Holocaust Sunday

It was good to be driving up the A470 again with the rising sun behind me to celebrate the Eucharist at Abercanaid first thing this morning. In Radio Four's Sunday worship slot, Morning Prayer was being broadcasted from Cardiff. Immediately I recognised the voice of Canon Peter Collins the Administrator of the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral, and later Archbishop George Stack whom I heard preaching at Llandaff Cathedral Evensong last Sunday. I was especially grateful because I'd got up too late to say Matins before I left. 

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, and this was the theme appropriately running through the service. Beautiful use was made of 'the Met' choir, singing Psalms and Canticles with Anglican as well as Gregorian content. The Archbishop spoke with simplicity and clarity, quoting Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the late Dean of Westminster Abbey Michael Mayne and Dietrich Boenhoffer in a brief address. Christian testimony these days is both ecumenical and interfaith in its scope, no matter what denomination the preacher is.

Abercanaid was snow free when I got there and the congregation pleased to be back to normal, out and about again. The sun shone as I drove home. I picked up Clare from St Catherine's after the Eucharist there and we went to Riverside Market, where a chilly wind blew uncomfortably, so we didn't hang around for long. After lunch we takled with Claudine in Burma, Rachel in Arizona, Amanda in Bristol. Yesterday we heard from a delighted Kath that she'd got the funding to take on tour performances from the parent and children dance project she's been working on for the past six months.

Owain came around for tea. He told us how his techno tracks are gradually being taken up for internet broadcast and gaining appreciation. He's put spare time to good use this past year, and it compensates somewhat for being stuck in a dead end job unable to make it back into his career employment option. After dark, thunder and hail in copious quantities surprised us. Owain sensibly took a taxi home, leaving us to get ready for the week ahead.