Psalm Sunday

When we visited St. Paul’s Cathedral earlier in the week out tour guide told us that on Psalm Sunday there is an event at the church that only happens a few times a year. The large doors on the west side of the cathedral are opened. These doors are over 300 years old and are about 25-30 ft tall and are very thick. This got us very interested. We put out a notice to all the students in our group WhatsApp chat that we would be attending service that morning and any are welcomed.

On Psalm Sunday Elliot, Rylan, Gabby, Sadie, Olivia, Becky and I headed down to St. Paul’s. The weather had changed to a more London Spring like day. It was much cooler, only in the 50’s, a bit of a breeze blowing, and clouds. It was still nice. We got there 30 minutes before the service which started outside in front of the cathedral. They had security and fencing out front. You had to que and go through a security checkpoint. The service was wonderful.

Our guide had told us that there would be a live donkey as part of the opening of the service that they lead into the cathedral. Sure, enough there was donkey that was part of the opening to the service. They had a band and the choir out on the opening stairs as well. After the opening of the service, we all sang a hymn as the doors opened, and we all moved in. There were hundreds of people in attendance, maybe even a thousand, it was very hard to tell especially once we got inside as the cathedral is so large.

The service was reading through the passion story with the Anglican Priests narrating and reading the parts of Jesus and the disciples. The congregation read the parts of the crowds. It was a great service.

Afterwards some folks went back right after communion, but Gabby, Sadie, Becky and I stayed and went and had lunch together at Pizza Express. We had a great conversation over our time here and what we are all expecting when we get back to the states. So many students are seniors and are really excited to graduate but of course have so many questions about what will be coming next.

We then headed back. Becky and I rested the remaining of the afternoon and then we met up with some students down at the Duke of Clarence pub for Sunday Night Trivia. It was Alex, Caroline, Oliva and us at one table. Carolyn and her family who were in town at another table. Both of our tables did not do well at all. They came in last, and we were right next to them. Oh well, can’t be great each week.