SUMMER 2019 NUMBER 2

Holy Trinity Geneva

Magazine

In this issue:

The Chaplain writes until daybreak after what appears Music and Mystery … about music and to have been an early Eucharist.

mystery This day, rightly called Easter Archdeaconry Choir Saturday as it is the Saturday in Festival the Octave of Easter, we are still During Easter week this year, contemplating the greatest of all Led Astray by Artistic mysteries. The mystery of Holy Trinity Geneva hosted the Imagination Archdeaconry Choirs’ Festival at Christ’s resurrection. And what which, under the direction of this means for us is Paul’s subject Mark Jones, around fifty people in tonight’s second reading. How Our HTC Hero sang – first at Choral because Christ is raised by God and then at the Sung Eucharist on from the dead, we too may have St Gallen visit Low Sunday morning. It was a that same hope. Though, he goes delightful and enriching moment on, we shall all be changed in the what happened to Jesus who was for those of us who were twinkling of an eye. executed on the first Good Friday privileged to be present. Some and then subsequently was have asked that the homily which To say that Easter is a Mystery encountered in different ways, by I preached at the Evensong might does not mean that it is a puzzle different people, in different be made available, and though I to be solved. It is a mystery in the places over the following period think that it is on the website I am sense of being something which of time, prior to the event which happy to repeat it as my piece for is just too big to be contained. we describe as his Ascension into this magazine. So here it is: Contained by anything – be that God’s glory. theological speculation or Listen! says S. Paul I will tell you whatever. Whatever else the resurrection of a mystery. And although he goes Jesus Christ means, it is clear that on to attempt to do just that, he But that doesn’t mean for a single it means that the course of history fails. Like every preacher, before moment that there should be is changed for ever. And it also him and since, however, he does nothing further said – that means that our understanding of expend a fair number of words somehow or other the tomb was God, and of who God is, is also before he gives up! You will empty on the first Easter morning changed for ever too. These perhaps remember the story and that is it. After all, as some things we explore through these 7 recorded of Paul in Acts (20 ) that of us thought on Easter morning, fifty days of the Easter season. he preached a sermon in Troas there could have been a whole which lasted until the middle of number of reasons why that was And yes, it is deeply mysterious. the night. An unfortunate young the case, not all of them involving It is too big to be contained – man named Eutychus fell asleep what we believe to be the certainly it is too big to be during this marathon and fell out resurrection! contained by rational thought and of the window to the ground three words alone! floors below. The congregation So of course, since that time picked him up as dead, but Paul people have pondered over, been So we resort to other means, too. managed to revive the lad, and, perplexed over, and put together Including poetry, art, drama – and undeterred, continued the sermon their reasoned thoughts about music.

