Music and Mission in the Afternoon September 2017

When you see such names as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Lerner and Lowe and Andrew Lloyd Webber in a concert programme, then you know that you are in for a treat. This was the situation on Sunday 24th September at Christ Church, Longridge. A large audience gathered to hear music performed by a quartet of versatile singers and instrumentalists, combined with updates from Mission Partnerships in Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone which the church has strongly supported for many years The opening number based on the theme from ‘Phantom of the Opera’ really raised the roof, as the quartet, featuring Ian Williams (piano) Jason McMahon (clarinet) David Rose (percussion) and Carol Rose at the organ launched the afternoon. (Actually I was rather concerned as the roof may be needing repair.) We stayed with Lloyd Webber for solo items Read more…

Rev Ray Writes – Autumn 2017

As I sit to write this article I am confronted by the news of fighting in Virginia USA and of a car deliberately driven into a crowd, killing at least one person. Contrast that with a text from St John’s Gospel (chapter 15) in which Jesus told his disciples that he loved them so much, he was willing to give up his life for them.  In the same way that God the Father loved Jesus the Son, so he in turn loved his disciples.  Then he issued a command saying, “Love one another as I have loved you”. We see here a progression.  Love starts with God who passes it onto his Son, who passes it onto his followers who are then commanded to pass it on to one another.  Jesus knew that love cannot be hoarded like some commodity Read more…

Music in the Afternoon for Christian Aid 2017

The 13th edition of the ‘Music in the Afternoon’ series held at Christ Church on May 14th saw the first visit to Longridge of Preston Flute Group. They are an enthusiastic ensemble of around 20 members, who meet fortnightly on Fridays in Woodplumpton and whose aim, inspired by the late local music teacher Mike Walder, is to promote all aspects of flute playing. Their repertoire demonstrated the wide range of the instruments in the flute family, from the highest, the piccolo, to that of the lowest, the giant contrabass flute. Skilful ensemble playing was evident from the start with the opening three movements of ‘Animal Crackers’. Musical Director, Rob Rainford then conducted the group in an engaging arrangement of ‘Eleanor Rigby’. Rob went on to demonstrate his expertise at arranging by introducing all the sounds of the various flutes in Read more…