Bouncy bounce bounce
Apr. 12th, 2004 09:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yrieithyddThe Easter Vigil ended over 39 hours ago and I still haven't come down from the high. It don't think it's just sleep deprivation although my sleep pattern has been bizarre over recent days. Even the fact that England's loss of their current excellent performance is failing to mar it. (Come on Jones)
On Thursday, having attended the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper and once again having been hit by the stripped altars, I returned to church for 2am to keep the watch for an hour. This was the second year I've done this (and unlike last year I did not sleep in between due to not being exhausted) and it is amazing. I got home around 3:30am and went to bed knowing that in 48 hours I'd be getting up to go to the Vigil.
My alarm went off at 8am next morning, but I hit snooze not waking sufficently to work out what this noise was and why it was happening until 8:54 (it's a 9min snooze). I lay in bed for a couple of minutes trying to work out whether to give up on the idea of getting to Mattins and Litany or whether to brave going in late. I got up dress and dashed out to arrive at LSM at 9:11, 15 mins after getting out of bed. The side effect of this was feeling faint during the litany. Stupidly I continued kneeling. This meant I had to dash out immediately after the service and collapse by the porch door. I watched people walking out trying to decide whether I wanted them to ask me whether I wanted them to ask if I was ok or not. Eventually Lucy did, which I think was ideal because I know her well enough and she was pratical. Offering to get me a glass of water when I said I felt faint. I sat there chatting to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
belteshazzar77 (who'd arrived early for his watch slot at 10am) until he went in when I stood up and headed for Grantchester (finding my way through paradise - a route that I'd learnt was possible a couple of weeks earlier) until I turned round to get to the market square in time for the Act of Witness which we'd been told was 11:30. I got there spot on (having just past Dr and Mrs Thomson cycling in the wrong direction) to find about 4 people around. But numbers built up nicely until the actually starting time of 11:40. I got asked to give out service sheets, but was too busy chatting to people from a variety of churches to do much before the service but made up for this by making sure late arrivals got them after we'd started. It was a good little service. No stupidity this year. (Singing There is a Green Hill to the House of the Rising Sun is amusing when discussed on Home Truths but incredibly inappropriate at an act of Witness on Good Friday. I corpsed, silently thankfully. It was also unhelpful because I know Horsley, whereas I don't know House of the Rising Sun). The LSMers left during the final two verses of O Sacred Head Sore Wounded in order to get to the 12pm preaching service. A non-conformist service (joint between 5 churches) is a good thing but it being at 10:30am makes fitting the act of witness in before the Anglicans start 3hour services at Noon somewhat awkward.
The preaching part was good. I found I got on better with the Reverend Professor's sermons went on, although others found the opposite. My impression is perhaps skewed by my inability to concentrate at the beginning of the week. But I'm not sure whether that was entirely me; I wasn't convinced of the structure of the first couple of addresses. The liturgy of the day has grown on me. I now really like having been unsure about it 2 years ago. The Veneration of the cross is powerful. But I wish the words to the reproaches were more audible in the congregation; before coming here, I went to a church which did the liturgy in the evening and I was in the choir so I got all the words and they are powerful but here I've never managed to hear them.
A quick chat to people and then to Peterhouse Chapel having been distracted part way through the liturgy by remembering I hadn't done it which meant it probably hadn't been done. Last yearnaomir and I did it together immediately after leaving LSM on Thursday evening (silently of course). But I've a feeling that we had to get the key from the porters which I wouldn't have wanted to try as it is not in fact my college. In fact, a porter popped his head around the door whilst I was doing it and smiled at me. Then home. As I turned up Mount Pleasant Ann (and the_alchemist?) were coming out in the car and a slightly odd conversation ensued before the lights changed. I listened to the radio 4 programme about the Cross which was interesting. I looked at my phone (which I'd not unsilenced) to find a message from Ann explaining the conversation at the lights and giving me the vital information as to where Shirley's was. I texted to thank for the invite but gave apologies due to not being in the mood. Had I known the previous day, I could have planned accordingly but Hot Cross buns wasn't in the plan at that point and it was too big a change. I then turned my computer on in the hope of being able to listen to the 3pm pilgrimage to Walsingham programme but it wasn't available on line. This was the the first time I'd allowed myself to turn my computer on since before the Maundy Thursday service and got caught up with messing around with my MethSoc termcard and Latex which was productive even if not entirely what I'd planned for the afternoon. I was still frustrated by an odd problem when I went of to Tenebrae (which claroscuro has described beautifully although I would not that although it did sound like something had been dropped the loud noise is deliberate at that point; it represents the earthquake. It was a better noise than last year but I do think that Mark dropped the thing which makes the noise (which I believe to be a tin tray but am not sure). Then home in silence (where I got distracted by the latex problem and half sorted it). Thence to bed and up for ante-communion (and this time I woke up without difficultly).
