His Goodness will lead me home

Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd.

How many different versions do you know?

Well I can name the hymns: Crimond, Brother James' Air, or using Henry Williams Baker's text you can sing Dominus Regit me, or St Columba, or since 1996 there is the version by Stuart Townend. (There is one particular rendition of this that will always stick in my mind.) I have also sung many anthem settings by James Leith MacBeth Bain lately arranged by Gordon Jacob, The Richard Goodall setting, I would imagine is very popular not just in church but in secular settings too. Back in lockdown we were introduced to an R&B Song called 19th and 23rd, by Vince Cross, including a rap from Jo Servi.

Whatever setting, whatever Genre, whatever translation or interpretation, the meaning and simplicity of Psalm 23 is always the same.

It just so happened that this years Good Shepherd Sunday, was the perfect time for Meg's Baptism. I was so glad I could make it to support her and her wonderful family and friends.

During the service, I was recalling my own baptism. Well, no, that isn't quite what I mean, I was recalling back to last summer when I celebrated 10 years in church music, and in REFLECTING I began by asking those present to think back 9,665 days ago to my baptism, I recited certain facts from my baptism, before then holding up the photo album from which I had found these said facts! I wasn't even One.

As the service moved and Meg was baptised and we welcomed her into the fellowship of faith, and congratulated her, the sheer elation that burst out of that girl was delightful to see.

I only remember my baptism because of photo's and family and friends telling me about it. But I really noticed the sincerity of Meg making those decisions for herself, the confidence in her answers, and the joy of being baptised made me realise that actually being baptised as an Adult is something that I think is better than new parents putting on their best clothes, and bringing baby to be baptised, not having a clue what it means, not really interested in why its done, other than "It's the done thing!" I have even witnessed a family member asked by the verger not to continue to smoke his cigarette in church.

I think the way of the world at the moment is in a place where Parent's pop into church, laugh at the hymns that they sang at school, get baby baptised and never be seen again, I really think Adults making their own decision to be baptised is more meaningful and gratifying, and maybe the way forward?

After the baptism we indulged in very tasty cupcakes made by Meg and Flic, before heading to Paula's for a lovely celebratory BBQ. What a brilliant day filled with Love, Laughs, Food, Fun, Cheese, Wine, and our lovely Levinia celebrating Meg's Mum's Baptism.

Meg and her Mum at Meg's Baptism

I may not be as present at St Peter's Weston Favell at the moment with my work in The Five Churches Benefice, but St Peter's will always be home, the people will always be family, and the place will always be my spiritual home.

Two days later we came together to celebrate the life of one of our own. Our Dearest Liz Tinston. I will describe her as an old dear, opinionated, stubborn, set in her ways, but my goodness me, she had the heart of gold to support us all, and love us all no matter what. She did a lot in Music and Theatre, and actually she knew mum, because her late husband Alan conducted an orchestra that Mum was in many many moons ago. Liz did everything and anything, all except Psalms!

Liz was a traditionalist like me, but always appreciative of the views of others and supported that. Liz often sang for me and supported what I get up to in church music. Her presence will always be missed, by us all. At Liz's funeral, it was her request to be in and amongst the choir, and whilst that was sometimes a little daunting, it felt like we were doing it for her.

I will want to be in the same place, when it is my turn!

I remember her posting on Facebook when she joined the choir in 2014, and the many frequent re-shares of Liz, immaculately dressed in her choir robes ever since.

Only a week later, I am back in the Black Dress, as we mourn the loss of our dear friend Geoff Johnson.

Geoff was one of the Vergers and Sacristan team during my time at All Saints Wellingborough. He and Diane were always so brilliant at ensuring their duties were done to the very highest standard. We all worked well together our little team, and it is at these sad times that you remember all those little details and memories that were made along the way. I remember meeting their daughter Katie for the first time, she had grown up and was living in Cardiff with Chris and their Son, Archer. I visited Bernard and Val in Cardiff most years back then, but every time I was in the Welsh Capital, Katie was home in Wellingborough with her mum and dad. In her teenage years, Katie was in the choir along with quite a lot of lovely similar aged people who I periodically met as they visited, As I write this, I don't even know if I ever told her about some of the little messages and rumours I found on pieces of music that she or her friends would have scribbled on back in those days. But, I remember adding her on Facebook, and seeing the words Naughty Nursey, and giggling!

Geoff's funeral was full of the love we all shared for him and eachother, We have probably done more funerals together than I have done without him as the verger, and often it is the little things that made him the best. He always wore a verger's gown, and on the occasions when I am playing at the church and then the crem, he would be standing right where I needed him, with my car keys ready for me to grab and shoot off. He would give me the information I needed confidently and clearly and at the exact precise moment that I needed it.

Katie spoke so fondly of her dad. Her words were perfect. and now I have to stop calling you 29, because I mustn't cut short the 40 amazing years of your life with your wonderful dad.

We had Psalm 23 during Geoff's funeral, and the preacher was very good that her words reflected Geoff, as a Verger, Husband, Dad and Grandad.

Those of us who have been at church lately will have been following John's Gospel, and the teaching that comes from readings that we hear over and over again. I have worshipped in different places, in different ways, I have found the chain, and one Sunday leads very neatly into another, and often back round full circle.

Good Shepherd: The King of love my Shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His and He is Mine for ever.

The Way, the Truth and the Life: Cafe Church at Orlingbury provided a tough challenging question: Is "The Way" a noun or an Adverb. Question 2: How do we as Christians show or demonstrate Jesus as The Way, truth and Life. The collaborative answer was follow the Ten Commandments and be like him

A new commandment I give unto you, that you Love one another, as I have loved you.

In these last few weeks, with a Baptism of one of our church family, the funeral of one of our much loved Choristers, and the funeral of a fantastic Verger. These stories come together on each occasion, in different ways and from different directions, but still comes back to the same Psalm 23, and the same command to Love one another.

I really struggled to write this posting as each individual, each story is just as important as the message that John's teaching brings.

I have to turn to Townend's arrangement to close. Townend writes a Chorus to his Psalm 23, no other arrangement does. and what are his words:

And I will trust in you alone,

and I will trust in you alone,

for your endless mercy follows me,

your goodness will lead me home.

After some very emotional days and moments, I needed some quiet time alone.

I was also trying to find the words to use the line from Townend, "He leads me by the still still waters, His goodness restores my soul"

However, I didn't quite think this one through as I ended up walking down Wellingborough Embankment, along the river bank!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/fe057e_ab6ecb2a4ad4450e9f87a58c5a514460/480p/mp4/file.mp4

Wellingborough Embankment, and my poor attempt at finding Still Waters

But the final line is to commend "The Paddling Pool" rendition of Stuart Townend's arrangement, Which will always come to mind when I sing this version.