Happy St Stephan's Day

[yrieithydd]

I didn't do computery stuff yesterday so I missed out on the Merry Christmas thing. I should have done it when I was waiting for my parents to get back from their Midnight Mass (which had started 45 mins later than mine) so we could drink GIN and so get in first. I did text people and hope that I hadn't embarrassed anyone who'd left their phone on during Christmas services. Hope all are well without too many family stresses.

Comments

[curig.livejournal.com]

How was your Midnight Mass? The HT one was much as it usually is, though the congregation seemed to be a bit smaller than in previous years. Good sermon exploring "Seeing is believing" vs "Believing is Seeing".

[yrieithydd.livejournal.com]

It was ok. Started with O Deuwch, Ffyddloniaid and ended with Clywch llu'n seinio'n un and had a couple of others which currently escape me. Vicar broke the habit of a lifetime and preached at Midnight. He began by explaining he did not normally preach because he didn't think approaching midnight was the time for it, but then talked about what ++Rowan had said about Bethlehem and exhorting us to by the Bethlehem crosses at the back of Church and ended with prayers for the situation. 62 in the congregation according to Delyth which is down on 80-90 in previous years. We had two girls serving, one carrying the gospel book and the other a candle though they did not do anything during the Eucharist prayer. Given the vicar does not read from the gospel book I think we'd've been better with two candles. They used to be `serve' regularly but it's fallen off recently (partly I gather because one of those who used to serve went to university) so I was glad the vicar had asked them. Started at 1100 and finished by 1214 but people stood around and talked afterwards which surprised me.

[curig.livejournal.com]

We had Once in Royal, Of the Father's love, O come all ye faithful and Hark the herald. I've no numbers on the congregation size, but normally I think it doesn't look like there are many down in the nave and then there seem a lot when they come to communion whereas this year it looked like there weren't many and the perception stayed when they came up for communion (at the High Altar). Church was practically deserted when we left because (having lost cassock & surplice) I went back in to listen to John's voluntary.

Christmas morning we had Good Christians all rejoice, All my heart this night (sic) rejoices, Angels from the realms and O Deuwch Ffyddloniaid (bilingually: verses O Deuwch, True God of True God, See how the Shepherds, O Cenwch Angylion and Yea Lord we greet thee). The service was ostensibly bilingual but rather more English than Welsh (and tedious standard Evangelical gospel from Fr Ian).