Will's Site

Start:	Nov 8, '08 7:30p
End:	Nov 8, '08 9:45p
Location:	All Hallows’ Church, Gospel Oak, London NW3 2LA

Highgate Choral Society's Autumn Concert

Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony
Holst: Hymn of Jesus
Hamish McCunn: The Land of the Mountain and the Flood

All Hallows’ Church, Gospel Oak, London NW3 2LA

£23 £18 £13 concessions £10

Box office: 07952 508234
or in person from Les Aldrich Music Shop 98 Fortis Green Road N10

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=89886435227&h=CfiQj

http://hcschoir.com/level3.asp?ID=1&Ref=concerts&ID2=1

The highlight of BBC's Songs of Praise, Big Sing, October 2008

October 2008

Spot the face in the choir of 1,000

Spot which Cyberman is Will!!!

OK. So now I’m mad. After paying 50p for parking in Hampstead I’m now having to pay £40 for being 3 minutes late. Grrr. And I was in a good mood, thinking about writing this Christmas letter. Now how it’ll turn out is anybody’s guess. Stand back. The blue touchpaper has been lit!

The idea was to look back as all good witterings have done in the past. We did that at the Wood Green Mennonite Church a couple of weeks ago when they celebrated my being part of the community for 25 years. It was such a lovely gesture. Lots of stories. A book of contributions from most people in the church, and a special prayer time where everyone laid hands on me (mind you with 20 heavy hands pressing down on my shoulders I thought my knees were about to give out)!

I came to the church in the autumn of 1982. A couple of years prior to that I’d read this incredibly influential book called ‘The Politics of Jesus’ which has shaped so much of my thinking ever since. Just last month I read a book about the author John Howard Yoder by my former colleague Mark Thiessen Nation. It confirmed just how much the themes in the original book had taken root in my psyche (and not just mine but a whole wealth of folk from theologians to lay people). Since Yoder (no, not ‘Yoda’ of Star Wars trilogy fame) was a Mennonite from the US mid-west it is not surprising that I felt right at home in the WGMC, the only (English speaking) Menno’ congregation in the UK. 25 years on I still feel right at home, amongst wonderful people that I know love and care for me. So I’m grateful (even if I still have to pay the fine). And so far they haven’t objected to my guitar playing and song leading in worship. Funny how years ago I picked up a guitar and hid behind Andrew Kreider and wanted to be like him. Well that has never happened… but by the time he went to university (and was no longer there to hide behind) I at least was able to attempt to lead the singing without cracking up or drying up. OK there have been a few croaks in my time but no unforgivable bloopers.

Another book I’ve read recently was about the aftermath of the massacre of Amish school children in the little Pennsylvania farming community known as West Nickel Mines. You’ll remember the news from back in October 2006 where a known neighbour shot several girls at a one room school house for unexplained reasons. The book ‘Amish Grace’ explores the community’s shocking knee-jerk response of ‘instant forgiveness’. How grieving parents and relatives reached out to the bewildered widow of the murderer.

Despite reading a couple of books on subject I’m left with a mixture of feelings. Awe being a prevailing one. It seems those familiar words of the Lord’s Prayer ‘forgive us our… as we forgive those who…’ is so embedded in their life that there isn’t even the slightest hesitation before they practice what they preach. These ‘quiet people’ seem to know what it means to follow Jesus in a way that everyone understands.

True questions still remain: What do they do with their pain and grief? What do they do with their anger? What do they do with their rage?

One quote from the book remains with me, not from an Amish mouth, but from a reporter at the scene: ‘…our security lies in reaching out, not in striking back’. Thinking of quotes, another from Mark’s book comes to mind from Yoder’s words ‘…the Christian life is not a matter of rules, definable once and for all and for everyone, but of constantly living under the leading of God. The Bible’s prohibitions show us the minimum not the maximum level of obedience.’ Of course we sell the books at www.metanoiabooks.org.uk (do you think I’d miss the opportunity)?

Looking back… yes I’m grateful that Viv is still willing to skate with me after 6 years. True there’s been no further threat to her front teeth. She’s not afraid of anything (went to climb Mont Blank didn’t she in September with husband Neall. Mad!) But there has been the odd ‘tiff’!

There we were, Will and Vivienne watched by coach Emma. We’re working on some new steps for our free dance (this year we used some of Nina Simone’s wonderful music: Feeling Good and Love Me or Leave Me. Such great stuff to skate to). I think it was a forward inside 3 turn if I’m not mistaken (and I usually am). Unusual for her, Viv was having a hard time of it. She normally handles all the harder steps… e.g. twizzles and choctaws that I continue to struggle with, but that day, forward inside right three-turns were a struggle. Wanting to encourage (obviously) and offer a suggestion I began to open my mouth, but before anything came out there were these strident words ‘you say a single word and I’ll kill you’! Woooah!

Emma’s jaw drops.

