The Messenger

Once again the months have flown past and The Messenger is ready for distribution ... just!  It was a bit of a scramble at the end ... but we made it!
There's a pdf file on the Parish Website ... that has the best reproduction of the pictures but just remember to follow the page numbering so that there's some kind of logical order ... otherwise it ends up being a very confusing read!
http://saintnicholasparishchurchbelfast.shutterfly.com/themessenger
There are spare copies in Saint Nicholas' as well ... and they may be taken away freely.

One of the interesting features in it is the article From the Organist's Bench.  For two weeks we've not had use of the instrument due to restoration work.  Our church secured a grant which will pay to bring it back to the original appearance from 1906.  Some very unsympathetic modernizing was done in the 1970s ... for example ... black plastic backing was added to the two panels at the side and the carved key cheeks were removed.

 There had been a glass cover as well and it was removed.  Fortunately the glass was stored in the organ loft and will be replaced as part of the current work.

You can see clearly how the original design fits the instrument so much more comfortably ...

The design was copied from a sister organ in a neighbouring church which had been built at the same time by William Hill.

 It is a fine organ and has been looked after with great care over the past hundred years ... so we're getting it ready for the next century!
Meanwhile ... Advent is on the way and this Sunday I hope to introduce the Jesse Tree to the parish ... the magazine contains a page of small symbols representing aspects of God's faithfulness to the people throughout the period from creation to incarnation.  Each day one symbol is placed on a tree or branch to count some of the ways that God looked after the people and prepared them for the coming of Jesus as an infant.

It will be interesting to see if anyone takes up the challenge to do a Jesse Tree at home. 

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,

and our eyes behold the evening light,

we sing your praises, O God:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.