Zoe Ball sits in

From Leslie Griffiths, Methodist Minister:

My daughter used to go to school in Bath and it was my job to drive down to bring her home for the holidays. The journey gave me exactly the time I needed to listen to my favourite piece of music. I’d turn the volume up till you could feel it as well as hear it. The car throbbed and pulsated and so did I. Anyone looking would see me waving my arms, singing out loud, rocking and rolling – all the while keeping one steady hand on the wheel. How many times, so caught up in the music, did I miss my exit? I was in rapture, ecstasy, heaven. The music? Brace yourself. It was Handel’s mighty Messiah. Oh how I love it – it gives me goose pimples just to mention it. It’s Hallelujah Chorus I know is well loved by a certain Mr Evans.

This is Holy Week for Christians – time to think about the tough last days of Jesus as we try to imagine what it must have been like to endure the cruelty and the banality that led to his grim death on the cross. And nobody will help us get into the experience better than George Frederik Handel. “Surely, he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows……behold, see if there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow……” All that before the mood changes. The suffering has not been in vain. He may have died but all he lived for has not been lost. Love wins and “the kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord…..and he shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings and Lord of lords – hallelujah!”

Just reciting the words is getting me excited. If I stay much longer I’ll be waving my arms again, singing for all I’m worth, and poor Zoe will never get back into her own programme. Today is Handel’s birthday and I’m glad to honour his memory and tell the world of my infatuation with his wonderful music.