As part of her preparations for retirement, Rev Debby needed to find someone to choose hymns for the ‘first Sunday’ services each month. She asked me to consider taking on that responsibility, and I said yes, after all, how hard can it be? … More How Hard Can It Be?
This article was intended for publication in the August 2018 issue of our parish magazine. However, due to a misunderstanding it missed the deadline. So here it is – exclusively – online … More Northern Lights (Ola Gjeilo, 1978-present)
The text for this movement of Brahms’ requiem was written by Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672) and is taken from the Psalms of David (psalm 84) … More Wie Lieblich Sind Deine Wohnungen (Brahms Op 45, mvt 4)
I think most readers of these articles know that for me, music is a key component of worship. This came up in a recent Bible Study discussion about worship, and I commented how frustrating it is when congregants complain that they didn’t know all the hymns … More When all else fails, Listen
This well-known poem was written in 1932 by Mary Elizabeth Frye in response to a conversation with a Jewish friend … More Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep (ME Frye 1905-2004)
The Lord’s Prayer has to be amongst the best known texts in the world. Whether there was a preference for the traditional or new version, chances are, you learned it at school – as do many, many UK children, even now … More The Lord’s Prayer Mark and Helen Johnson (2011)
This article comes to you against a backdrop of chemical attacks and reprisal bombings in Syria, protracted Brexit negotiations, teenage mental health issues at an all time high, endemic loneliness amongst the elderly in our society, poverty and food banks as a norm in the UK, the world’s oceans clogged up with plastics, more high school shootings in the USA, grotesque power-posturing by political world leaders, and countless other atrocities at home and around the world … More A Place at the Table
“Leaving Lismore” is a traditional Scottish folk song that I was introduced to about a year ago. These words were set to it by Helen Kennedy and seem appropriate at the Easter season and the coming of Pentecost … More “Spirit of God” (Church Hymnary 4, no. 722)
A week or two ago this was given out at a rehearsal of the Manchester Chorale. Although not an obvious choice for the Easter issue of our parish magazine, it called to me … More Locus Iste – Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
This is probably the hardest song I have taught the Children’s Choir during Sunday School singing practice, for three reasons … More Jesus is Alive! (Mark and Helen Johnson)
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 