The Song of Simeon
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”
So what’s that all about?
Well, the story of it is that when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple as a baby, an old man called Simeon met them. Simeon had been promised that he would see the Messiah and so he recognised Jesus. Simeon was so delighted that he couldn’t keep from singing and we have his song remembered in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 2:29-32).
For our art theme this time, take the words of the Song of Simeon, read them through and see which phrase jumps out at you. You can use whichever version of the words you like, I like the King James version (above) but you may have another copy of the Bible which uses slightly different words, or trying looking online – search Luke 2:29-32. I’ve put another version at the end of this message.
Remember, art is unlimited – it could be a picture, but it could be a poem, or sculpture, collage of model. I have been working on a piece of jewellery.
So whatever art it is, photograph your work and send it to me
(LLM Lesley: llm.lesley@badshotleaandhale.org ). Also, tell me why you chose these particular words and I will put an online exhibition together. Please sign your work so I know it is your own and confirm that you are happy for us to exhibit it online and in St Mark’s
Closing date for receipt of photos: Sunday 31 January – which is in time for Candlemas, the date when the church remembers the story of Simeon.
(We will have a display which you can see at St Mark’s too, so bring your work there if you can.)
Just in case the King James’ version of the song doesn’t appeal to you, here is another:
“Now, Lord, you have kept your promise,
and you may let your servant go in peace.
With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles
and bring glory to your people Israel.”
What are you waiting for? I want to see that art!
Tag Archives: Arts at St Mark’s
Photos of the Arts at St Mark’s Festival
On the weekend of 20-22nd October St Mark’s held an Arts Festival, organised by the energetic and talented Bob and Lesley Shatwell. It consisted of an exhibition, concert, workshops, ceilidh and festival service… a mesmerising, colourful exuberant weekend celebrating art and the people of this parish. Here are some photos:
Re-drawing the map:an arts project
In 1957, a local Hale lady, Evelyn Caesar, produced a pictorial map of the parish of Hale as it was then. She included a wealth of historical material and her legacy is a very attractive document.
Since Miss Caesar’s time, there have been many changes in the Parish: some buildings have disappeared, others have been built. Perhaps the biggest change of all is the alteration to the Parish Boundary itself: we now live in the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale and consequently, we need to re-draw our parish map. This is particularly relevant this year as it is exactly 60 years since the original map was produced!
Our aim is not to produce a particularly accurate map, but to put pictures of buildings, parks and other features that mean something to us (we could even draw our own homes!). We also need plenty of people, dogs and cars to put on the streets. Photos of lots of local buildings and parks will be provided, but if you have any pictures that you would like to draw on our map, please bring them along.
You are needed to help with this project: GOOD LUCK!
Alison Ridgeon
Arts at St Mark’s
NEWS RELEASE
5th October 2017
Arts at St Mark’s as church holds inaugural arts festival
St Mark’s Church, Upper Hale, is holding its inaugural arts festival over the weekend of October 20-22.
The festival, which will include a concert, a ceilidh, art exhibition, arts, craft and music workshop, and a sung service on Sunday morning, has been organised by a group of artists and musicians in the church who were inspired by the wealth of creativity in the parish.
The festival is open to all at no charge and among the workshops on offer on Saturday will be stone-cutting, working with clay, music and an opportunity to redraw the map of Hale in an art workshop.
There will be a concert on Friday evening at 7pm featuring organ music, a ‘Cajun Boogaloo’, Wildflowers choral group, and the rock-a-billy country band Fingersmith and the Rocking Thumbs, and on Saturday at 7pm there will be a ceilidh and a celebration of work from the daytime workshops.
The Sunday service at 11am will be almost entirely sung (including the sermon) and will take place in a church decorated with artwork from Saturday.
Licensed Lay Minister and musician Lesley Shatwell, one of the organisers, will be leading the Sunday service. She said: “I love all kinds of music, but since I have been licensed as a lay minister, I have been wanting to share the variety of religious songs, gospel music and folk hymns; and maybe to see if I could put them together into a completely musical service.
“Creativity was bubbling up throughout our parish and I am not sure who first thought, ‘We could have a festival to celebrate all of this’, but the idea took hold. People offered time and expertise, musicians looked through their repertoire to select the right pieces and suddenly, it is all taking shape very quickly. Admission to the concert is free but donations may be made in aid of parish funds and the century-old organ, known as ‘Emily’, which is in need of refurbishment.
