The Blessing of the Fleet 08

After bad weather caused last years service to be postponed until September, this year Superintendent of the Fishermen's Mission, Len Scott was glad to lead the evening of prayer and praise on schedule, at 8pm on Sunday 25th May, under the Old Fish Market.

Plenty of hymns kept everyone actively engaged in the celebration, including: ‘Will your Anchor Hold in the storms of Life?', Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah ,‘What a friend we have in Jesus', ‘The day Thou Gavest Lord is Over' and the Brixham Anthem written by Rev Francis Lyte of All Saints Church, ‘Abide with Me'.

Thanking God for the safety of all seafarers leaving and coming to the port also involved the reading of the Pilots Psalm by Operations manager of the Torbay Lifeboat, David Ham. This is in fact an adaptation of Psalm 23 stating the ‘Lord is my pilot'…

The Lord is my pilot, I shall not drift   
He lighteth me across the dark waters; 

He steereth me in the deep channels.

He keepeth my log.
He guideth me by the star of holiness for his namesake.

Yea though I sail mid the thunders and tempests of life,
I shall dread not danger, for thou art near me.

Thy love and care, they shelter me.
Thou preparest a harbor before me in the homeland of eternity.

Thou anointest the waves with oil, my ship rideth calmly.

Surely sunlight and starlight shall favor me on the voyage I take,
And I will rest in the port of my God forever.

Singing the moving and beautifully harmonised ‘Send the Light' The Rivera Singers contributed two songs to the evening with the Orpheus Male Choir boosting the harmonies of the collective singing as the Brixham Town Band accompanied throughout these songs. They also had everyone at the quayside captivated with their version of ‘Amazing Grace' and ‘Share my Yoke' in which Rob Thomas played a ‘soul touching' cornet solo.