Well, they do say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions - like your organist not updating the Killermont Praise weblog for over a month, maybe?

Faced with the 5.5 mile drive to the frozen heights of Killermont, I might as well have been looking at an ascent of Mount Everest. The image shows my car busily going nowhere on 12th March. (I might add that three little boys joyously frolicked in the snow all morning, and a wonderful time was had by all - including our washing-machine.

Last week, 19th March, we were back in business again. I played the Adagio by Albinoni/Giazotto, a blues piece entitled "Free the Spirit", by Blinko, and the outgoing voluntary was Nun danket, by Karg Elert.

Today, 26th March, I took the final hymn as my musical theme, and played -

• Trio, and Toccatina for flutes, both based on "And can it be", in a setting by Christopher Tambling.
• Sursum corda, by John Ireland
• God so loved the world, by Stainer (during the Offering)
• Concertino on "And can it be", again by Tambling.

Those with observant musical ears may have noticed that for the past two weeks I have played an organ interlude from Stainer's "Crucifixion", as the choir processed in. It's intended to be a signal that worship is about to start - and hopefully to remind everyone of the liturgical season, too.

Look forward to Palm Sunday evening at 6.30 pm, when Killermont Parish Church Choir leads worship in an evening of Gospel songs - some reflective, and others vibrantly joyful. Listen, join in, and just take a break from the busy daily routine to reflect on this special time of year.

Amongst our musical contributions will be a set of spirituals arranged by the gifted American Moses Hogan, who sadly died far too young, quite recently.

Oh, the embarrassment of realising that it is many weeks since this blogspot was updated!

Happy New Year from Killermont Choir!

Today, I played "To a wild rose" (Macdowell) and "In Elysium" (Gluck) before the service. During the offering, I played "The sun whose rays", from The Mikado (Sullivan). The outgoing voluntary was "Monmouth" (Wood).

Sometimes the strangest or seemingly trivial pieces of music just catch our imagination. Thus it was that our recessional, "You shall go out with joy", ended up being sung twice. The children so enjoyed clapping in time to the music that I couldn't resist giving them a repeat!





Permit me to become serious for a moment. Followers of Killermont Praise! will know that we have held the daughter of our friends in our prayers for some time now. After a few months of really encouraging progress, suddenly we hear that things are not so good again. Your prayers would be very welcome at this most difficult time.

Please also pray for a 12-year old known to our oldest son. This boy lost his mother in tragic circumstances last weekend. His mother was a classroom assistant at the school still attended by our two younger boys, so there is great sadness at the school, too. Please pray for a child who now has so much more to cope with, in addition to struggling to adjust to the challenges of a big secondary school. We don't know much about the family, but I'm sure that some prayers for this youngster's future would be very appropriate.

Killermont Parish Church, Beardsen - Choir music for December

4 December - the band will be playing.

11 December
Introit CH4 317, Before the world began (v.1)
Anthem CFC 3 no.32, p.138, O little town of Bethlehem; Walford Davies
Recessional Archer carols p.34, The linden tree carol, v.1

18 December - morning
Introit CFC2 no.1, p.6, A babe is born, I wys (v.1)
Anthem CH4 320, Joy to the world
Recessional CH4 311, Jesus is born, v.1

18 December - there will be a brief afternoon rehearsal.

EVENING LESSONS AND CAROLS

Introit CH4 273, O come, o come, Emmanuel v1-2
Lighting of Advent Candle & Call to Worship
Praise CH4 273, O come, o come, Emmanuel (contd.)
1st Lesson Isaiah 42 verses 1-9, 16 (Ian Steven)
Choir Carol Archer p.14, In dulci jubilo
Prayer
Praise CH4 294, On Christmas night all Christians sing
2nd Lesson John 1 verses 1-18 (David Sherry)
Choir Carol Archer p.20, Lute-book lullaby
Praise CH4 304, O little town of Bethlehem
3rd Lesson Luke 1 verses 26-38 (Catriona Morse)
Choir Carol CFC2 (orange) 17 p.74, Il est ne le divin enfant ; arr. Rutter
Prayers
Praise CH4 301, Hark! The herald angels sing
4th Lesson Luke 2 verses 8-20 (Shona MacLachlan)
Choir Carol CFC 3 no.21 p.89 Hush my dear, lie still
Offering
Offering Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
5th Lesson Luke 2 verses 25-38 (Bill McMillan)
Choir Carol Christ-Child in the manger ; Kenneth Rothery
Praise CH3 191, O come, all ye faithful
Benediction & 3-fold Amen
Choir Carol CFC2 no.39 p.182, The angels and the shepherds18 Dec 2005


24 December - WATCHNIGHT SERVICE 11.30 pm (no Choir)

25 December - CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE 11 am (no Choir)

1 January - No choir today (NB it is unseemly to shout "Yippee!" Please don't!)

Organ music at Killermont:

20 November - Sarabande, by Arnold Cooke; the Harry Potter theme, by John Williams (much to the delight of our younger members!); and Procession, by Sumsion.

27 November - the first Sunday in Advent - Agnus Dei, from The armed man, by Karl Jenkins; Wachet auf!, by Bach; O come, o come, Emmanuel - two settings, by Rex Koury and Flor Peeters; and Fantasia in C minor, again by Bach.

Thanks are due: visitors to Killermont Praise will be aware that we have been praying for the recovery of a young woman who has been seriously ill for the past year. We are delighted to hear that her family are now much encouraged by her progress. From a position of total despair, there is now considerable hope for the future. Please don't stop praying!

Please pray also for the many other families going through difficult times, whether through the illness of a family member or problems in other areas of their lives. Remember, too, friends and neighbours - perhaps with no church connection at all - whom we know are having a tough time at the moment.