Ante-communion was again an improvement on last year which was matins and ante-communion which was odd for two reasons; a) tenebrae is the Matins and Lauds of Holy Saturday said by anticipation the night before - so saying BCP Mattins (which is a combination of Matins and Lauds) the next morning is somewhat random and b) if you do Matins and Communion as one service (as I have experienced in Welsh whilst in Lampeter) you pick up the Communion liturgy at the point where ante-communion finishes. Ante-Communion is powerful in its way because one starts as though for Mass but stop before the liturgy of the Sacrament. It emphasises the oddness of the day; as one waits.
It was then time to go into town to do some shoppping in order to make the soup I'd promised for lunch the next day. Sainsbury's in town don't have dried porcini mushrooms but Cambridge Health Food do (and they're fairly traded). One of the market stalls has good fresh wild mushrooms and another local leeks. I also buy a blender; having made pâté by hand for my birthday I wasn't going to do soup by hand. Oxfam let me down by having no split peas or Easter eggs. Home and after more faffing with the termcard I pop out to buy other stuff at the co-op (who also have no Easter eggs). After paying for stuff I realise I haven't got the split peas still and go back to it. I begin to soak the mushrooms and listen to an interesting programme on Radio 4 called The nun I never was and start the soup. And realised I'd failed to buy garlic. Back to the co-op but they haven't got any so I go to the Naz who do. I make the soup. Go to Evensong and Vigil readings. This is a good plan, traditionally the Vigil is all night so having readings at Evensong gives a hint at this. We stand around chatting while people begin to decorate the church. There's a slightly odd moment when Barbara (who'd come to Evensong but not joined us in the choirstalls but sat half way down the nave) came out of the parish room with tray of flowers and complained that she'd arrived and the vicar was talking to 'you' and it seemed to be private and gone out to the parish room to await the bell and that she'd couldn't sit in the choir stalls as she was neither in the choir nor a server (others had not had this problem) and that thus she'd not heard a word. Bizarre. I'd past her on my way, so knew she'd arrived after Father had finished hearing confessions and I'd noticed her come in and go out and there was nothing private happened at that point. Also, she sat further back than she does on a Sunday; if she was really reluctant to join us in the choir stalls she could have sat at the front of the nave (as two random latecomers did).
Thence to Peterhouse Chapel to make it go white and home. After dinner, I decided to get an early night and went to bed slightly after 9pm and proceeded to lie awake listening to the radio for 5 hours. It meant I heard the cricket but it wasn't quite the idea. Having dropped of at some point after half one, the alarm went at 3:30 and I arose, got dress and left for Church at 4am. This meant I was among the first to arrive (the only people in the nave at this point were the parents of two of an acolyte and her brother who is our experienced boat boy). Sitting in a dark church was lovely.
Then the Ministers and servers entered and the Vigil began (continued) with the Vigil readings, psalms and collects (4 in number). Then we headed out to where the new fire was. The thurible coals were retrieved by the boat boy. The fire was censed and blessed; the pascal candle was inscribed, wounded and lit (is that the right order?) and we followed it into the Church, genuflecting three times at 'The Light of Christ' Thanks be to God. Our candles were lit. As the exultet was sung the candles in the church were lit. Then Glory be to God on High and the organ goes mad and bells are rung (I think the whole choir had them this year) then the gloria continues and the statues are unveiled although St Peter coyly hid. Epistle; then the Threefold Alleluia, the first use since Ash Wednesday; Gradual (The Strife is O'er); Gospel; Homily.
