January 06, 2004

Christ is Baptised!

I wish you all a blessed Theophany!

This morning we travelled to Shrewsbury for Liturgy and the blessing of the waters. As usual, we were a bit late - I overslept and it is normally a 90-minute drive. The journey is strewn with 30 mph villages and at least one speed camera (with the constant threat of others, of course). We got there just before the Great Entrance.

The service was well attended, especially in the choir. The music at Shrewsbury is always wonderful and very singable. Toward the end of the liturgy of the catachumens, a couple of strangers walked into the church and started greeting people in a loud and evangelical manner. I thought we were in for trouble. The made their way up to the choir to sit. One of the choir members came downstairs shortly thereafter to retrieve a booklet about the church. They did come down to be blessed with the water, but left shortly thereafter.

Fr Stephen is particularly generous in his use of newly blessed holy water. After slinging it around the church and up in the balcony (where the choir stand), he doused each individual with a liberal splash on the head. We initially thought we would go to the blessing of the Severn, but learned that the journey required a bit too much walking for a cripple, a pregnant woman, and a toddler. We filled a bottle with holy water and headed home.

In our own little Eucharistic community, we rarely have opportunities to liturgically participate in the great feasts of the Church. Today was a reminder of how wonderful and important they are.

Posted by david at January 6, 2004 10:53 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Very nice.

Posted by: aaron at January 7, 2004 12:15 AM

And I thought we had a long drive at 60-minutes. My hat is off to you, Sir.

Posted by: "Crimthann" at January 7, 2004 04:06 PM

Does Fr Stephen still do the pilgrimage to St Winifred's shrine in November?

Posted by: Havdala at January 7, 2004 11:26 PM