Argh!

I'm beginning to understand how the grumpers and complainers in my church must feel when all is not going as they want it. God hardly got a look in from me yesterday - I was far too exercised by what was going on around me.

Allow me to explain.

First - it was a DIY Sunday. I usually quite enjoy these; there seems to be a unity among the congregation, as if we're all pulling together to get things right for God, and if we make mistakes - well, we did our best. But yesterday, wrong decisions seemed to be rife. Despite the fact we've been singing the Schubert setting of the 1982 liturgy for nigh on two years, a decision was taken to use Merbecke, which is a setting of the 1970, so the words were all wrong in the liturgy books, and we had several visitors who must have been floundering! I wanted to argue the decision when it was taken, but went along with it for the sake of peace - I should have stuck to my guns. Grr!

Second - the new ghetto-blaster and CDs provided the music. Not bad in itself, but of course the recordings don't take account of the bellowers in the congregation who drag every tune back to a plod. To overcome this, presumably, the person in charge of the ghetto-blaster *conducted*! Most of the tunes happened to be in 3/4 time which, taken as one to a bar, lilt along nicely, but alas - the conducting reduced us to a heavy plod once again. I can't even bring myself to describe what the bawling plodders did to 'Shine, Jesus Shine' - not one of my favs, but okay if it's done with a swing - argh!

We're spoiled with the music in Holy T. I just wish that as soon as the organist is away we didn't revert to mediocrity with such alacrity. Surely the Mass would be better just said and we could simply sing the hymns - I don't suppose God has any objection to being bawled at but it might help the rest of us keep our minds on what we're there for.

Third - a certain flamboyant member of the congregation kept us sitting for ten minutes at the end while he said the same thing twenty different ways (how wonderful am I) and nothing was mentioned about the rather successful Links lunch that was provided by a couple of hard-working but unassuming folk on Saturday for the benefit of a project in very poor region of Africa. It would have been an opportunity to collect a little more money. Why didn't I stand up and say something? I hate myself when I'm so wet!

Trouble is, all this makes me realise that I'm no better than the folk who object to any tiny thing being changed from what it's always been. I want it done MY way, dammit! I can feel a tartan skirt and a blue rinse coming on . . .

Enneagram

This amused me enough to try posting it here. Despite being only two questions long and despite none of the profiles given being wholly accurate, I thought the results close enough to the mark. Plus I want to see how it turns out in Blogspot.

the Peacemaker Test finished!

you chose BX - your Enneagram type is NINE. "I am at peace" Peacemakers are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them. How to Get Along with Me If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure. I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advatage of this. Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit. Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally. Ask me questions to help me get clear. Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery. Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings. I like a good discussion but not a confrontation. Let me know you like what I've done or said. Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life. What I Like About Being a Nine being nonjudgmental and accepting caring for and being concerned about others being able to relax and have a good time knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe What's Hard About Being a Nine being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally being confused about what I really want caring too much about what others will think of me not being listened to or taken seriously Nines as Children Often feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant tune out a lot, especially when others argue are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves Nines as Parents are supportive, kind, and warm are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele The Enneagram Made Easy Discover the 9 Types of People HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages You are not completely happy with the result?! You chose BX Would you rather have chosen: AX (SEVEN) CX (TWO) BY (FOUR) BZ (FIVE)

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 33% on ABC You scored higher than 50% on XYZ

Link: The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Psalm for Hugh's retirement

Psalm Twenty-Three-and-a-Half.

Hugh is our gentle shepherd; therefore we want for nothing.
He maketh us to sit down and listen to the Lord; he maketh us to sit upon the pew and wait for the Lord; he maketh us to kneel upon the hassock – yea, even upon the bare wood.

He drifteth silently through the sanctuary of the Lord as a benign spirit.
He calleth upon the Lord in a loud voice; he calleth upon the Lord in a quiet voice and in the silence; and the Lord cometh.

And he explaineth to his sheep with exceeding diligence that the Lord shouldst be their refuge; he exhorteth his flock to worship the Lord in all things, to see the Lord in all things and to hold fast to the Lord alway; and the Lord cometh.

He moweth the green pastures, and keepeth them short; he braveth the wild beasts of the air that bite, and the Lord rewardeth him; He giveth unto him a new mower – yea, a mower to sit upon.

He climbeth to the very roof of the Lord’s house and cleaneth the gutters; he dangleth upon the ladder so that his flock may have light; even to the top of the bell-tower he climbeth and he showeth no fear: he putteth his trust in the Lord and the Lord holdeth him upon the ladder and he doth not fall.

He hath cut the very trees from the hill and hath lit many bonfires; he hath created a new view to the waters; he hath shewn the Lord’s house upon the hill to the weary traveller across the sea.

Hugh is our gentle shepherd; therefore we want for nothing.
He putteth his trust in the Lord and the Lord sees that he is good; he waiteth upon the Lord in the quiet places and in the wet places and in the cold places; he leadeth his flock in the paths of righteousness through the dark moments and he rejoiceth with them in the times of plenty.

O give thanks to the Lord for his servant Hugh, for he hath had a right judgement in most things;
Give thanks to the Lord for his good shepherd who hath led his flock with a gentle and loving hand.

    



I don't need it to be St Valentine's Day to tell you



But it's a good reminder!

Okay, okay, blogging now . . .

I just had a minor breakthrough on the migraine front. I spent the weekend fending one of the ****ers off with only partial success. By Sunday afternoon it was dug in and I retired to bed to sit (or rather lie) it out. However, Rob, probably in desperation for a night's sleep in his own bed, suggested I take another Imigran at night. I did this and had a reasonable night but by the morning was back to square one. 11 o'clock he suggested I try another. I almost didn't because I don't like to waste them, but here I am 10 o'clock at night, still on my feet and swilling Lucozade and munching oatcakes!

I missed the Monday Worship group meeting, alas, but I gather it went okay.