The organist librarian

Spoke to Ann on the phone and finally got my head round the tax return for the income from the church! To Coulsdon to choose hymns for July and part of August with Vicky. Then to St Michael's for Nigel Groome's recital which was several shorter works including Healey Willan. Willan was organist at St George's, Beckenham where Nigel plays before emigrating in 1913. Quote "English by birth, Canadian by adoption, Scotch by absorption" - Healey Willan. He has written very fine music! I lit my candles for Mum and Dad in front of the Our Lady statue as usual. Had coffee and pastry with Nigel and Christopher Moore and we were talking about bad recitalists and the state of the RSCM. To Hinsley Room for launch of the interfaith group at the cathedral and it went well with 10 present including an Anglican and a Buddhist. Alfred Agius gave an excellent presentation and meditation material. Fr Richard Nesbitt (5 days a priest and still moved to tears)celebrated Mass for the J...

10 people attended the Cathedral Justice and Peace meeting addressed by Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi. She was so inspiring and spoke about interfaith work and what each of us could do. I said I thought we needed a vision of the epace that each of us can bring and that everyone can make a difference! See Isabel Losada's Tibet how one person can change the world. At the Pentecost Vigil Mass Bishop John Arnold celebrated confirmation. Liz sang the psalm and Alleluia as she is a catechist. Bishop John's homily was just right and he too spoke of the vision and inspiration we all need and how we need to look again at where we are in our faith journey. He spoke to each candidate before confirming each one - it was a lovely experience. I am sitting in the second row in the photo from "Solomon, I have surpassed thee". We sang "Come down O love divine"! Afterwards there was a reception in the hall. Thanks to Padre Rob for the Maronite and Coptic icons of Pentecost! I ha...

To the dentist to get a gum shield to stop me grinding my teeth at night! Went through the St Luke Passion with Adrian. To the Hinsley Room for meeting of Lent group. At Mass the men sang a long but beautiful motet by Byrd. To Justice and Peace group meeting with Richard Nesbitt and he too picked up on the Ambassadors for Christ theme we had been discussing at Lent group. This passage reminds me of Fr Anthony Barrett who chose it for his ordination. He really was an ambassador for Christ and is now in the U.S. There was much discussion of the Gospel of John and Liz went to see it at St John's, Upper Norwood. A lovely day - clear but colder. Spoke to Ann briefly on Skype. The J and P group are looking for a banner maker!