Organ recital

Sunday
Between the church service and bible study this morning, we had an opportunity to visit the house adjacent to the church which has been renovated ready to receive a refugee family. The house had lain empty for several years, and was in a pretty dismal condition when Roger and I saw it back in the late Spring, when we were involved in an initial clean-up morning, doing general cleaning, pulling up old carpet etc. Since then a lot of work has been done, some of it by contractors - for example replacing the roof and windows, and some of it, for example painting, again by church volunteers - unfortunately some of that was while we were in Europe in August and September, so we were unable to be a part of it. However, it is now ready, and the family will be arriving this week - a family of eight from Eritrea - six children between the ages of two and seventeen! Eritrea is in the northeastern quadrant of the African continent, sandwiched between Sudan and Ethiopia, and is considered by the United Nations as having one of the most oppressive ruling parties after the Democratic Republic of North Korea. The family have been living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia for eight or nine years. I can’t begin to imagine what it will be like for this family to come from where they’ve been to a country so different, with such a different climate, a language they don’t understand, etc etc. Interestingly enough, in Bible study we have been looking at parts of Genesis, including that of Abraham being told by God to take his wife and nephew Lot and leave everything they are familiar with, and go where God instructs them - to a country they know nothing about:
“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
Genesis 12:1

At 4 pm we were going to an organ recital at Hyde Park United Methodist. Ordinarily, we would have gone for a walk somewhere in the intervening time, but the weather wasn’t very conducive to walking outside, and whilst Roger decided to go work out at the gym, I opted for some quiet time at home. The organist was an Australian organist from Melbourne, a very lively enthusiastic person, who during his career has done numerous extensive tours in England, Europe and North America. The program was wonderful - quite varied - and he spoke quite extensively about each piece, adding to the interest. The recital is always followed by a reception, where we met a couple that we know, and chatted to as we drank and nibbled! I have blipped the console once before, though a number of years back now. It is situated in front of the congregation, so you can see all his footwork as well as his hands on the keyboard. So this time, I thought I would Blip the organ pipes at the back of the church, either side of one of the stained glass windows.