Will backs off. Thinks... definitely time to keep quiet!

Then there’s this precious moment of silence...

Vivienne realises what she’s just said.

Vivienne goes bright red.

Anyway… I’m still here! Yeah!

Now we’re working on an Original Dance programme to some Irish country version of Hey Jude. Wonderful. And I’m grateful. There’s no-one else I’d rather skate with Vivienne! Honest.

Looking back... a wonderful highlight in the autumn was when Jack and Tami and her family visited from San Diego. Jack and I worked together on a project in South African in the early 70’s and then sailed across the Atlantic in his 36 ft. sloop Ganimore in 1974. Since then we’ve only seen each other a couple of times so it was extra special for them to visit. Sounds like it was a long time in the planning. Her parents had been thinking about what to do for their 50th wedding anniversary — and that was 3 years ago! So I was the beneficiary of their family travel celebrations.

Looking back... there have been the regular staff changes at the LMC as folk from the US/Canada end their terms with us. In February we said goodbye to Jim and Lois Bare (after he’d done his big Lands End to John O’Groates cycle ride), and welcomed Ed & Phyllis Shirk from Colorado.

And looking forward… I’ll be spending Christmas with family in Bristol. Mum’s there now (she’s 93) living 15 minutes drive from Liz. I’m trying to get down there every other weekend but haven’t done well lately. Was supposed to be there this weekend but still have the after effects of ‘man-flu’ as it is affectionately called in some circles.

We’re hoping to do an international competition in Germany in June if Viv’s timetable permits. Don’t have any holiday plans apart from that. This year’s was a week’s skating course at the former winter Olympic site of Garmische at the foothills of the beautiful Alps.

Blessings, Grace and Peace

Will

'Feeling Good' and 'Love Me or Leave Me' by Nina Simone
Blues and Quickstep

Rhumba & Quickstep

Oh no! Here we go again. Lots of good intentions but will it ever get off my computer (or mobile phone in this case - yes you know I’m a gadget freak) and get onto paper, AND... get into print, AND... get into the post/email/blog (at www.newcomb.org.uk)?

I have actually tried to write some witterings in the last two years. The one I’m writing is on top of a first draft from last year (started in July would you believe - yes. YOU would).

If I run out of things to say I can always edit what I wrote last year that’s just below & off the screen.

Somewhere there must be a computer program for generating a Christmas letter where all you have to do is fill in a few questions and it will spew out some bardlike composition. Sorry. I haven’t found it yet!

Well you’re wondering what’s different this year that I’ve actually started writing it on time? Well, I have an hour or two spare and I’m sitting in the Gatehouse up in Highgate with a pint of Leffe Blond beside me. And with the sun streaming in through the stained glass windows, all feels well and reasonably relaxed. That’s thanks to everyone else taking the strain I’m afraid. We have our LMC Christmas Party this afternoon which I’ll only be able to attend for a few minutes before I have to rush out and catch the last rehearsal for the Christmas show at the ice rink. Grease (on ice), but for copywrite reasons actually called Summer Loving On Ice - sounds like a cocktail... sounds like a plan!!! It’s all right. I’m not playing Danni. But I AM one of the T Bird gang (despite being about 40 years older than anyone else on the ice). Always wanted to be part of a gang, but never had the leather jacket!

I should otherwise have been at a wedding right now. At last our former resident Greek god, Jonathan, is getting married. Bless him. Would have been nice to celebrate it but I forgot that I had this rehearsal this afternoon.

While I have not been a particularly ‘happy bunny’ this year I have got by with some highlights to brighten up the path. Vivienne is still willing to skate with me despite being dropped on her head a year or two back, breaking a couple of front teeth. But we haven’t done THAT lift again, surprise, surprise. We haven’t won anthing this year but we have been skating in a more advanced group with more difficult compulsories and a longer free dance. With 2.5 minutes to work with Emma (our new coach, and former pupil herself of the lovely Shirelle) created a great programme with a medally of Rhumba and Samba in that order. Having the faster steps later on was quite a boost which I think both Vivienne & I enjoyed every time we reach it. As ever, Maurine and Shirelle came up with fabulous costumes so we were the best dressed couple on the ice again at the British Adult Championship in October, even if we did come last! But it felt good to be in a group that we aspire to be like, even if we’re at the bottom. And if you ever think I’m getting a bit big headed you can always stick on the DVD of the competition to bring me back to earth (actually it’s not TOO bad).

I haven’t had the energy to do much singing, but did get to do the Monteverdi Vespers in July which was absolutely fabulous. Singing does give me a buzz. One of my new colleagues Sharon did the Bernstein Chichester Psalms a month ago, lucky thing. It WAS good.

