Second Sunday of Easter

I miss singing "Victimae paschali" again this year! In the morning we sing "O sons and daughters" arranged by Anthony Greening - Martin Baker memorably arranged this for the Vigil. Liz is cross because I ask her to sing at evensong and she has a dinner to prepare. I am worried because 2 sopranos say they may not be coming but in the end everyone is present and we are able to bring off big items like Stanford's Psalm 150, Stanford in C and "Blessed be the God and Father". Ellie sings the solo more confidently and with better breath control so she ought to pass her Bishop's Award this year. Twice today the wrong hymn number is announced but all is soon sorted! The Sanders responses based on the Dresden Amen from "Parsifal" work well. We sing a fine hymn by Timothy Dudley-Smith "Light of the minds that know him" to a haunting minor Welsh tune. Best of all there is a procession to "Hail thee festival day" - the congregation of 5 tagging along behind the choir. Vaughan Williams has written a wonderful tune for these words and it just is not Easter without it! I play the Hallelujah Chorus and get a little clap! Before the service I play the delightful 2 part variations on "Christ lag in todesbanden" by Bach - happy music for a joyful time!
Deacon Peter Simpson comes for dinner for the first time and we sat in the garden at the end of a balmy April day talking about hymns we love. He has seen our table and water feature on this blog! Liz cooks a delicious meal - soup, stuffed cabbage leaves, pavlova with raspberries. Peter brings an excellent bottle of red wine and is a delightful guest giving us a beautiful grace about Emmaus. When he reads the gospel he greets us all with a smile and a touch of Yorkshire schoolmaster firmness. His reading and singing are clear and encouraging too and of course he turns out to be a Catenian! We are blessed to entertain him!