The pipe organ and Johann Sebastian

from w
There are few sounds more wonderful than the D Minor Toccato and Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach (though some of his other pieces could do with a good edit!). The sound of a very good pipe organ can be marvellous, though I have at times been heard to say, 'They should put a bomb under some of those old pipe organs in churches!' which deeply shocked listeners. I said this in the context of a music conference where most of the delegates were excellent musicians. My point was that this instrument is irrelevant in many churches with small congregations as it is overpowering to the human voices. A piano, flute, guitar would be more suitable. Pipe organs are fine if there are two hundred singers. Also, how many students are there learning the pipe organ these days? An elderly man in a nearby church continues to battle on playing into his nineties!

Next weekend in Geelong there'll be an Organ and Choir Festival with concerts in numerous venues Saturday and Sunday. I hope to get there on the Saturday and I will NOT talk of bombs this time.

The pictures here are variations from a photo I took on Sunday at Coburg Uniting (once Methodist) Church im Melbourne - no-one plays the instrument as the congregation meeting there sing a capella. I had in mind the Bach Toccato and Fugue with the overlapping sounds.

Wearing red today for Pentecost

from w
It was great to see so many women, children, men attempt to wear red today at church for Pentecost. The decorations of streamers, the banners, flowers, kids whirling red streamers - there was bright colour and smiles everywhere. Even the minister had put pinkish dye in his hair. It was a lovely morning which included a confirmation of an elderly woman, and induction of two new elders. I mucked up the first song by stopping early - but perhaps there is a kind of chaos about pentecost anyway! By the final song, a new one, we galloped along in a kind of rocky rhythm and all was well with the world. Except...for the Fiji news concerning the military government and the Methodist Church there.

Harvest Festival

from w
Here are three photos of the decorations organised by Pat and Janet up at East Geelong this morning. The goodies will go later on to Concern and Foundation 41. Some churches don't call it Harvest Thanksgiving anymore but Earth Day or something about ecology and greening. I didn't stay long, just gave my cake mix, jelly, and other items and left quickly as Peceli and I had to go to Dandenong. (See babasiga for photos of some of the Fijian people at the Trinity church there today.)

Whittington Church is 150 years old

from w
Now 150 years is not long for a church to people in places like Britain and France, but here it is a long time. The suburb next to us is Whittington, once called St Albans and the old name is being used again for the extended area of Whittington to give it a classier name. This little Uniting Church had a party and worship for their celebration and the Uniting Church Moderator of Victoria came down. He's a Tongan, Rev. Jason Kioa. In the photo (courtesy of 'Crosslight')Jason is standing next to Ross Pearce who is the imterim pastor. St Albans and St Andrews were part of our Geelong East Parish for a while but alas the vote went to separate us from the other two congregations a year or so ago. Anyway, the St Albans/Whittington church folk are getting a new minister next February who is a Samoan, Rev Sani Vaeluaga. Way to go - with more Pacific Islanders coming into Geelong. Hope he and his family like to drink kava!

Another Geelong skyline

from w
Just a blue biro drawing of the back of the St George's Presbyterian Church. I drew this the same afternoon as the Moorabool Antiques Shop from across the road in Ryrie Street. The church is on the corner of Fyrie and Latrobe Terrace.