Dear Friends, (due to the earthquake services on Sunday 5th Sept were cancelled and the John Middleton memorial service has been re-scheduled for Sunday 12th Sept)
At the Sung Mass this morning, the S. Michael’s Young Voices group will sing alongside the Parish Choir. It is wonderful to see and hear the growth in confidence and voice in these young people.
At Festal Evensong tonight we shall be quietly remembering John Middleton, who was S. Michael’s Director of Music from December 1974 until August 15 1999. He was also at times Parish Treasurer and Vicar’s Warden. He had been given high honour by the Royal School of Church Music for services to church music, and he was Treasurer of the local branch until very recently. Our musicians will be joined by other former colleagues of John for this Evensong, for which music has been specially chosen. Afterwards there will be supper in the hall.
As I write, the Diocesan Synod has not yet begun, but as you read, it will be well finished. It began with the Synod Service in the Cathedral on Friday evening, and then the business was conducted throughout Saturday. We shall report on the proceedings in due course.
The Gospel reading for today brings us one of the ‘harsh’ texts of the Gospel, one which is demanding in any case, but also easily misunderstood. Luke’s text has Jesus saying that to follow him, disciples must ‘hate’ those who are closest and dearest to them—their families. Jesus’ use of the word ‘hate’ is a semitism, a colourful way of speaking that was characteristic of the language of the time. It is a bit like saying today that things we enjoy are ‘awesome’, an exaggeration for effect. So‘hating’ doesn’t mean quite what it seems, but is rather an extreme way of saying that disciples must put everything else second to the demands of following Jesus. In fact, once we have put ‘following Jesus’ first, then our likely next priority, our committed relationships, will probably be much richer, and certainly not full of what we know as hatred.
‘Following Jesus’ and ‘carrying our cross’, to which we are committed at our baptism, are our first allegiance, and give shape and value and colour to all our other decisions and commitments.
Luke then gives two examples of how people need to be well prepared if they make costly commitments. He says that following Jesus will involve a personal cost that we need to be prepared for, and that we shall have to be careful that our attachment to possessions and wealth and status does not get in the way.
It is good to be experiencing some glimpses of Spring. The almond tree by the Montreal Street bridge, which is our usual harbinger of Spring in the area of S. Michael’s, is in full bloom, and will soon be followed by the cherries on the Oxford Terrace frontage.
May God bless you all.Fr Peter Williams
William John Middleton Hon RSCM
14 May 1930–26 July 2010
John began to play the organ at the age of thirteen. After joining the Bank of New Zealand in 1947 he was transferred to many different places over the years. So he became organist and choirmaster at churches in Invercargill, Riccarton, Motueka, Tumaru… Whenever he was to be transferred he would ensure that the church would not be left in the lurch. When in Christchurch he and Patricia led the music at the local Christian Science Church. He returned permanently to Christchurch in 1974 and became music director at S. Michael and All Angels. He held this post with distinction until 1984, and again from 1988–99.
Wherever John found himself, he ended up being elected Treasurer, either for the RSCM or the local Organists’ Association, or both. Similarly at S. Michael’s he was immediately elected to Vestry, and during the 1980s he became Vicar’s Warden, and served on the Finance and Stewardship Committees. He set high standards in everything he did, and expected the same dedication and commitment from colleagues and choir members.
For his work with the RSCM, both locally and nationally, he was honoured with the award of Hon RSCM. His work with the RSCM Foundation made him indispensable. He was ably supported through his later musical life by his wife Patricia, a fine soprano.
Former choir members remember John as “a splendid chap—we were very fond of him” and “a very sensitive—sometimes jaunty—accompanist”. “John never took the limelight personally but expressed himself through quiet and constant commitment to the music.” “John and Pat were a great team, and it was a great team to be part of for twenty years. They never missed a party, of which there were many! We enjoyed John’s choice of music, and especially appreciated his sensitivity to the liturgy. He always managed to find music that was both beautiful in itself and exactly appropriate to the occasion, and just hard enough to challenge a choir without distressing them. His sometimes gruff exterior was his way of protecting an inner person of great sensitivity and feeling, fired by a passion for beauty and harmony.”
“John was a very fine musician and a very straight and direct man.
It was an honour and pleasure to know him.”
