CAROL SERVICE 2107 POLDEN HILL GROUP OF WI
Lanterns in the porch gave members a warm welcome to the beautiful and historic church of St Mary at Westonzoyland where the eight WIs making up the Group had gathered for our biennial Carol Service.
Thelma Milbank, president, opened proceedings. No printed words were required as the large congregation gave a rousing rendition of Jerusalem led by our organist for the night Anthea Bell of Compton Dundon WI.
After the welcome and opening prayers given by Reverend Chris Keyes we sat back to enjoy host's Westonzoyland 's contribution; King John's Christmas by AA Milne narrated from the pulpit with lots of side action taking place in the body of the church. Poor King John, all he really wanted for Christmas was a big red india rubber ball and even though he was not a good man in the end he got his wish.
Compton Dundon presented the story behind the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem written by American Phillips Brooks, a C19 rector and inspired by his visit to Bethlehem. Accompanied by the versatile Anthea on the accordion they sang for us the original US version to the tune St Louis followed by the more familiar Forest Grove melody.
Middlezoy had chosen to read the modern poet Godfrey Rust's poem Joseph and the Shepherds in which Joseph struggles to come to terms with the big event. A thoughtful poem and one which gave the congregation the opportunity to sing the old favourite While Shepherds Watched.
Next up were two members of Shapwick WI who were faced with the problem of selecting a carol to sing which might be considered politically correct. They ran through quite a lot (no wise men, coats of fur etc allowed) before being forced to give up the task and make way for Woolavington!
Seven members reflected on the theme No Room at the Inn by means of first a reading, The Innkeeper as Hero, a dramatised version of In the Town by an unknown author, featuring Mary and Joseph, host and hostess, followed by David Lehigh's poem which encouraged us to “let Him come in, this Christmas Day swing open the door”. This was rounded off by a fun children's carol, No Room at the Inn.
Puriton's very talented choir sang The Little Drummer Boy with some beautiful two part harmony.
Ashcott gave us two readings. The first, December 1936 fwas followed by Wendy Cope's The Christmas Life, written as a result of a conversation with an 8 year old girl who said. “If you don't have a real tree you don't bring the Christmas life into the house”. The poem highlights all the things we love about this time of the year.
Sadly and unexpectedly depleted by illness Walton hastily regrouped whilst travelling to the church and gave us a lovely unison reading of their chosen carol, Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar by Peter Cornelius. Well done to them for not backing out and we look forward to hearing the choral version on another occasion.
As always WI members in the Polden Group manage to come up with new and varied material for us to enjoy and to help celebrate the season of Christmas once again.
Lanterns in the porch gave members a warm welcome to the beautiful and historic church of St Mary at Westonzoyland where the eight WIs making up the Group had gathered for our biennial Carol Service.
Thelma Milbank, president, opened proceedings. No printed words were required as the large congregation gave a rousing rendition of Jerusalem led by our organist for the night Anthea Bell of Compton Dundon WI.
After the welcome and opening prayers given by Reverend Chris Keyes we sat back to enjoy host's Westonzoyland 's contribution; King John's Christmas by AA Milne narrated from the pulpit with lots of side action taking place in the body of the church. Poor King John, all he really wanted for Christmas was a big red india rubber ball and even though he was not a good man in the end he got his wish.
Compton Dundon presented the story behind the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem written by American Phillips Brooks, a C19 rector and inspired by his visit to Bethlehem. Accompanied by the versatile Anthea on the accordion they sang for us the original US version to the tune St Louis followed by the more familiar Forest Grove melody.
Middlezoy had chosen to read the modern poet Godfrey Rust's poem Joseph and the Shepherds in which Joseph struggles to come to terms with the big event. A thoughtful poem and one which gave the congregation the opportunity to sing the old favourite While Shepherds Watched.
Next up were two members of Shapwick WI who were faced with the problem of selecting a carol to sing which might be considered politically correct. They ran through quite a lot (no wise men, coats of fur etc allowed) before being forced to give up the task and make way for Woolavington!
Seven members reflected on the theme No Room at the Inn by means of first a reading, The Innkeeper as Hero, a dramatised version of In the Town by an unknown author, featuring Mary and Joseph, host and hostess, followed by David Lehigh's poem which encouraged us to “let Him come in, this Christmas Day swing open the door”. This was rounded off by a fun children's carol, No Room at the Inn.
Puriton's very talented choir sang The Little Drummer Boy with some beautiful two part harmony.
Ashcott gave us two readings. The first, December 1936 fwas followed by Wendy Cope's The Christmas Life, written as a result of a conversation with an 8 year old girl who said. “If you don't have a real tree you don't bring the Christmas life into the house”. The poem highlights all the things we love about this time of the year.
Sadly and unexpectedly depleted by illness Walton hastily regrouped whilst travelling to the church and gave us a lovely unison reading of their chosen carol, Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar by Peter Cornelius. Well done to them for not backing out and we look forward to hearing the choral version on another occasion.
As always WI members in the Polden Group manage to come up with new and varied material for us to enjoy and to help celebrate the season of Christmas once again.