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This weekend some of us will be sang a few days ago, and his deny any place for the chorus focussing our attention very settings of the Sequence for the within worship. But such a place much upon music. Tonight we Feast of the Dedication of a must not be allowed to displace have sung a setting of the church, Blessèd City, heavenly other more creative forms of Canticles by Sir Edward Salem or again his Let all mortal music which involve not only Bairstow, and one of his anthems, flesh keep silence. disciplined composition, but a too. Bairstow was born in the disciplined creation in perfor- Woollen district of , an And it is music that is able to mance. This latter discipline is area I know well from my student convey the depths of mystery in key for those of us who sing in a days. In fact, he spent most of his ways that are just impossible for choir, where we each have to life working in that county apart words alone. Music, I believe, is accept the constraints of those from his days at Balliol, and then a sacramental. That is to say it is around us, respecting them, and a couple of organist posts first in not a sacrament, but rather a respect the constraints, too, of the a church under the means by which we can more line of music that we ourselves tutelage of , fully engage with the unseen sing towards the gift of the whole organist at , realities at the heart of our – all of this adding up to what we and then he had a spell at Wigan Christian faith. It also, of course, offer to God in worship. Parish Church. The setting of the provides a means by which we Canticles in D comes from 1906, are able to express our worship None of this stifles creativity. the year he returned to his native and praise of God. In our Rather it makes creativity Yorkshire and to Parish sacramental faith, this is possible. We can only be truly Church, where he stayed for inevitably a two-way process creative when we properly seven years until going to York between us and God. We give acknowledge the environment in Minster, where he continued praise and at the same time that which we are set – our being part through two world wars until his brings deepened human of a material world with its death in 1946. It seems he was flourishing and joy. constraints as well as its happy in Yorkshire, and his opportunities. And when at the character typified the blunt and Few would deny any of that – but same time we recognise that Jesus somewhat terse Yorkshireman. the sad fact is that popular culture risen takes us with him into the Someone asked him when he has overtaken the musical world. very heart and being of God, in arrived in York if he might follow This at its base manifests itself as the fullness of God’s absolute his predecessor to the United a desire for security found in creativity, his beauty, truth, love States. I’d rather go to the devil sameness and reproducibility. and goodness. he replied! That this is evident in secular life, one need only listen to the radio Which is surely worth singing to verify. The United Kingdom about and putting time and energy radio station, Classic FM, into doing well. For done well, panders to this safety in sameness the best of Anglican Choral music by its choice of snippets of larger is a metaphor, like all good art, works with no reference to the for a reality far beyond us. A whole and it endlessly repeats the ‘way in’ to that Reality of God same snippets of music in order to who is beyond any of our words, Edward Bairstow satisfy market forces expressed in or any imaginings. A ‘way in’ to audience figures. the Mystery we describe as the most wonderfully creative God Sadly, we see the same who raises Jesus from the dead. Edward Bairstow phenomenon of musical And to whom in this holy season, He didn’t endear himself to prostitution within the life of the as always, be ascribed from everyone, apparently! Yet out of Church with – in many places – choirs of humans and angels, all this gritty character came a the proliferation of choruses might, majesty, dominion and lifetime of musical expression of proclaiming how wonderful Jesus praise, now and through endless Christian faith – including is for bearing my sins away. I do ages. Amen. tonight’s pieces but many others not doubt that this assertion may, of exquisite beauty, such as his at one rather basic level, be at Lamentation which some of us least partly true! Nor do I want to

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The Archdeaconry Choir Festival

Other archdeaconries have their residential synods, and Switzerland has an annual residential choir festival, which brings together members of the choirs across the archdeaconry plus others who wish to experience this opportunity to work and sing together under an internationally recognised director, providing the music to enhance worship at both a choral evensong and a sung Eucharist. This year it was Holy Trinity Geneva’s turn to host the event. Wilby. This was an evening for Communion in C, Kyrie, Gloria, music by Edward Bairstow (1874 Creed, Sanctus and Agnus Dei, Many years ago the Saturday -1946) with his settings supplemented by a suitably after Easter was called just that, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in joyous and fittingly Easter “the Saturday after Easter”. D, and as anthem, ‘Save Us O anthem, ‘The Strife is O’er’ by However, its official title is Lord while waking’. Richard Shepherd. “Easter Saturday in the Octave” and it was on this rather grand- sounding day that some 50 The Preces & Responses were by Somehow everyone crammed singers assembled in Holy Trinity John Sanders and Psalm 150 was into the Chancel along with from five choirs across the sung to a setting by C.V. candle bearers and servers, archdeaconry, Basel, Berne, Stanford. The hymns, “There’s a making a merry noise on a happy Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich and wideness in God’s mercy” and and deeply spiritual occasion. our sister church in Geneva, “How shall I sing that majesty which angels do admire” were MaryTalbot and Brenda Stewart Emmanuel Episcopalian Church. th Mark Jones, well-known as a written in the 19 and 17th centuries respectively but sung to A pocketful of prayer! choir director and organist both in th Switzerland and the UK, directed, tunes composed in the 20 with Mark Charles, Director of century, not necessarily familiar Ladies, beware of keeping Music, Geneva, on the organ. to everyone and they kept the folded pieces of paper in your congregation on its toes. This handbag. Christine Damary, was a beautiful service greatly listed as intercessions leader Greeted by a generous buffet, appreciated by the small number one Sunday recently, guests arrived from 5 p.m. on of worshippers who were present. transferred from her bag to her Friday to fortify themselves pocket, in preparation for the before a three-hour practice. They prayer moment, her carefully Dinner followed in the church were back again at 9 a.m. on written out prayers for the day, hall with a Cana of Galilee Saturday when practising only to discover, once she moment when water was not continued with pauses for coffee stood at the lectern, that the turned into wine, but reserve and lunch until shortly before paper she in fact held in her stocks did miraculously appear. hand was a ticket for a GAOS Choral Evensong at 5 p.m. The choirs returned at 9 a.m. on concert! Fast thinking and Sunday to practise for a further improvisation were the order of The Festival has a tradition of hour before accompanying the the day. The congregation may singing works in English and the Eucharist. This time it was the have thought she hesitated a bit service began with the Introit, ‘If turn of English composer, John but we hope there were chuckles in Heaven! ye Love Me, keep my Ireland (1879-1962) with the commandments’, by Philip choir singing the whole of his

