The annual Guernsey Literary Festival Service is nearly upon us once again. Sir Terry Waite CBE is the Festival's Honorary Chairman, and will once again be joining us to preach, this time on the theme of freedom.
The theme of last year's Festival Service was ‘The Church and the Arts – Stories, Music and Language,’ and featured readings from; Victor Hugo (Toilers of the Sea), read by Felicity Quevatre-Malcic, Matthew 13.3-9, The Parable of the Sower, read firstly in English by Jenny Coles and then in Guernesiais by Nick Le Messurier. Musical contributions were made by the Town Church Choir, which performed Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart) and Jubilate Deo (C.V. Stanford). Terry read his own poem The Kingdom, which you may read below.
THE KINGDOM
There is a realm Beyond time,
immune to the rigours
of inquiry
that formulate,
measure
and categorize.
Familiar tools
fail to illuminate
the highways
of this kingdom.
A kingdom
without height,
breadth, Depth.
A kingdom Infinite.
Not of this world,
but embedded
in the depths of soul.
How can we know Such a mystery?
How can we touch
the intangible?
How can we prove
that which cannot be captured
in scientific tables?
Be still.
Listen to the inner voice.
Learn to love.
Let compassion
guide your actions.
Walk calmly
through the mists
of unknowing.
The kingdom is yours.
Waite, Terry. Out of the Silence: Memories, Poems, Reflections (Kindle Locations 1586-1595). SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Pictures of the 2024 Service, provided by Paul Chambers.
You can download a copy of the 2024 Service Sheet