But let us start at the very beginning (a very good place to start). Breakfast was kind of funny in that there is an Ethiopian church staying here at this "conference center"-- lots of teens. They clean out that humble but nutritious buffet before you can walk over to get a spoonful of runny eggs! But we had plenty to eat and met a lovely Canadian couple (he runs a mission organization to Africa) who have stayed at the Highburry since the 70's (David and Lizzy, I believe). He had funny stories about how the place once was. Anyway, they were lovely to chat with and gave us some helpful info.
Our goal was to actually catch the 11 service at the Chapel in the London Tower (that's where the crown jewels are)-- but we were just a few minutes late. (RIck Steves said it was a service with lovely choral music which we did hear from a window!) Instead, we just bought our tickets and did the Tower with the other millions of sweaty tourists. The crown jewels were cool to see (we hit that first as RIck suggested) and made our way to see the artifacts: armor, weaponry, prisons and dungeons... we probably missed some stuff but we needed to get out of the heat. What's right outside the Tower? A Subway and Starbucks. Worked for us! that was lunch.
We snapped some shots of the Tower Bridge (we'd driven over it last night) and beat it to St. Paul's. We were glad we arrived an hour plus early-- we could just sit there and listen to the organist practice. But oh my golly what a grand cathedral! It is magnificent! We were invited to be seated about 20 min before the 3:15 service and got a front row seat. We looked up and were blown away by the dome. And the paintings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Isaiah, Jeremiah... what other OT dudes? I can't recall... but we just soaked it all up and the choir was so fantastic. Very complex and difficult choral pieces with the most gorgeous AMENs, etc... transcendent! We were both very impressed with the vicar/chaplain lady's message. She managed to tie in the NT and OT reading, and even the recognition of the choristers who were graduating out. We caught the LAST service with the choir before the return in the fall! What a privilege and honor to be there! The clergy were at the door as we left (no sight-seeing aloud when you come for services) and I invited the chaplain lady to Seattle, and she said, "Oh I would love to come!"
As we floated out of there (hit by the heat and brought right back down to below middle earth), we did a little looking around for a fan-- yeah right. Us and a few million other Londoners. Anyway, we thought we'd remember who we really are and visited the Black Friar's pub-- one of Rick Steve's recommended most authentic establishments. This allowed us to plan our route to Westminster Abbey. Once again, early arrival was a good thing because we caught most of an organ recital and were able to sit right up front for the 6:30 service there at the Abbey. (Like St. Paul's, no pix allowed.) This is also a very beautiful church but quite different from St. Paul's. It's quite smaller than we imagined-- but gorgeous in it's unique way-- I'm architecture stupid, but I think it's more gothic? Anyway, it's where the royals are crowned and we got to see the very chair that's been used since Edward the 1st or something (it's all blurring...) but they show a photo of today's Queen Elizabeth's coronation in that very chair-- so very cool to see.
At first, upon hearing there was no choir, we were disappointed. But it turned out to be a lovely spoken Evensong service and to our surprise and great interest, it was to honor (God first), but also John Keble, minister of the early 1800's- prolific hymn and poem writer and scholar, and also the namesake of the college we stayed at in Oxford. How cool to come full circle and sing this great minister's hymns and even hear a great sermon about him (I took notes)-- it was so beautifully done, including his emphasis on what it means to be holy and a little about the "Oxford Movement." I had a nice chat with the vicar after the service and told him it sounded quite Wesleyan (aren't you proud, Mark Abbott!) and he said, "You are exactly right-- they are practically theological cousins..." something like that. Anyway, he was gracious and fabulous and I only felt like a numbskull when I said, "So where is the Methodist Central Hall?" And he pointed directly across the street and there was this massive, domed building! It was closed of course (it was after 7pm by now)-- but we got to see it anyway!
Because we're gluttons for punishment, we decided to walk to Buckingham Palace from there- really not that far. But we had to at least see it-- not going to go watch the changing of the guard or anything. But I'm so glad we got to see the palace grounds. The guards were there and the flag is up, so the Queen is IN THE HOUSE! Cool.
The rest of the evening was a little stressful after having such lovely music and worship experiences... we had to get off our train several stops early (we had decided we'd get dinner close to our room)-- and this was no fun. We knew we'd do better with food in our bellies, so we just went to the first place we saw called "The Prince of Wales and His Feathers." (yup-- sounds inviting, huh?) Actually, it was a delicious, American-tasting hamburger and fries and totally hit the spot. Good thing we were nourished for the trial to come! As I said, we had to get off the tube early because, as announced, "Someone is under the train at King's Cross/St. Pancras Station. We're sorry." Yeah! We're ALL sorry! Somebody just couldn't take the heat! Anyway, it was a trick to find a bus back-- one driver gave us bum info, another bus terminated on us and we weren't the only ones just trying to get our sweaty bods home. But we did, and I already feel like I need yet another shower, it's so stinking hot... and tomorrow's projection is 90'. Awesome. But it's our last day and we'll make the best of it. Got some museums on the docket and maybe even a show... we'll see!
~from a sermon by John Keble
True and full repentance is a greater work than some of us may have imagined. It is two great works in one: the first is hating the evil 'casting away all our transgressions', and the other is loving the good, 'making us a new heart and a new spirit'. The same work, which in the psalm the penitent David prays God to accomplish for him, God himself, here in the prophet, calls upon the penitent to accomplish for himself. That is, conversion and amendment is in some mysterious way both God's work and our work; and being God's work, it is compared to creation; it is like making a world out of nothing, light out of darkness, order out of confusion.
What must we do, that we may work this great work of God? Turn your souls and your bodies away from sins, towards Jesus Christ crucified for you, with a sincere desire to love and please him; and as often as you overcome yourself in any way for his sake, he will be ready with his gracious help; until at the last the new heart and the new spirit, which he gave you first in baptism, is thoroughly awakened and enlivened within you. Come to him thus, and you shall prove in your own person the mercy which he offers to all: 'He will in no wise cast you out.'
~John Keble (1792-1866)
And some of our favorite Keble verses we sang at Westminster today:
The trivial round, the common task,
would furnish all we ought to ask,
room to deny ourselves, a road
to bring us daily nearer God.
When the soft dews of kindly sleep
my wearied eyelids gently sleep,
be my last thought, how sweet to rest
for ever on my Saviour's breast
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