Day 67 - ?

When I saw the date I had been allocated for this Secluded Place article, I immediately knew it was the Saturday of the CF National Assembly. A day when we come together to give thanks to God for what has happened and ask for his guidance in what is to come.

It’s been very difficult to choose a suitable hymn or song that encompasses this time we will spend together. The people we will encounter, the discussions we will have, the new things we will hear about. I have felt quite a lot of pressure to get it right – on such a special day for the CF and remembering not to exclude those who read this article but won’t be able to attend.

Nothing quite seemed to fit – something by Watts or Doddridge seemed a bit too obvious, perhaps Wootton or Adams likewise. Should I go for something thematic like “Bind us together” or “In Christ there is no east or West”? Or even for something more contemporary like “Shout to the North (Men of faith rise up and sing)” or “I believe”.

You see my problem? So many great hymns already discarded? And I’m sure, like me, at least some of those are now playing merrily in your mind!

And that’s when I thought to myself, that it is an impossible job. I will never find something that sums up the day in the same way to such a disparate group of people!! There are so many hymns that help us on our faith journey but each of our journeys are individual and so the hymns and songs that have accompanied us will be different to each other too. There will be so many that transport us back to different parts of our faith story and remind us of those who have journeyed with us, but to others those same hymns may mean little.

Whilst I am sure those of us meeting in Nottingham today will enjoying singing the ones that have been chosen for our worship today and they will add to our hymnody as we join together with our Congregational brothers and sisters from so many places around the nations, they will all affect us in different ways.

So, I am not going to suggest a specific hymn for today’s reflection – instead I’m going to leave a question mark – one that you can fill in yourselves. What hymn or song, faith based or secular, is the one that best provides the soundtrack for this day. I’m not asking for “answers on a postcard”, but if you do want to share your ideas, and you are joining with us in Nottingham, then why not come and tell me! You’ll find me on the CIPT/Learning and Development stall or in the conference room all day!!

Happy Singing!!

Catherine Booton