Sunday 21 July

I went to Emmanuel this morning.   Although the choir are still on holiday Rosalyn was playing the organ, which she does fortnightly in the summer when they have their - I believe it is 1979 Prayer Book - service.  I know the Sunday without music is the 1552 Prayer Book.

This afternoon I went to a concert, and the reason the programme is so dishevelled is because - for some totally inexplicable reason - I tripped and fell coming out of the church, and I was carrying the programme.  I just don't know why I tripped, but will stop wearing the shoes I had on.  Sent up a prayer of thanksgiving that it wasn't my worst nightmare, a broken hip, I just scraped my knee and was a bit shaken, but a sea-salt caramel ice cream calmed me down when I got home.

 There were several organists performing but Sandra is my friend. She is a member at Emmanuel although she plays the organ at First Christian Church.
 

 Dr Peter Purin, a professor at OBU, had gone to London to present an academic paper, then he took a cycling holiday in Surrey, and had a very bad accident breaking, among other injuries, his collar bone.  His wife had to fly out to England and the benefit concert was to help with his medical and travel expenses.

I asked him afterwards if our Health Service looked after him, he said they were very good, but when his wife arrived they arranged for his transportation back here - in an ambulance to the aircraft - where he had the surgery he needed.

On the subject of the benefit concert.  People, specifically Republicans, have told me they don't want my socialism over here, their way is better, they tell me, where people, churches and communities help each other.   I believe Americans are the most generous  people in the world, this church wasn't packed but they raised over $2000 (the money was collected shortly after the beginning of the concert, then presented at the end, and Dr Purin thanked everyone)   However....what happens to the people who don't belong to a church, who aren't part of a community because they keep themselves to themselves, what do they do when a crisis hits them.  No, give me my socialism any day, I say, our welfare state, healthcare and social security benefits, I really don't think I would want my church and community rallying round with financial support, generous though they would be,