Gaudete

 Songs of Praise I am sure the vicar said Gaudate Sunday not Gaudete and what's all this about fasting in Advent? It's not Lent and it's a joyful season of waiting in hope. Some ghastly singing. Why Christmas carols? It's Advent. CATHEDRAL CAROL SERVICE

Those of us who are not important enough

To have places reserved for us

And who turned up too late to get a seat at all,

Stand in the nave aisles, or perch on stone ledges.

We shiver in the draught from the west door.

We cannot see the choir, the altar or the candles.

We can barely see the words on our service sheets.

But we can hear the music. And we can sing

For the baby whose parents were not important enough

To have a place reserved for them,

And who turned up too late to get a room at all.

Wendy Cope

Family Values (Faber, 2011)

Saw again programme on restoring Notre Dame.