Mothering Sunday

We had a family service this morning attended by the uniformed organisations. Afterwards we recorded "Shine, Jesus shine" and "There is a longing" for Rose to take to Zimbabwe. The Mothers Union welcomed Alice on a visit from Zimbabwe in her lovely blue and white MU uniform. The recording went really well and the second takes are both the better ones. How moving Anne Quigley's setting is and it is good that it speaks of fear, grief, sickness and death. These are matters which all of us have to face including children and this song helps. And Zimbabwe needs the justice and freedom of which the song speaks. Last night we had deacons Richard and Peter in rose dalmatics at Mass and what a fine pair they are! It was good to be singing "Praise to the holiest" at the start. This is one of those hymns with 3 good tunes. Catholics know Terry, Anglicans divide between Dykes and Somervell although Terry is gaining some ground! It was a favourite of Cardinal Hume's who really understood the importance of hymns in people's prayer life. When Mum died I clung to Hail Mary and the Lord's prayer and today we sang Arcadelt's lovely simple setting of "Ave Maria" as the flowers were distributed. Other treats were "The king of love" and "Be thou my vision" to mark St Patrick.