Saturday

Left Springfield mid-afternoon for Champaign, pulling up to the Chapel of St John the Divine in time to officiate at 4pm Solemn Choral Evensong. The music program at St John's is one of the jewels of the diocese, and they outdid themselves tonight: Responses by (the recently deceased) Gerre Hancock, Mag & Nunc by Herbert Sumsion, S.S. Wesley tour de force anthem "Ascribe Unto the Lord", and the lovely hymn "How shall I sing that majesty...", sung to the tune Coe Fen. Wow. We then adjourned to the home of some parishioners for a hearty buffet dinner attended by vestry members and spouses. A quite convivial time. Ensconced now in a hotel room in anticipation of returning to St John's to celebrate and preach at Mass in the morning.

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