After the homily (which was brief and to the point - see my comments on my post about hypocrisy), the procession to the font which is blessed. This involves careful negotiation of the pascal candle into it under the cover as the distance between the top of the font and the cover suspended over it and the height of the candle are about equal. The renewal of our baptismal vows and the asperges and Fr Andrew aims at everyone in turn (including the organist in her eyrie. The peace - where we greet one another 'The Lord is Risen' 'He is risen indeed' and then the liturgy of the Sacrament. I'm on a high. Walking up to receive communion I notice the acolytes coxing St Peter out with the aid of the Angel-snuffer and he emerges. That was the 'what distracted you moment?' but it was such a lovely distraction. I received, joined in the communion hymn (to the extent my voice would allow) and mouthed 'This joyful Eastertide' with the choir (leonato joined in but he can sing and I can't). The vicar encourages us to come to breakfast, the blessing and dismissal (Fr Ian forgets that the sheet says to use 'Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, Alleluia, Alleluia' and says 'Go in the peace of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia' but we respond correctly with 'Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia' not 'In the Name of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia' as the sheet says. Yes, Fr Andrew led us loudly and the one we used is the more common one in LSM but still I've known a choir respond to 'The Lord be with you' 'His spirit is with us' at the start of the Eucharistic prayer when the priest remembered to sing it (which was being introduced) but she forgot that that service sheet used the alternative opening. Do not just follow what it says on the sheet, the liturgy is not a printed order of the service but our worship. Respond. The sheets are there to help you but slips happen.
The sanctuary party process out and; we sit and listen to the organ voluntary and watch our Lord being brought up from the crypt where he'd been hidden and returned to the aumbry. The church is restored from the desolation which began on Maundy Thursday.
The voluntary ends; people applaud. I don't join in but I'm not annoyed it was almost appropriate. We go out to breakfast. I am handed a glass of Buck's Fizz. I text Mark 'Haleliwa, Crist a gyfodwyd' and my parents 'Christ is risen, Alleluia' (and my phone was stupid; it didn't know Alleluia). We eat and chat. We go back into church. We sing the Regina Caeli. We say morning prayer. We go to Peterhouse MCR to drink Champagne. I go to St Bene't's to ring the bells (and am glad I do as I'm the fifth person). We ring rounds and call changes on five. 4 people arrive from GSM and start to ring half a course of Cambridge (and straight down) so I take the chance to go back to LSM to prepare to serve.
Dan is about to walk Angela (who is my pair as torchbearer and who hasn't served before) through it. I quickly cassock up and go and join them. Having gone through a normal entry we return to the sacristy. Fr then explains the processions (which Dan hasn't done before) and we learn that the start is different because we go in the short way and process out through the South Door and round the back for a station, come back in go to the Lady Chapel to bless the garden and then return to the sanctuary for the blessing of the altar as normal. Lucy joins us to rehearse this; she's also serving for the first time. Helen would have done so but she had to light the angels and she's the most experienced of us. I've served a few times but only torch-borne once (because we only have them for really high days) although this is actually more than Dan who hasn't done that job. We just about finish in time for Mass, but Angela and Lucy are very much under instructions to follow their pair. At the last minute before we start, we were told it was acolytes only for that procession which made the torchbearers lives easier. We start. The procession works. (Sanctuary Party and children's group). I pick up the chorus of Hail Thee Festival Day. Apparently the congregation can't hear the station outside so have an odd hiatus. We just about sort out the turn into the lady chapel and Dave (the crucifer) makes sure I accompany him. The garden is blessed. Mass goes wonderfully well (although I get caught out by the modern language form of the Apostles' Creed in the renewal of the baptismal vows. At one point I slip into the Nicene and at another into the Trad language Apostles' Creed). AT the peace we go out, gathering the children who lead them around as we go. We keep them calm (ish) and the sacristy area. I run Angela through what we're doing now. This means I completely miss Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia which is a pity. At the end of the offertory, the acolytes and thurifer join us and we go out at the start of the Eucharistic prayer. We manage. After the Agnus day we go out again (Me shepherding the child who wants to head back towards the nave). In again to receive communion. I leave a space for the organist (which the visiting preacher fills) but we manage to fit the organist in too when she appears.
Mass is followed by more champagne. Then we head of for lunch. This is wonderful. Many courses (which we've each contributed). My soup is praised. The risotto was lovely. I always forget how nice chestnuts are. The afternoon passes in pleasant conversation and food. We break off lunch to go to Evensong and Benediction. The Vicar preaches a wonderful sermon. He's enthusiastic and encourages to mark Eastertide by sharing com-pan-ionship (and expects us to know the etymology of 'with bread') together; by marking Christian Aid week well (as the material is still important - the resurrection body is a continuation of the incarnational body); and by remembering that every Sunday marks the Resurrection. The Paschal candle is snuffed before Benediction. I boggle briefly and then remember that we don't need it while Christ is present in the monstrance. Benediction is joyful. I'm definitely beginning to appreciate it even if I'm still dubious about its Theology. Serving for it definitely helps. We go home to continue lunch.