On the 6th November, the Band played. (As it happened, I was in Manchester at a research conference. I delivered my paper, answered questions, went for coffee - and as I glanced at my watch, realised gleefully that I was actually getting it before the rest of you for once, since it still wasn't quite 11 o'clock!)

Which brings me to day, 13th November. Remembrance Sunday.

Before the service, you heard 'Romance', from The Gadfly (Shostakovich), then 'Beautiful Isle of Somewhere' (J. S. Fearis) - guess who has been purchasing new music? During the offering, I played the celebrated 'Adagio' by Samuel Barber. It has particularly come to prominence since the 7/11 disaster. The outgoing voluntary was 'Spitfire', by William Walton.

To adhere to the Remembrance Sunday theme, the Choir sang the Kyrie and Sanctus from 'Mass: The armed man', by Karl Jenkins. The music is atmospheric - very appropriate for the occasion. But I have to say that 'The armed man' is a fifteenth century French chanson (L'homme arme), on which Jenkins based his mass. And that's the only connection with war! Be not deceived!

Our minister was warning us to Beware of false prophets, today. Was it purely coincidental that our neighbourhood suffered an attack of the Jehovah's Witnesses this afternoon? I did tell them to go away. I exercised self-control and kept my car-washing water bucket well away from them. However, I missed my chance to share Alan's comments with them, which was an opportunity wasted! (If interested, you might like to follow this link - it's by a Canadian professor who is no longer a Jehovah's Witness.)

'I Hope You Dance... This was written by an 83-year-old woman to her friend. The last line says it all.

Dear Bertha,

I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now. I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Too many Sunday have passed. No-one will want to know what music was played between 12th September and 23rd October!

Today, 23rd October:- Before the service you heard Entree pontificale, op.104 no.1, by the Italian composer, Bossi. (Maybe this is the first time a Session Clerk has ever entered church with a pontifical Entrance!)

During the Offering, we returned to our roots, with Coronach, by Edgar Barratt. After the service, I played "Hornburg", from the Lord of the Rings.

To answer a question passed on to me indirectly - yes, the organist is sure she could play Ghostbusters. But she thinks she'll pass on that one. Other suggestions and requests are very welcome, however ...

Killermont Parish Church music update!

The organ music on Sunday 4th September was derived from the operatic and orchestral repertoires:-

• Grand March from Aida (Verdi)
• "Chaos", from The Creation (Haydn)
• Nessun dorma (Puccini)
• Trumpet tune from Te Deum (Charpentier)

Meanwhile, the Choir anthem was a Caribbean Lord's Prayer, which tied in with the New Testament reading.

• Prayer points - please continue to pray for the sick, whether anxiously awaiting results of tests, or undergoing treatment. Pray for their families, too, that they find the strength to cope with the worry of their situation.
• Pray for children at Yorkhill Hospital, whether in-patients or outpatients. Help them and their parents to be brave and to trust in the decisions of their medical advisors.
• Pray for asylum-seekers and refugees - spend a few minutes imagining yourself in their shoes, often having no more possessions than what they stand in. Seek guidance on how we can offer sympathetic help.

Where does the time go? Life whizzes by too fast to blog it!

Here's an update on the organ music played at Killermont Parish Church Bearsden, over the past few weeks:-

• 31 July 2005 : A joyous acclamation by Lani Smith; Lascia ch'io pianga by Handel; Jesu, joy of man's desiring by Bach; and Festal Flourish by Gordon Jacob.
• 7 August 2005: Romanza on The White Rock by Vaughan Williams; The dark island ; Sarabande in D, from the cello suite in D by Bach; and Judex, from Mors et Vita by Gounod.
• 14 August 2005: the minister's birthday, so the music was deliberately upbeat. Coronation march by Meyerbeer; Scherzo for the White Rabbit, by Nigel Ogden; Tuba tune by C. S. Lang.

Prayer points:-

• Pray for people undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Pray that the side-effects won't be too debilitating. Pray and give thanks for the dedication and skill of medical staff and lab technicians.
• Pray for all the friends and relations affected by the illness of a loved one.
• Pray for school-children returning to their studies after the summer holidays, whether to their old school or to a new one. Pray that God will be with them as they rise to new challenges. Pray, too, for students, and for anyone who got lower - or higher - grades than they expected, for they will have big decisions to take over the next few weeks or months.

ALL AGE WORSHIP ON SUNDAY 21ST AUGUST!

Come and worship at Killermont tomorrow, as we celebrate the start of a new session. The band will be playing - they need you to sing!

After three weeks away, it was good to be back on the organ stool again on Sunday 24th July. Worshippers who attended the 10 am service on 17th July will be relieved to hear that my deputy suffered no lasting effects from her fainting fit. Indeed, she wasn't the only person to be overwhelmed by the heat that day.

I brought a fan to church with me on 24th July (the kind you flap, rather than the kind for whom you write autographs) - but I didn't need it.

Before the service, you heard Handel's Hornpipe in D, from the Water Music. Afterwards, you heard Widor's Toccata in F. (I confess - I played both at a wedding on Friday afternoon, so you benefited from some considerable hours of practice during the week!)

On to a more serious note. I am happy to report that our friends' daughter is home from hospital, gaining weight, and is even "out and about" again. More treatment will follow, and there may still be trying times ahead - but we are all overjoyed at the progress that has been made so far. Truly God is good - give thanks for this wonderful news.

Please continue to pray for those suffering serious illness, for anyone undergoing uncomfortable treatment, for their families and friends, and for the skill of the doctors and nurses who look after them on a daily basis.

Pray, too, for all countries threatened by terrorism in these worrying times. Pray for anyone directly affected by the aggression. Give thanks to all those involved in defending us and bringing to justice those responsible for the atrocities.

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?