, British Summer Time. What an unearthly hour to be driving from the south-side to Bearsden!

By the end of the service, we shall all be sufficiently awake - and hungry - to do our Easter breakfast justice!

There's another service at 10 am, of course. But no breakfast after it.

After a cyber silence ...

I realise with shame that I haven't posted details of Killermont organ music for a whole month. It will now be of no relevance whatsoever.

Today is Palm Sunday. Don't forget that there is an evening service tonight, entitled Contemplating the Cross. We have talented young musicians playing before and after the service, choral contributions old and new, inspirational readings ... and your favourite seasonal hymns. Don't miss it!

Did you read The Herald today?
As far as housing is concerned, Killermont has the tenth top postcode in the whole of Scotland.
I washed my car that little bit more carefully, knowing it was going to be parked in such a posh location while I practised this afternoon!

Last week (13th February) was Communion Sunday in Killermont.
This was the organ music played :-

Before the service:
Suite Gothique, op.25 (1st - 3rd movements) ; Boellmann
The armed man . Kyrie ; Karl Jenkins
Communion:
Canon ; Pachelbel
Outgoing voluntary:
March on a theme by Handel, op.15 ; Guilmant

2nd service
Before the service:
Panis angelicus ; Franck
Communion:
Prelude in the phrygian mode ; Tallis
God be in my head ; Walford Davies
Outgoing voluntary:
Entr'acte from Rosamunde ; Schubert


WIPE OUT DEBT IN 2005 - THE JUBILEE DEBT CAMPAIGN
This campaign was mentioned in the Notices last Sunday. Find out more ...

Killermont Parish Church had its Quinquennial Visitation this week. What could an organist pull out of the hat that was appropriate to the occasion?

Aha! You didn't realise, did you? Before the service, I played a movement from Schubert's Trout Quintet, and then Bach's C minor Fantasia in five parts. Somewhere in my repertoire, I have an outgoing voluntary with 5 beats to the bar, but unfortunately I couldn't remember which book it was in. Neither did I have the music for other tunes suggested to me anonymously. So, thwarted in my endeavours, I turned to opera for inspiration.

During the offering, you heard Puccini's Nessun Dorma, and the outgoing voluntary was Meyerbeer's Coronation march.

Now it's time to promote our evening service on Palm Sunday. At 6.30 pm on Sunday 26th March, the Choir will be leading a Lenten meditation, entitled Contemplating the Cross. You are invited to join us in Killermont Parish Church, Bearsden, Glasgow, for an hour of quiet contemplation. There will be contributions from the Choir, appropriate readings and hymns, and a time of prayer.

Last week, your organist was snuffling feverishly in Poland. Not a good time to go down with a cold. Whilst in Poland, I visited Majdanek, a concentration camp just outside Lublin. With snow on the ground and temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius, it was a bleak place. Imagine those huts with hundreds of malnourished, sick and weary souls - truly terrible. They weren't treated as human beings - and the perpetrators hardly deserve to be described as humans either. Such atrocities must NEVER be allowed to happen again.

Hilary Jones ably deputised in my absence. I returned on Tuesday, getting off the plane at Luton to discover that I was half-deaf. (In answer to questions as to which half, I can only say that you can say what you like behind my back - and I can hear low notes better than high ones!) It would be convenient to blame any mistakes on my temporary deafness, but in truth it was more likely my fingers that were to blame. I'm not over-impressed by Sudofed, recommended by my GP - I'm still half-deaf!

Before the service today, the good folk of Killermont heard 'Coronach' (Edgar Barratt), and two Burns' songs - 'My love is like a red, red rose' and 'Flow gently, sweet Afton'.

During the offering, you heard 'Lascia ch'io pianga' (Handel), and the outgoing voluntary - in deference to Alan's sermon - was 'The arrival of the Queen of Sheba'.

On the 9th January 2005, I began with Gabriel's oboe (Morricone), then played Candle in the wind (Elton John). During the offering, you heard Colours of day, and God's gonna set this world on fire. The outgoing voluntary was Handel's Fireworks Music. Those who were there will realise that the "fire" theme linked in with Alan's children's address.

Today, 16th January, you heard Mozart's Gloria from the 12th Mass, and a Festival prelude on "Old 113th" (Gilbert M. Martin). During the offering, I played Purcell's Rondeau and Air. The outgoing voluntary was Hymn to joy (Beethoven).

Next week, 23rd January, my colleague Hilary will be deputising whilst I enjoy a weekend visiting my Polish penfriend near Warsaw.