At about 11pm I decide I'd better go and phone my parents. Having chatted to them and talking to a friend on ICQ, I eventually go to bed at about 1am. I don't sleep immediately. I'm still on a high. I listen to Westway (the world service soap) which has interesting storyline about the Roman Catholic priest, a false allegation, and forgiveness. It's good to hear a positive portrayal of a priest (and this is consistent - I heard it a lot 3 summers ago) in the media. Although I'm disappointed that there's no reference to the season (when there had been to April fool's day last week). I sleep. My alarm wakes me so I can go to Mass. There's a good turn out.
Afterwards, I find Fitzbillies is shut so I go to Nadia's for a pain au chocolat (which is by that time of day cheaper than at Fitzbillies because it's a few minutes too late to get a free coffee at Fitzbillies even had it have been open). I go home, walking because I want to savour the day. I go via college and check my pigeon hole. Two letters, one from the AHRB confirming the money they're giving me and one from someone I invited to speak to MethSoc about the Anglican-Methodist Conference agreeing to do so and asking for more details. I try to photocopy the AHRB letter, but the photocopy is not working. I return to the plodge and the porter kindly photocopies it with the fax machine as there was only one sheet, so I can prove to the Student Loans Company that I receive less than £1780 a month (which £2500 a quarter definitely is). At home I fill in the deferment form and answer the letter and when I return from the post box I find Mark has ICQed me and we spend the day chatting in text and I read the ship of fools and live journal. Try to do some work but don't get very far as I also make mousse for dinner tomorrow and listen to Lara hitting the highest score ever in test cricket.
This evening, I continue to listen to the test and chat on ICQ (to a variety of people), sort out the SCC folder and start to cook dinner for tomorrow night and start this post (which has taken over 3 hours to write). I boil the lentils dry and burn them thus setting off the fire alarm. I meant to check the water level but become engrossed in writing this post. I leap up, turn the gas off, put water in the pan, open the window wider and go down to silence the alarm. Luckily (or worryingly) the alarm is not connected to college, so I can sort it out. David appears from the downstairs flat and I explain what has happened. I return up stairs leaving the alarm silenced. It continues to bleep periodically. I continue writing this and ICQuing. I wonder if I should call the porters the smoke dectector still has a red light so I guess the alarm will not reset. BUt I can't find the number on the web. David comes up, we talk about what to do to the dectector. Standing on a chair, he finds he can unscrew it, so he blows on it which gets rid of dust and when he replaces it, the light goes out. So I go down to reset the alarm and there is silence. David and I chat and I show him how to work the alarm panel and then notice the instructions for this situation which we have actually followed and this gives the phone numbers I want. It's blindingly obvious by the panel! My next door neighbour returns (the people on the first floor appear to be away) and I explain what's just happen and I learn that the fire exit from my room isn't as mad as it appears. There are only bolts on my side, but there is a point to me getting to his room as he has another hatch in the side wall which must go next door or something. I know far more about the fire precautions here than I did.
[And what does my Greek teacher mean that one cannot use the historic/narrative present in English?]
On Thursday, having attended the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper and once again having been hit by the stripped altars, I returned to church for 2am to keep the watch for an hour. This was the second year I've done this (and unlike last year I did not sleep in between due to not being exhausted) and it is amazing. I got home around 3:30am and went to bed knowing that in 48 hours I'd be getting up to go to the Vigil.
