As I surfaced from sleep this morning, the street outside, normally quiet on a Sunday morning was full of the sounds of warning beepers and slow moving vehicles. I wondered what on earth could be happening. The carriageway on the bullring side was closed to traffic again, as last Sunday, several mobile platforms were positioned alongside and above the tree canopy, each with a worker armed with a fearsome looking chainsaw. Tree trimming time.
They worked through until lunchtime and did the entire section of trees lining the west face of the Plaza de Toros, about two thirds of the total length of trees to be trimmed. A start on this job was made early last Sunday at the far end it seems, although it didn't last long, and left a certain amount of foliage in the street, which took a couple of days to get clear away. I wonder if they'd arrived but then had to abandon the task last week because not all the crews or equipment turned up? This week they certainly seem to have got it right.
Adult Confirmation class scheduling meant that Doreen and I were both at St George's this morning, so she presided and I preached, as happened with Gilly on Easter Day. Doreen has done classes over the past two weeks, and the next two week, I'll be doing. She's been working with a couple of young lads whom Gilly has been preparing for Confirmation, teaching them to be acolytes, and eventually serve at the altar as well. Also she's press-ganged a couple of adults into acting as book bearer or crucifer, without them having wear robes, as there aren't any. Until lately adults have only taken part in lesson reading and interceding, so it's good that participation is slowly and gently increasing.
They worked through until lunchtime and did the entire section of trees lining the west face of the Plaza de Toros, about two thirds of the total length of trees to be trimmed. A start on this job was made early last Sunday at the far end it seems, although it didn't last long, and left a certain amount of foliage in the street, which took a couple of days to get clear away. I wonder if they'd arrived but then had to abandon the task last week because not all the crews or equipment turned up? This week they certainly seem to have got it right.
Adult Confirmation class scheduling meant that Doreen and I were both at St George's this morning, so she presided and I preached, as happened with Gilly on Easter Day. Doreen has done classes over the past two weeks, and the next two week, I'll be doing. She's been working with a couple of young lads whom Gilly has been preparing for Confirmation, teaching them to be acolytes, and eventually serve at the altar as well. Also she's press-ganged a couple of adults into acting as book bearer or crucifer, without them having wear robes, as there aren't any. Until lately adults have only taken part in lesson reading and interceding, so it's good that participation is slowly and gently increasing.
Michael, who's been caretaking and acting as sacristan at St George's for several years is leaving for Nigeria to see his family this week. There's a certain urgency about encouraging others to take on sacristy duties in his absence. This too is good for participation levels. Michael was reticent about coming up to the altar for a blessing to send him on his way, so we met him at the door where he often stands, giving out books, and blessed him there informally instead. Apart from regular British and Nigerian church members, there were worshippers from the USA, New Zealand and Germany in church this morning. All part of normality here in Malaga. I love it.
After lunch and a siesta, I did my usual walk around the port and the Old Town, taking care to end up in the vicinity of Dos Martires Parish Church by seven, as I discovered earlier in the week that the Cofradia de Nuestra Señora del Amor Doloroso, one of the several that are based here, would be holding an evening procession. The crowd wasn't large, in comparison with Semana Santa, so much so that the cafe opposite was operating normally with tables out in the street occupied by customers. It wasn't obliged to close as happened a month ago. There was, nevertheless, a full length procession with a fine band, which according to the church notice board, had come from Seville to play. There's such a lot I don't know about the history and organisation of these processional guilds, and how they integrate into city life. It's hard to know where to start finding out.
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