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On the night of 5th June Bev was up under the weight of their NB in command of a planeload of equipment and waiting for the The choir will be singing Parachute Engineers with orders Green Light and the order to three in Chichester to demolish two bridges over the throw themselves out into the Cathedral on the 7th, 8th and 9th River Dives thus preventing the night. August at 17h30. enemy getting near the landings. Unique among English [Incidentally, the River Dives Ben Holt, cathedrals in having a bell was where William the June 2019 tower (or campanile), its spire Conqueror built his ships for the can be seen for many miles invasion of in 1066!] (We are sorry this edition just misses across the flat meadows of the actual anniversary of 5/6 June, West Sussex and is a As a considerable number of but the sentiment remains the same! landmark for sailors, Ed.) aircraft had to be assembled, they Chichester being the only were in the air for a long time. At mediaeval English cathedral 00.55 hrs on 6th June Bev was, as which is visible from the sea leader, standing in the (open) door of the Dakota but just over Led Astray by Artistic the coast they ran into heavy anti- aircraft fire. The pilot took sharp Imagination evasive action throwing the men onto the floor. Despite being fit Now this is not going to be an and well trained it was very article decrying art from a Puritan difficult to get up so heavily laden perspective - not that you would were they with arms and think I am up to that! explosives. However, the shortest Red Light he had ever And yet, art can be deceptive; seen turned quickly to Green and artists naturally want to show Our HTC Hero he was in the air. By the light of something happening, to stage on the gunfire he could see Varavill canvas something dramatic. Church and so knew they were in But this temptation to the June 6th this year marks the 75th the right place. dramatic has certain pitfalls. And anniversary of the start of the so I want to share with you two Liberation of Europe with the D- Despite enemy patrols they found examples where artists may have Day Landings in Normandy. I the bridges and blew up both of led us astray, or compounded thought it would be appropriate to them. But it took them two days, certain errors of biblical call to mind a member of our dodging patrols again, to get back interpretation. congregation who was one of the to the Allied lines. There is little first to land in enemy territory doubt that, without the My two examples are Easter that famous morning: Colonel destruction of these bridges, the ones: the encounter between Bev Holloway. He died in 2008 success of the whole operation Jesus and the apostle Thomas, aged 93. would have been in doubt. and the meeting of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the garden. He was an engineer and signed up Bev returned to civilian life in on the outbreak of war to join the 1946 but went on to command the First, Thomas. As we know, Parachute Royal Engineers. It is Royal Engineers in the Thomas assured his fellow easy to forget in these days of Emergency Reserve. In 1977 he apostles that he would not believe enormous air-power and took early retirement to join the unless he could put his finger in precision weapons how International Standards Organis- the scars made by the nails in dangerous an amphibious landing ation in Geneva. Jesus’ hands, and his hand into was, especially as the coastline the wound in Jesus’ side. When was heavily defended. What the So, Reader, as you are tucking Jesus appeared to the apostles Allies feared most was the enemy yourself up comfortably in bed on with Thomas a week later, he bringing up armour and artillery th the night of 5/6 June, spare a challenged Thomas by quoting before we could land our own. thought for Capt. Bev Holloway his own words back to him, to and his men struggling to stand

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which Thomas made the reply represented in translation as “My Lord, and my God.” “cease holding on to me”.