Sean, Judith, Alan and Jared cheered me up in March when we all went to Venice for 5 days. If you thought Paris was romantic, then you need to go to Venice. But make sure you’ve got your overdraft sorted before you leave and go before the temperature rises and the commensurate odours! It is sooo beautiful. Just like all those Canelettos. Nothing’s changed. I thought I’d be repulsed by all the gold in the San Marco cathedral but it was absolutely fabulous, AND we caught a Sunday evening service with a visiting choir. I’m only sorry that I couldn’t afford to go on the HCS singing trip there 4 years ago and actually get to sing in the place myself.

The same ‘team’ went to Rome in 2005, a trip I’d been looking forward to for a lifetime. Unfortunately we arrived a couple of days before the Pope’s funeral so the Vatican was out of bounds. No matter. I’ve now got an excuse to go back! Ancient Rome was fantastic. Perhaps more impressive than I’d imagined. It also helped to expose the character of Constantine and clarified how and why his presence had helped corrupt the church ever since - but that’s another story. Read Stuart Murray’s Post-Christendom. Judith is a student of the Early Church history so she was a great resource to us all. Just a week earlier (I’ve been reviewing my last unpublished Witterings) I was on an HCS singing tour of Prague which was a great opportunity to see my sister Caroline and David who’ve been living there for more than 15 years. We got to sing the main Sunday service in St Vitus’ Cathedral but didn’t understand a word of the sermon (in Czeck) which apparently was a eulogy on John Paul II who died while we were on the trip.

Work has been ‘challenging’ by which I mean ‘the computers have been driving me crazy’. They seem to have settled down now for a couple of months thanks to some guidance from a friendly neighbour who is a computer consultant. Pity John and his wife Anicka are only here for a year. In amongst all the crazyness, Tim did get our webshop sorted out so we’ve been selling our brand of theological tomes over the internet since June at www.metanoiabooks.org.uk (and also at books.ekklesia.co.uk - a mirror site run by friends who host the busiest Christian website in the country).

After doing the world’s first official ISU international skating competition for the elderly and decript (at the beautiful Alpine resort of Obertsdorf) a couple of years ago, Shirelle insisted we start to do a little ballroom to find out what the real thing was about and thus, the theory goes, to help with our ice dance. Unfortunately a couple of quotes from our teacher Peter have been struck out by the editor. On ice, Emma hasn’t yet refined the art of the quotable phrase like Shirelle, despite being on the receiving end for years herself. But anyway, Peter has been wonderful and very helpful - and he doesn’t even shout. One lesson he spent the entire hour trying to reconfigure my face for the judges benefit. While I still have some way to go, the video proves he’s been effective and I actually look as t hough I’m enjoying myself now and again! Learning a Rhumba routine has been a lot of fun. Unfortunately we don’t to it often enough.

Bad sign. I’m just checking what I wrote 6 months ago!

Hey! I’ve forgotten to mention the wedding I went to in September (which resulted in getting into all sorts of trouble since it was only a couple of weeks before our big championships). Young colleagues Tim and Charletta returned to the US after a couple of years and had this wonderful wedding celebration lasting a couple of days. Set at a site next to a lake, the sun came out for the open-air ceremony. We spent the first night singing. Had a great veggie reception followed by a ‘Talent Show’ where I teamed up with their English friend Joel to do a couple of Flanders and Swan songs: The Gasman Cometh and The Song of Patriotic Prejudice. They seemed to enjoy the non-PC flavour! But I thought it not best to do Tom Lehrer’s Masachism Tango which I did at their London celebration before they left. I’ll do that for Vivienne one day (since we’ve spent most of the year working on the Tango on ice). There were about 10 of us Brits there out of a total of 200. I have a few piccies and videos on the web site. The bad part of the 5 day trip was that I started coming down with flu after the talent show and couldn’t face the country dancing. But did spent the next couple of days catching up with all those wondeful people I’ve worked with here in London who all live in the same area 150 miles East of Chicago. I had planned to spend the last day exploring a bit of downtown ‘Windy City’ but felt so awful I slept for 10 hours instead on the floor of the departure lounge in O’Hare airport. Oh it was good to get home and bed!

Oh dear. I never got to tell you about my round the world trip two years ago. Having worked at the LMC for 20 years, they gave me 2 months paid leave as a sabbatical AND a return flight to the US. Having got half the way around the world on the LMC I just had to pay the extra to do the full circuit and include New Zealand (for Chris & Margaret Marshall and John & Lesley Grant) and Aussie (for Sally & Jim Longley and cousins Simon and Jenny up in Brisbane). I spent a month being a volunteer at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana which enabled me to catch up with most of my former colleagues. I then had a couple of weeks to drop in on friends in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Washington State. A special treat was to meet up again with Jack and Tami George in San Diego. I did my Atlantic crossing with Jack and friends back in 1974. It was such a special trip. Visiting places is great, but visiting friends is the best.

Hope I’ve run out of space! I’ll have to transfer it to the computer and reformat. Thinking of it, I could do with a reformat too.

Love and blessings

Will

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