My alarm went off at 8am next morning, but I hit snooze not waking sufficently to work out what this noise was and why it was happening until 8:54 (it's a 9min snooze). I lay in bed for a couple of minutes trying to work out whether to give up on the idea of getting to Mattins and Litany or whether to brave going in late. I got up dress and dashed out to arrive at LSM at 9:11, 15 mins after getting out of bed. The side effect of this was feeling faint during the litany. Stupidly I continued kneeling. This meant I had to dash out immediately after the service and collapse by the porch door. I watched people walking out trying to decide whether I wanted them to ask me whether I wanted them to ask if I was ok or not. Eventually Lucy did, which I think was ideal because I know her well enough and she was pratical. Offering to get me a glass of water when I said I felt faint. I sat there chatting to
belteshazzar77 (who'd arrived early for his watch slot at 10am) until he went in when I stood up and headed for Grantchester (finding my way through paradise - a route that I'd learnt was possible a couple of weeks earlier) until I turned round to get to the market square in time for the Act of Witness which we'd been told was 11:30. I got there spot on (having just past Dr and Mrs Thomson cycling in the wrong direction) to find about 4 people around. But numbers built up nicely until the actually starting time of 11:40. I got asked to give out service sheets, but was too busy chatting to people from a variety of churches to do much before the service but made up for this by making sure late arrivals got them after we'd started. It was a good little service. No stupidity this year. (Singing There is a Green Hill to the House of the Rising Sun is amusing when discussed on Home Truths but incredibly inappropriate at an act of Witness on Good Friday. I corpsed, silently thankfully. It was also unhelpful because I know Horsley, whereas I don't know House of the Rising Sun). The LSMers left during the final two verses of O Sacred Head Sore Wounded in order to get to the 12pm preaching service. A non-conformist service (joint between 5 churches) is a good thing but it being at 10:30am makes fitting the act of witness in before the Anglicans start 3hour services at Noon somewhat awkward.The preaching part was good. I found I got on better with the Reverend Professor's sermons went on, although others found the opposite. My impression is perhaps skewed by my inability to concentrate at the beginning of the week. But I'm not sure whether that was entirely me; I wasn't convinced of the structure of the first couple of addresses. The liturgy of the day has grown on me. I now really like having been unsure about it 2 years ago. The Veneration of the cross is powerful. But I wish the words to the reproaches were more audible in the congregation; before coming here, I went to a church which did the liturgy in the evening and I was in the choir so I got all the words and they are powerful but here I've never managed to hear them.
A quick chat to people and then to Peterhouse Chapel having been distracted part way through the liturgy by remembering I hadn't done it which meant it probably hadn't been done. Last year
naomir and I did it together immediately after leaving LSM on Thursday evening (silently of course). But I've a feeling that we had to get the key from the porters which I wouldn't have wanted to try as it is not in fact my college. In fact, a porter popped his head around the door whilst I was doing it and smiled at me. Then home. As I turned up Mount Pleasant Ann (and the_alchemist?) were coming out in the car and a slightly odd conversation ensued before the lights changed. I listened to the radio 4 programme about the Cross which was interesting. I looked at my phone (which I'd not unsilenced) to find a message from Ann explaining the conversation at the lights and giving me the vital information as to where Shirley's was. I texted to thank for the invite but gave apologies due to not being in the mood. Had I known the previous day, I could have planned accordingly but Hot Cross buns wasn't in the plan at that point and it was too big a change. I then turned my computer on in the hope of being able to listen to the 3pm pilgrimage to Walsingham programme but it wasn't available on line. This was the the first time I'd allowed myself to turn my computer on since before the Maundy Thursday service and got caught up with messing around with my MethSoc termcard and Latex which was productive even if not entirely what I'd planned for the afternoon. I was still frustrated by an odd problem when I went of to Tenebrae (which claroscuro has described beautifully although I would not that although it did sound like something had been dropped the loud noise is deliberate at that point; it represents the earthquake. It was a better noise than last year but I do think that Mark dropped the thing which makes the noise (which I believe to be a tin tray but am not sure). Then home in silence (where I got distracted by the latex problem and half sorted it). Thence to bed and up for ante-communion (and this time I woke up without difficultly).Ante-communion was again an improvement on last year which was matins and ante-communion which was odd for two reasons; a) tenebrae is the Matins and Lauds of Holy Saturday said by anticipation the night before - so saying BCP Mattins (which is a combination of Matins and Lauds) the next morning is somewhat random and b) if you do Matins and Communion as one service (as I have experienced in Welsh whilst in Lampeter) you pick up the Communion liturgy at the point where ante-communion finishes. Ante-Communion is powerful in its way because one starts as though for Mass but stop before the liturgy of the Sacrament. It emphasises the oddness of the day; as one waits.