Now the artists, not surprisingly, For it is not that Jesus cannot be delight in the picture of Thomas touched by Mary, perhaps is even putting his hand into the side of dangerous to touch - but that it Jesus or examining the nail would be a mistake for her to marks. So here is Caravaggio’s think she could continue to hold painting, “The Incredulity of on to him or continue the pattern Saint Thomas” of their friendship from former days. She must learn quickly to let go, and perform her SUMMER SUN next and urgent duty, to be an apostle to the Great is the sun, and wide he goes apostles, (a phrase Through empty heaven without repose; used by St. Thomas And in the blue and glowing days Aquinas), taking up More thick than rain he showers his rays. the task of being the first apostle with the Though closer still the blinds we pull amazing good news to To keep the shady parlour cool, tell. Yet he will find a chink or two To slip his golden fingers through. Several artists seem to have delighted in The dusty attic spider-clad He, through the keyhole, maketh glad; portraying this encounter as one But this is not what the scripture And through the broken edge of tiles where Jesus seems to shrink from Into the laddered hay-loft smiles. says. What the scripture says is the approach of Mary; see the simply “My Lord, and my God.” early Renaissance example Meantime his golden face around It was enough to receive the below: He bares to all the garden ground, rebuke from Jesus of having his And sheds a warm and glittering look own loud-mouthed intention Far from the truth! This is an Among the ivy's inmost nook. quoted back at him verbatim, to intimate encounter grounded in bowl Thomas completely over love and should remain so in the Above the hills, along the blue, from doubt into faith. No Christian imagination. Round the bright air with footing true, touching required despite To please the child, to paint the rose, The gardener of the World, he goes. Thomas’ bold words. Ah well! Thomas who did not touch, and Mary who did! My second example, the meeting Robert Louis Stevenson It gives us pause for thought… of the risen Jesus with Mary Magdalene in the garden. Here Alan Amos the artists so often like to cling to a false interpretation of what Jesus said to Mary, being “do not touch me.” Here, the Authorised Version, which in general I greatly admire, encourages the mistake: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and my God, and your God.” In this, the AV is closer to the Latin “Noli me tangere” than it is to the Greek, which is better

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St. Otmar, Father to the Poor each does as he/she wants as there are many possibilities.

The 2019 Summer Exhibition at I would like to go there in the Abbey Library in St.-Gallen is October - do let me know if you all about St. Otmar. are interested and we will decide After St. Gall died, the monastic on details later on. community he had founded Finally, there is now lots more to dwindled. The local overlord, see at the abbey, as they have Waltram, put Otmar in charge, opened two new exhibition appointing him Abbot. Otmar rooms, enabling us to see things had trained in Chur (Coire), here that were previously squirrelled in modern-day Switzerland, and away in the archives. he set to work immediately, breathing new life into the For further information: community and establishing the [email protected] Abbey as a religious centre of A Happy Coincidence growing significance. Dorinda Maio We were delighted to receive a Here is what the organizers say: letter from our old friend Janet th During the 8 century, If you would like to make your Knight, who left Geneva in monasteries began to play a role own arrangements: 1975 and has been following as reference points for the social the Holy Trinity Newsletter order. Otmar’s community www.stiftsbibliothek.ch ever since. As some of our offered support and refuge to the (Abbey Library information) readers may remember Janet Alemanic population around and Bill left Geneva for Bill to Lake Constance. People www.st.gallen-bodensee.ch go into training for the expressed their gratitude with (tourist information) ministry at Mirfield. Janet gifts of land and the abbey grew wrote to tell us that she had wealthy. Otmar drew on these www.stiftsbezirk.ch been amazed to spot, in our economic resources to engage (Abbey, exhibitions and library October issue, a photo of the the abbey in charitable works. He information) Dancing Madonna statue in St helped the poor and set up one of Luke’s church Duston. She the first known hospitals for Click on E for English tells us that the statue had been lepers in Europe. By introducing placed in St. Luke’s in the Rule of Benedict (ca. year memory of a certain Julie 747) he established an important Buchanan who was a long- foundation for burgeoning time friend of Janet’s and a religious life in the convent. wonderful clergy wife whose During a local power struggle, faith and boundless energy, in Otmar was caught between two spite of incapacitating illness, fronts. He died as a prisoner on an had been an inspiration to island in the middle of the River many. So Clare Amos’ choice Rhine in the year 759. of an illustration for one of her talks was quite a coincidence! I shall be very happy to lead a group once again to visit this fascinating place. More and more (I remember the saying of one people are making a weekend of wise old nun who apparently it as it’s rather a long train claimed that ‘coincidence’ is journey. However, we usually merely the name God chooses work this out once we know who when He wishes to travel incognito! Ed.) is participating and, basically,

