Friday 3rd March - dropping posts like stitches and World Day of Prayer

 I don't know what's happening to me this week - it seems as though anytime I'm not doing something (something timetabled and unavoidable, that is) I'm doing nothing. I do sit and knit, as being an almost zero-energy, zero-thinking activity, and much to be preferred to suduko and solitaire on the computer, but then I have to pause from time to time and play 'hunt the dropped stitch'...  

Anyhow, I have ended up at my computer so I am rattling in a blog post while I wait to see if my attempts to 'save the day' for a friend are successful. She is due to play the piano for the evening 'World Day of Prayer' in about half an hour, and one of the hymn tunes is proving elusive. 

The 'World Day of Prayer', previously 'Women'd World Day of Prayer' takes place on the first Friday in March. In our local area there has been a morning service, and afternoon service, and now an evening service. I used to play for it regularly when I was active on the committee. I made it to the 2020 service  and then I had to drop out. I'm still 'dropped out' as I am still (yawn, it's becoming Very Tedious) shielding since middle of March 2020. So this is nearly the end of the third year. Will this shielding ever come to an end? Of course it will.

The WDoP service is put together by the ladies of a different country each year - this time Taiwan. Poor Taiwan, always watching China and hoping that what is happening between Ukraine and Russia doesn't happen to them. One challenge every year, musically speaking, is hunting down the music for the various hymns. 

But we always finish with 'The day thou gavest' - very appropriate, as the services are held right around the globe. As we are finishing our evening service tonight, no doubt the people in the Americas will be preparing for theirs. 

When you read the 2nd, 3rd and 4th verses the choice of hymn makes perfect sense.

The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
The darkness falls at Thy behest
To thee our morning hymns ascended
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest

We thank thee that thy church, unsleeping
While earth rolls onward into light
Through all the world her watch is keeping
And rests not now by day or night

As over each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day
The voice of prayer is never silent
Nor dies the strain of praise away

The sun that bids us rest is waking
Our brethren 'neath the western sky
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high

So be it, Lord, thy throne shall never
Like earth's proud empires, pass away
Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever
Till all thy creatures own thy sway