The last hymn ...

We said goodbye to our priest today. He's off to be a bishop - the Bishop of Brechin. He's ministered to Holy Trinity Dunoon for eight years, and we've come a long way in those years. He's also been Rector of St Paul's Rothesay, and for the past five years he's been Dean of the diocese - it's not exactly been a peaceful parish ministry. 

We managed, more or less, to get to that final hymn without total meltdown. I find that concentrating on my breathing - like a good chorister - helps. So does remembering that this is a family in the prime of life going on, growing up, doing things well. What's not to rejoice in?

By the way, we were singing "Guide me O thou Great Redeemer". To Cwm Rhondda. Great hymn, and pretty appropriate. The singing was great too. People had turned out in number to say goodbye, and they sounded as if they meant what they sang.

All will be well, and all manner of things will be well ...