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TABLE OF SERVICES

Date 9h00 10h30 19h00 9 June - Pentecost Eucharist Sung Eucharist Holy Communion BCP With Holy Baptism Sung

16 June – Trinity BCP Matins Sung Eucharist Informal worship Sunday Followed by a reception for Trinity Sunday

23 June – Corpus Eucharist Sung Family Eucharist Evensong Christi

30 June – Trinity 2 Holy Communion BCP Sung Eucharist Compline

Preceded at 17h00 by organ recital. Claire Hobbs

7 July – Trinity 3 Holy Communion BCP Sung Eucharist Choral Evensong

Followed by an apéritif

14 July – Trinity 4 Eucharist Sung Eucharist Choral Eucharist With Holy Baptism

21 July – Trinity 5 Eucharist Sung Eucharist Informal Worship

28 July – Trinity 6 Eucharist Sung Family Eucharist Choral Evensong

Preceded at 17h00 by Organ recital C. Garcia Banegas

4 August – Trinity 7 Holy Communion BCP Sung Eucharist Evensong

11 August - Trinity 8 Eucharist Sung Eucharist with Choral Eucharist Holy Baptism

18 August – Blessed Holy Communion Sung Eucharist Informal worship Virgin Mary

25 August – Trinity 10 Holy Communion Sung Family Eucharist Choral Evensong

preceded at 17h00 by organ recital, Mark Jones

Regular midweek services:

Mondays 07h30 Holy Communion 12h15 Prayers for Wholeness and Healing

Wednesdays 10h00 Small Time Worship

Thursdays 10h00 Holy Communion (BCP)

Fridays 07h45 Morning Prayer and Holy Communion 7 SUMMER 2019 NUMBER 2

Church officers Church activities

Chaplain: Canon Alexander Gordon 022 734 3817 / Holy Trinity choir: practice Thursdays at 20h00 079 945 0605 Mark Charles 079 744 5175 [email protected] Junior choir: practice Sundays after the Music Director: Mark Charles 10h30 service Claire Charles 079 744 5175

Junior Choir Director: Claire Charles Craft group: Fridays in the church hall 14h15 – contact

Annemarie Hester Church Wardens: Frederick Samuels 022 738 7326 022 782 6689

Mary Talbot Small-time worship: Wednesdays from 09h30 022 736 0052 In the church hall, contact Amanda Dawson Verger: Christine Damary 022 751 2968 022 774 2320 Young people: (11-13 year-olds) contact Sacristan : Gill Howie Innocent Mugabe 022 733 83 72 [email protected] Council Members: Carol Brown, Mark Charles, Junior Church: Sundays 1, 2 and 3 contact Mike Gunton (Treasurer), Nicholas Hacking, Anitha Beulah 022 731 4211 / Gill Howie, Jo Kitson, Julia Lacey, Ann Shazell, 078 323 8184 Aylwin Zabula Healing Prayer: Mondays 12h15 in church Archdeaconry Synod Representatives: Christine Damary 022 774 2320 Clare Amos, Lameck Jaston, Ursula McGregor, Swamikan Raja Pastoral Care: Christine Damary 022 774 2320 Gill Howie 022 733 8372 Youth Ministry Coordinator: Armel Ayegnon Sheila Mathewson 022 774 0469 [email protected] Social Group: Gill Howie 022 733 8372 Safeguarding officer: Pierre Laravoire. Beryl Allardyce 022 776 1479 022 755 2155 Church Archives: Valerie Offord 022 777 1858 *******

Development project: Mark Charles 079 744 5175 Church Office: Jill Bechet, Secretary.

022 731 5155 Pledge Fund: Ursula McGregor

022 342 3227 [email protected] Tues. all day, Thur & Fri. 9h - 13h

Editorial Committee:

Jane Brooks, Jenny Buffle, Rosie Buffle, Lindy Carmalt, Margaret Jacquard, Elizabeth Laravoire, Brenda Stewart

Please send letters or articles for inclusion in the Magazine to The Editor

Jenny Buffle either by regular post to 12 Chemin La Parisaz, 1291 Commugny

or by email to [email protected]

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