Gogglebox, The Nest, Fond Kisses and Holy Week

In recent weeks I have taken to watching Gogglebox on Channel 4. I find it hilarious, probably  for the wrong reasons! On the last couple of  episodes they have shown clips from the BBC1 Sunday night thriller "The Nest". This got me interested and I have downloaded and watched episode 1. We are really enjoying watching it, especially as it is really hard to work out which way it is going to turn out.

I noticed that the theme music is based on the Scottish folk song "Ae Fond Kiss".  You can hear the song (not the version used in the series) on You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax021N4iaFU

The tune was familiar to me because it is also used for a hymn written by John Bell and Graham Maule of the Iona Community. I learned it with the congregation for an evening Service at Victoria Methodist Church Southport on Passion Sunday, 6th April 2014. The music and words stuck in my head during Holy Week that year and they have often come back to me since.

The 2004 film "Ae Fond Kiss" also uses the same tune.

The hymn is no 290 in "Singing the Faith". Its haunting melody feels just right for the poignant words about Jesus going to the cross. The words are partly based on familiar words from Isaiah chapter 53.

They seem very appropriate as we begin Holy Week 2020 at a very trying time in our lives:

1 Who would ever have believed it? 
Who could ever have conceived it? 
Who dared trace God's hand behind it 
when a servant came among us?

2 Like a sapling in dry soil, 
he was rooted in our presence; 
lacking beauty, grace and splendour, 
no one felt attracted to him.

3 We despised him, we disowned him, 
though he clearly hurt and suffered: 
we, believing he was worthless, 
never turned our eyes towards him.

4 Yet it was the pain and torment 
we deserved which he accepted, 
while we reckoned his afflictions 
must have come by heaven's instruction.

5 Though our sins let him be wounded, 
though our cruelty left him beaten, 
yet, through how and why he suffered, 
God revealed our hope of healing.

6 We, like sheep despite our wisdom, 
all had wandered from God's purpose; 
and our due in pain and anger 
God let fall on one among us.

7 Who would ever have believed it? 
Who could over have conceived it? 
Who dared trace God's hand behind it 
when a servant came among us?

© 1988 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, 21 Carlton Court, Glasgow, G5 9JP, Scotland. www.wildgoose.scot

The original folk song is about unrequited love. The hymn is about God loving us so much that his Son suffers and dies for us. May we all feel that love during Holy Week this year.

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