It was then time to go into town to do some shoppping in order to make the soup I'd promised for lunch the next day. Sainsbury's in town don't have dried porcini mushrooms but Cambridge Health Food do (and they're fairly traded). One of the market stalls has good fresh wild mushrooms and another local leeks. I also buy a blender; having made pâté by hand for my birthday I wasn't going to do soup by hand. Oxfam let me down by having no split peas or Easter eggs. Home and after more faffing with the termcard I pop out to buy other stuff at the co-op (who also have no Easter eggs). After paying for stuff I realise I haven't got the split peas still and go back to it. I begin to soak the mushrooms and listen to an interesting programme on Radio 4 called The nun I never was and start the soup. And realised I'd failed to buy garlic. Back to the co-op but they haven't got any so I go to the Naz who do. I make the soup. Go to Evensong and Vigil readings. This is a good plan, traditionally the Vigil is all night so having readings at Evensong gives a hint at this. We stand around chatting while people begin to decorate the church. There's a slightly odd moment when Barbara (who'd come to Evensong but not joined us in the choirstalls but sat half way down the nave) came out of the parish room with tray of flowers and complained that she'd arrived and the vicar was talking to 'you' and it seemed to be private and gone out to the parish room to await the bell and that she'd couldn't sit in the choir stalls as she was neither in the choir nor a server (others had not had this problem) and that thus she'd not heard a word. Bizarre. I'd past her on my way, so knew she'd arrived after Father had finished hearing confessions and I'd noticed her come in and go out and there was nothing private happened at that point. Also, she sat further back than she does on a Sunday; if she was really reluctant to join us in the choir stalls she could have sat at the front of the nave (as two random latecomers did).
Thence to Peterhouse Chapel to make it go white and home. After dinner, I decided to get an early night and went to bed slightly after 9pm and proceeded to lie awake listening to the radio for 5 hours. It meant I heard the cricket but it wasn't quite the idea. Having dropped of at some point after half one, the alarm went at 3:30 and I arose, got dress and left for Church at 4am. This meant I was among the first to arrive (the only people in the nave at this point were the parents of two of an acolyte and her brother who is our experienced boat boy). Sitting in a dark church was lovely.
Then the Ministers and servers entered and the Vigil began (continued) with the Vigil readings, psalms and collects (4 in number). Then we headed out to where the new fire was. The thurible coals were retrieved by the boat boy. The fire was censed and blessed; the pascal candle was inscribed, wounded and lit (is that the right order?) and we followed it into the Church, genuflecting three times at 'The Light of Christ' Thanks be to God. Our candles were lit. As the exultet was sung the candles in the church were lit. Then Glory be to God on High and the organ goes mad and bells are rung (I think the whole choir had them this year) then the gloria continues and the statues are unveiled although St Peter coyly hid. Epistle; then the Threefold Alleluia, the first use since Ash Wednesday; Gradual (The Strife is O'er); Gospel; Homily.
After the homily (which was brief and to the point - see my comments on my post about hypocrisy), the procession to the font which is blessed. This involves careful negotiation of the pascal candle into it under the cover as the distance between the top of the font and the cover suspended over it and the height of the candle are about equal. The renewal of our baptismal vows and the asperges and Fr Andrew aims at everyone in turn (including the organist in her eyrie. The peace - where we greet one another 'The Lord is Risen' 'He is risen indeed' and then the liturgy of the Sacrament. I'm on a high. Walking up to receive communion I notice the acolytes coxing St Peter out with the aid of the Angel-snuffer and he emerges. That was the 'what distracted you moment?' but it was such a lovely distraction. I received, joined in the communion hymn (to the extent my voice would allow) and mouthed 'This joyful Eastertide' with the choir (
leonato joined in but he can sing and I can't). The vicar encourages us to come to breakfast, the blessing and dismissal (Fr Ian forgets that the sheet says to use 'Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, Alleluia, Alleluia' and says 'Go in the peace of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia' but we respond correctly with 'Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia' not 'In the Name of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia' as the sheet says. Yes, Fr Andrew led us loudly and the one we used is the more common one in LSM but still I've known a choir respond to 'The Lord be with you' 'His spirit is with us' at the start of the Eucharistic prayer when the priest remembered to sing it (which was being introduced) but she forgot that that service sheet used the alternative opening. Do not just follow what it says on the sheet, the liturgy is not a printed order of the service but our worship. Respond. The sheets are there to help you but slips happen.The sanctuary party process out and; we sit and listen to the organ voluntary and watch our Lord being brought up from the crypt where he'd been hidden and returned to the aumbry. The church is restored from the desolation which began on Maundy Thursday.
