I had such a great day yesterday.

We visited a church in Listowel, Co. Kerry. There is usually about 70 there but there were a fair few missing. (They must have heard there was a Jackeen coming!)

The music and the practical arrangements of it was great tho. I knew most of the songs so was able to sing along with my usual gusto 🙂 It was a different set up to what I am used to but it worked.

The first thing that happened was that the list totally changed about 5 minutes before the service was due to start. Not sure why but I think there were probs with getting the words up on the screen. But this didn’t seem to disconcert anyone and the list was rewritten and words were sorted out.

Then I noticed that there was not going to be a practice. People just turned up with instruments and by the time we were ready to go there was a guitar, mandolin, fiddle, two flutes, an accordian and some bongo drums (or congas – never sure which is which, the small ones anyway).

Then I noticed that no one had any mucic in front of them. Everyone just played.

And there was such a trad feel to everything. I really noticed it in I Stand Amazed in the Presence (How Marvellous), there was a slight change of rhythm which gave it an Irish feel.

In one of the songs there was mandolin solo. It was brillo.

I love the musical differences in churches across counties and countries. But I have to say that as I was singing God’s praises yesterday morning I KNEW I had ‘Come, West along the Road’ and I was delighted to be there.

I’ve returned to the East now and this Sunday will be in my own church, singing our songs our way 🙂

Viva la difference eh?

I wonder if anyone in Grosvenor plays the mandolin……

Happy New Year all.

As you see I took a long break from waffling.
All I can say is that my husband has benefitted greatly 😀

So….

Ireland’s first national Christian Radio station, Spirit FM has gone live on air. At the moment they are doing their test transmissions. They are on 89.9FM (the old Christmas FM freq)

So I’m driving to work listening to the station and next of all Just Like Heaven by The Cure comes on and I am SO excited. (You may know that The Cure is my fave band in the whole world and I have loved them for more than 20 years.) So I’m very excited as I’m listening to a Christian Radio station IN MY CAR and my fave band comes on!

But then I thought, hang on….! The Cure?!?!?!?! on a Christian Radio Station?!?!?!?!

DOES NOT COMPUTE…!

The test transmission is playing a mix of music at the moment and their website says that they, “will play the best mix of contemporary positive and uplifting music.”

Now The Cure have been accused of a lot of things but being positive and uplifting??? Robert Smith will eat his hat lololol 🙂

All joking aside I wish the station God’s richest blessing and favour and hope that they do give, as they hope to, “something positive to listen to and bring a passion for life to the airwaves.”

We could all do with that couldn’t we!

I’d love to hear your opinion on a Christian station that doesn’t stick to only Christian music, or your opinion on the station generally. It’s deffo worth a listen 🙂