Spring 2005 Killermont Choral Contributions. Take a look, and find out what Killermont Parish Church Choir will be singing from now until Easter:-

9 January
Introit CH3 408 v.1 Happy are they
Anth CFC 3 no.48 p.190 We three kings
Rec CH3 198 v.3 This is he, whom seers

16 January
Int CH3 482 v.1 Yield not to temptation
Anth SFP Blessed is the man
Rec SGP 2 A new commandment

23 January
Int CG 50 v.1 Here I am, Lord
Anth CG 82 v.1 and 2 Mallaig sprinkling song
Rec CG 122 v.1 & 5 Take this moment

30 January
Int CG 95 v.1 O Lord, the clouds are gathering
Anth CAB 38 Jesu, lead my footsteps ever ; Bach
Rec CG 95 v.4 Lord, your glorious cross

6 February
Int CG 69 Kyrie eleison
Anth CAB 65 O Saviour of the world ; Goss
Rec CG 36 Forgiveness is Your gift

13 February Communion
Int CAB 13 Blest are the pure in heart ; Walford Davies
Anth CAB 9 Jesu, word of God (Ave verum) ; Elgar
Rec CG 60 v.1 I waited patiently

20 February Thinking Day
Int CG 39 Glory to God
Anth CG 105 Sent by the Lord (with guitars and flutes)
Rec CG 58 I know that my Redeemer lives

27 February
Int SGP 29 v.1 For the healing of the nations
Anth CAB 41 Lead me, Lord ; Wesley
Rec SGP 29 v.2 Lead us, Father, into freedom

6 March
Int CAB 60 O Lord my God, to Thee ; Arcadelt
Anth CAB 40 King of glory ; Bach
Rec CG 67 v.5 Jesus Christ is calling

13 March
Int SGP 85 O Lord, hear my prayer
Anth CAB 59 O Lord, my God ; Wesley
Rec SGP 33 v.1 God forgave my sin

20 March
Int CG 13 Behold the Lamb of God
Anth CAB 2 A Palm Sunday Antiphon
Rec CG 47 v.1-2 Hear me, dear Lord

6.30 pm A Lenten Reflection (details to be confirmed)

27 March
Int CG 30 p.1 Eastertide Acclamation
Anth [Anthem by Rutter]
Rec CAB 87 v.1 The strife is o’er

A Happy New Year to one and all!

Killermont Choir wishes a Happy New Year to everyone, friends and strangers. If you live in or near Bearsden and have made a New Year's Resolution to take up a new hobby - why not join Killermont Church Choir? Make good friends, have a good sing, learn new music, enjoy the best cuppa in the neighbourhood ...

The organist apologises - I haven't been posting my music in recent weeks. Christmas overtook me! Here's a quick listing:

Christmas Day : Mary had a baby (composed by Andrew Gant); Away in a manger (Richard Lloyd); and to finish with, Fantasia on Adeste Fideles, by G. Shaw.

Boxing Day : Bethlehem, by Gounod; Have yourself a merry little Christmas; and, to finish, Do they know it's Christmas? (You can tell it was all-age worship at Killermont on Boxing Day!)

Today, 2nd January : You can rely on me to take you to Vienna on the first Sunday of a New Year. Johann Strauss ruled okay, as you heard the Blue Danube Waltzes, the Tritsch Tratsch Polka, and the Radetzky March. During the offering, I played Howard Goodall's 'The Lord is my shepherd', the theme tune of the Vicar of Dibley. Did you see last night's special episode, in which they promoted Christian Aid's new campaign, Make Poverty History?

Like many congregations and faiths around the world, in our prayers we remembered those affected by the Tsunami. If you haven't made a donation yet, but would like to, try this website:
Disasters Emergency Committee.


16th January - John Bell - Helensburgh! Sample the new Church Hymnary (CH4) :-

• 2.00 – 4.00 pm Park Church Halls, Charlotte Street – workshop for choir members and enthusiastic singers. Getting prepared for the evening event …
• 7.00 pm at West Kirk, Helensburgh – Rev. John Bell speaking about the new Church Hymnary (CH4)
• Read about John Bell on the Iona website
  
  
  (I'm sorry – I could not find a web-posting for these events. Tell your friends about the Killermont weblog, and they can get the details here!)
  
  
  
  

Fragile! Pre-Christmas parent; handle with care!

My apologies, one and all. I have been remiss in posting details of seasonal music played at Killermont. Christmas preparations and festivities are catching up with me.

5th December : Bible Sunday. You heard Reger's "Wachet auf", then Flor Peeters' "Of the Father's love begotten" before the service. The outgoing voluntary was "Nun danket", by Johann Sebastian Bach.

12th December : a Baptism. Before the service, you heard "Angels guard thee", by Godard, then a "Christmas prelude on Divinum mysterium", by Watkinson.

During the offering, I played "Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding", by Archer. The outgoing voluntary was the Overture to "Unto us a child is born", by Bach.

Which brings us to this weekend. On the morning of Sunday 19th December, I shall be playing Brahms' "Es ist ein Ros' ", op.122 no.8 - and if there's time, "Puer natus in Bethlehem", by Buxtehude.

The offering music is a special surprise for the children. They'll soon tell you what it is, when they hear it. The outgoing voluntary will be "Offertoire sur deux Noels", by Guilmant.

On Sunday evening, it is the Killermont Carol Service. Before the service, you'll hear "Christmas cradle song", by Alfred Hollins, and (if time), "It came upon the midnight clear", by Stephen Kemp.

During the offering, I shall play "Noel : offertoire on a subject by Berlioz", by Guilmant. The outgoing voluntary will be my all-time favourite "In dulci jubilo", by Bach. And the louder, the better! Stirring stuff.