The voluntary ends; people applaud. I don't join in but I'm not annoyed it was almost appropriate. We go out to breakfast. I am handed a glass of Buck's Fizz. I text Mark 'Haleliwa, Crist a gyfodwyd' and my parents 'Christ is risen, Alleluia' (and my phone was stupid; it didn't know Alleluia). We eat and chat. We go back into church. We sing the Regina Caeli. We say morning prayer. We go to Peterhouse MCR to drink Champagne. I go to St Bene't's to ring the bells (and am glad I do as I'm the fifth person). We ring rounds and call changes on five. 4 people arrive from GSM and start to ring half a course of Cambridge (and straight down) so I take the chance to go back to LSM to prepare to serve.
Dan is about to walk Angela (who is my pair as torchbearer and who hasn't served before) through it. I quickly cassock up and go and join them. Having gone through a normal entry we return to the sacristy. Fr then explains the processions (which Dan hasn't done before) and we learn that the start is different because we go in the short way and process out through the South Door and round the back for a station, come back in go to the Lady Chapel to bless the garden and then return to the sanctuary for the blessing of the altar as normal. Lucy joins us to rehearse this; she's also serving for the first time. Helen would have done so but she had to light the angels and she's the most experienced of us. I've served a few times but only torch-borne once (because we only have them for really high days) although this is actually more than Dan who hasn't done that job. We just about finish in time for Mass, but Angela and Lucy are very much under instructions to follow their pair. At the last minute before we start, we were told it was acolytes only for that procession which made the torchbearers lives easier. We start. The procession works. (Sanctuary Party and children's group). I pick up the chorus of Hail Thee Festival Day. Apparently the congregation can't hear the station outside so have an odd hiatus. We just about sort out the turn into the lady chapel and Dave (the crucifer) makes sure I accompany him. The garden is blessed. Mass goes wonderfully well (although I get caught out by the modern language form of the Apostles' Creed in the renewal of the baptismal vows. At one point I slip into the Nicene and at another into the Trad language Apostles' Creed). AT the peace we go out, gathering the children who lead them around as we go. We keep them calm (ish) and the sacristy area. I run Angela through what we're doing now. This means I completely miss Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia which is a pity. At the end of the offertory, the acolytes and thurifer join us and we go out at the start of the Eucharistic prayer. We manage. After the Agnus day we go out again (Me shepherding the child who wants to head back towards the nave). In again to receive communion. I leave a space for the organist (which the visiting preacher fills) but we manage to fit the organist in too when she appears.
Mass is followed by more champagne. Then we head of for lunch. This is wonderful. Many courses (which we've each contributed). My soup is praised. The risotto was lovely. I always forget how nice chestnuts are. The afternoon passes in pleasant conversation and food. We break off lunch to go to Evensong and Benediction. The Vicar preaches a wonderful sermon. He's enthusiastic and encourages to mark Eastertide by sharing com-pan-ionship (and expects us to know the etymology of 'with bread') together; by marking Christian Aid week well (as the material is still important - the resurrection body is a continuation of the incarnational body); and by remembering that every Sunday marks the Resurrection. The Paschal candle is snuffed before Benediction. I boggle briefly and then remember that we don't need it while Christ is present in the monstrance. Benediction is joyful. I'm definitely beginning to appreciate it even if I'm still dubious about its Theology. Serving for it definitely helps. We go home to continue lunch.
At about 11pm I decide I'd better go and phone my parents. Having chatted to them and talking to a friend on ICQ, I eventually go to bed at about 1am. I don't sleep immediately. I'm still on a high. I listen to Westway (the world service soap) which has interesting storyline about the Roman Catholic priest, a false allegation, and forgiveness. It's good to hear a positive portrayal of a priest (and this is consistent - I heard it a lot 3 summers ago) in the media. Although I'm disappointed that there's no reference to the season (when there had been to April fool's day last week). I sleep. My alarm wakes me so I can go to Mass. There's a good turn out.
