This Sunday at our 10 am Eucharist, we celebrated the two feasts of Christ the King and St Cecilia.  The  reading from the Book of Revelation about the new Jerusalem, reflected the theme of the coming of Christ as King of all.

 St Cecilia, is the patron saint of music and musicians. Father Stephen told us what is known about her life: a roman matron who married and was martyred, with her husband, for her faith. It has never been clear why Cecilia is associated with music, but in art she is traditionally shown either with a small portative organ or with a stringed instrument like a violin.

There is a saying, sometimes attributed to St Augustine of Hippo, that “those who sing pray twice”: certainly from earliest times music has been used to enhance worship and to emphasise parts of the service – this is true not only of Christianity but of almost all religions, from the sonorous voices of cantors in synagogues to the call of the muezzin from a minaret to the low chants of eastern religion. Father Stephen reminded us that our worship at St Mary Our Lady is enhanced by the work of our choir, and in the intercessions we prayed for our choristers and the work that they do. 

Our Director of Music then came forward and told us that there were four members of the choir who between them have been singing in church choirs for over 250 years: she then sprang a huge surprise by asking Marjorie Lytton, Barbara and Martin Halfacree, and Beryl Rodd to come forward. Joanna and Father Stephen then presented each of them with a special Medal of the Royal School of Church Music to recognise their dedication and service and the congregation gave them a well-earned round of applause.  Of course, after that the only suitable hymn at the offertory was Angel voices, ever-singing round thy throne of light.
The anthem after communion was Above all praise and all majesty by Mendelssohn and the voluntary, again reflecting the theme of Christ the King, was Crown Imperial,  composed by William Walton for the coronation in 1937.

Next Sunday is Advent Sunday, the beginning of the Church's Year, and the Season of expectation of the coming of Christ. On Sunday afternoon there will be the annual making and blessing of Advent Rings followed by Tea.
The following Saturday 5th of December at 2pm in the Church Hall we have the Christmas Fair don't forget to come along and enjoy refreshments, and buy your christmas pressies!

Photos of the presentations and the lovely autumnal flowers kindly provided by Hilary Platts.