For further details call 07592 571243 or visit http://www.badshotleaandhale.org
Music for the Service of the Word – 22nd October 11am
This service will be largely sung. Many of the hymns and songs will be familiar, but just in case, these are links to most of them. We may not sing them in exactly the same way, but these links should give you a good idea of how they go.
1st hymn: I went down to the river to pray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbgfQ48hWuY
Penitence: Be still for the presence of the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugvUQ4m90U
Gloria: Peruvian Usual St Marks way
Collect: 10000 reasons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM
Reading: Turn, turn, turn (based on Ecclesiastes 3 1-8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4
Sermon: Now is the cool of the day (Lesley solo, acapella)
Creed: Seward (I D Sankey, 1892) Can’t find a link, but it’s very simple
Intercession: It’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x90HfUJl6eY
Kumbayah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3MiD_U4CHQ
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord for this new day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njsdfxK9FcQ
Lord’s prayer: Caribbean version from “Come and Praise”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgP0jI5hghU
Peace: Hevenu shalom Aleichem (Jewish chant)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB4RMIWroMY
Blessing: Amazing Grace Usual St Marks way
Dismissal: You shall go out with joy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unWnWSgoSt0
Arts at St Marks…
…how it all came about
There’s something creative happening in Upper Hale. Our friends Dave and Helena took one look at St Mark’s and declared that it would be just the place for art workshops and an exhibition.
Musicians had been playing for Sunday worship for a while and there have been concerts held in the past to raise fund for Emily (the organ), to socialise and generally to make music for the pleasure it brings.
I love all kinds of music, but since I have been licensed as a lay minister, I have been wanting to share the variety of religious songs, gospel music and folk hymns; and may be to see if I could put them together into a completely musical service.
Creativity was bubbling up throughout our parish and I am not sure who first thought, “We could have a festival to celebrate all of this”, but the idea took hold. People offered time and expertise, musicians looked through their repertoire to select the right pieces and suddenly, it is all taking shape very quickly.
Perhaps in years to come, when Arts at St Mark’s has grown to the size of Glastonbury or Edinburgh, people will wonder how it all started, but it really was just the spark of creativity which lit up simultaneously in a group of friends and the desire to make it happen for our neighbourhood.
Lesley Shatwell
Informal Festival Service – Sunday 22nd October, 11am
At St Mark’s Church on 22nd October there will be a special Festival Service at 11am. By this time we should have a highly decorated church as the output of the workshops will be on display! The service will be led by Lesley Shatwell. As she is a lay minister, it won’t be a communion service. However, it will be highly unusual, if not unique, in that it will be almost entirely a sung service, including the Gospel reading and sermon! We will make sure the melodies are accessible to all – no weird phrasing or unusual cadences designed to catch the uninitiated. The Music can be found here.
We will finish with a bring and share lunch. All welcome.
Music and Art Workshops – Saturday 21st October
At St Mark’s Church, Upper Hale there will be workshops in the morning 10 – 12:30 and the afternoon 2 – 4:30. We’re still finalising the times and contents, but there will be a come-all-ye music workshop where musicians of any standard and any instrument are welcome to come along and join in. There will also be a singing workshop, run by Veronica (Nonny) Tabbush, an experienced choir leader who has organised choirs in Aldershot and Bordon. She presently lives in the Bristol area and runs choirs there.
There will be painting and arts and crafts workshops, possibly with photography and stone masonry. We will also be re-drawing the map of Hale.
Concert – Friday 20th October, 7pm
In the evening there will be a concert starting at 7pm. We’ll have a couple of pieces on Emily (the pipe organ), songs to piano accompaniment, a rock band, a choral group and a rock-a-billy/country band. There will be an interval and tea, coffee etc. half way through.
Ceilidh – Saturday 21st October, 7-10
Saturday night ceilidh 7 – 10pm at St Mark’s Church, Upper Hale, GU9 0LT.
The band will be the one that plays for the annual Candlemas barn dance at St Georges, with Kris Lawrence as caller. There could also be a variable number of additional musicians, as those attending the workshop during the day will be welcome to sit in with us. We will also hopefully have a performance from the choir workshop and displays of art and photography generated during the day.
