I’m on holiday at the moment, and will be until Friday. This last weekend, I was in Englandshire staying close to one of the places I lived when I was in secondary school.

I had a whole new experience of church. I got to do something I’ve never done before – I got to take children to church. How different it makes the experience. Turning up at a strange church with twin nephews (and my father) was an absolute delight.

There is so much to do in church!

Including the following:

• Looking up the hymns to check if you have sung them in school.
• Counting the number of times the priest mentions Jesus in the sermon. (A variation is to bow each time he does so).
• Bowing when the cross or the priest goes past.
• Making the sign of the cross in all the right places.
• Learning about the secret prayers that the priest is praying.
• Standing on the pews when everyone else is standing up so you can see.
• Counting the crosses in church. (We got to 31 but I think we missed quite a few).
• Kneeling on the kneelers, which is trickier than it sounds.
• Praying the communion prayers along with the priest. (We did it by whispering along!)
• Listening to the choir and watching the organist.
• Sharing the peace. (Very enjoyable)
• Chatting to some of the older ladies who were pleased to see us.

I experienced the mass in a whole new way that was altogether lovely. Especially walking up to communion hand-in-hand with an eight year old whilst we both sang:

I will hold the Christ-light for you,
in the night-time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.