Afterwards, I find Fitzbillies is shut so I go to Nadia's for a pain au chocolat (which is by that time of day cheaper than at Fitzbillies because it's a few minutes too late to get a free coffee at Fitzbillies even had it have been open). I go home, walking because I want to savour the day. I go via college and check my pigeon hole. Two letters, one from the AHRB confirming the money they're giving me and one from someone I invited to speak to MethSoc about the Anglican-Methodist Conference agreeing to do so and asking for more details. I try to photocopy the AHRB letter, but the photocopy is not working. I return to the plodge and the porter kindly photocopies it with the fax machine as there was only one sheet, so I can prove to the Student Loans Company that I receive less than £1780 a month (which £2500 a quarter definitely is). At home I fill in the deferment form and answer the letter and when I return from the post box I find Mark has ICQed me and we spend the day chatting in text and I read the ship of fools and live journal. Try to do some work but don't get very far as I also make mousse for dinner tomorrow and listen to Lara hitting the highest score ever in test cricket.
This evening, I continue to listen to the test and chat on ICQ (to a variety of people), sort out the SCC folder and start to cook dinner for tomorrow night and start this post (which has taken over 3 hours to write). I boil the lentils dry and burn them thus setting off the fire alarm. I meant to check the water level but become engrossed in writing this post. I leap up, turn the gas off, put water in the pan, open the window wider and go down to silence the alarm. Luckily (or worryingly) the alarm is not connected to college, so I can sort it out. David appears from the downstairs flat and I explain what has happened. I return up stairs leaving the alarm silenced. It continues to bleep periodically. I continue writing this and ICQuing. I wonder if I should call the porters the smoke dectector still has a red light so I guess the alarm will not reset. BUt I can't find the number on the web. David comes up, we talk about what to do to the dectector. Standing on a chair, he finds he can unscrew it, so he blows on it which gets rid of dust and when he replaces it, the light goes out. So I go down to reset the alarm and there is silence. David and I chat and I show him how to work the alarm panel and then notice the instructions for this situation which we have actually followed and this gives the phone numbers I want. It's blindingly obvious by the panel! My next door neighbour returns (the people on the first floor appear to be away) and I explain what's just happen and I learn that the fire exit from my room isn't as mad as it appears. There are only bolts on my side, but there is a point to me getting to his room as he has another hatch in the side wall which must go next door or something. I know far more about the fire precautions here than I did.
[And what does my Greek teacher mean that one cannot use the historic/narrative present in English?]
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no subject
Date: 2004-04-13 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-13 02:38 am (UTC)Something I often find myself saying. Here I assume it refers to one of my many imposters.
then to Peterhouse Chapel
Ah. I wondered who did that when I popped in there before evensong on Saturday to read John 20 (which was my penance). Once I did it hastily before the choir rehearsal on Good Friday morning, in case the choir were scandalised by the frontal. I suppose this year they must just have put up with it. I blame the sacristan.
Ann (and
This is the first time I have ever been mistaken for
It was a better noise than last year
That's interesting.
expects us to know the etymology of 'with bread'
He often does this sort of thing. He takes it for granted that every one has a classical education, which is really rather sweet.
The Paschal candle is snuffed before Benediction.
Well yes. Strictly it should burn until Ascension Day, when the puff of smoke when it is snuffed represents the rising Lord, but I don't know that this is done anywhere any more. It would probably be a health and safety hazard.
And what does my Greek teacher mean that one cannot use the historic/narrative present in English?
Hmm. I believe (although I haven't checked) that if you follow the link to my description of 2003, you will find that I was also using the narrative present. Easter is incorrigibly present.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-13 09:45 am (UTC)I didn't so much mistake you for
There is indeed a chunk missing - quite a large one. This is just annoying. I edited it after posting when I found that I'd linked to the wrong post and the remote server shut the connection or something. I think it might have been eaten at that point. I'll rewrite it when I get a chance but now I must cook dinner so I can feed
I thought last year's tenebrae noise was poorer than the previous year's.
There are debates each year on Ship of Fools about when Pascal Candles should be lit or not. Some say that it should be lit for all services to Ascension Day and snuffed in the Gospel, others hold it ought to remain until Pentecost (as modern lectionaries make this period Eastertide). Then there is question as to whether it should remain lit during Benediction. I think it is inconsistent in fact to snuff it for Benediction because our Lord is present on the altar as he is also their after the consecration at Mass.
Carys
no subject
Date: 2004-04-19 06:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-19 08:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-19 08:49 am (UTC)I doubt that many people were looking at the mass sheet for the dismissal. I certainly wasn't, and would probably have been taken by surprise had Fr Ian used the "correct" formula. What was less clear was this Sunday, when the deacon said "Go in the peace of Christ", without the Alleluias and Dave Goode and I both responded "Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!"