Mass - 29 March 2009

Although the main role of the Nicholas Chorale is to sing choral evensong twice a month, on the rare occasion that there is a 5th Sunday in the month, we also sing at the Sunday Mass. Even if the clocks hadn't chosen this rather inconvenient time to change, it makes an early start for a Sunday morning, as I have to catch the train at 7.54 to get into Amsterdam on time.

The service itself was one I will remember for a very long time. Not for the fact that it was the first time I sang at a Roman Catholic mass, or because it was the first time I sang in Dutch, but for a less pleasant reason. During the communion, just before the congregation were invited to commune, a man moved swiftly to the altar, shouted at the priest and congregation, and then swept the chalices from the altar. It happened so quickly that it took me a second to realise what had occurred, by which time the man had already been removed from the church. Despite the interruption, the service continued, but I, and no doubt many others in the congregation will be pondering the why's and what if's for some time.

• Domine Deus Morales
• Agnus Dei J Haydn
• Call to remembrance Farrant