Our Palm Sunday service began in the undercroft with the blessing of the Palms. Then we processed out the side door, around the front and into the door on the other side of the church, carrying our palms and singing. After the reading of the palms Gospel, we processed quietly, no music, to our seats. Then the "passion" readings began. The Gospel was a dramatic reading, and I read Peter's part. This was a good one for me, even though it was a gender-bender, because, just when I think I have it all together, I find myself denying Him. And then there is that niggling doubt.
The reading was very well done; just enough drama to be moving, but not so much as to be corny. The choir outdid themselves in the sequence hymn. When Mr. Priest thanked us for the wonderful reception on Saturday, he and she got another ovation. The congregation is definitely in love with this young couple! I wonder how long the "honeymoon" will last.
We have an elderly gentleman in our congregation who is beginning to lose it. He is rarely bathing, seldom shaving, and shows up at church at odd hours for services that don't exist. Mr. Priest has had to rescue him from the police, and we are trying to find some help for him. The police took away his license a few years ago, but he still drives, much to everyone's distress. The police certainly don't want to put this old man in jail, but it's getting serious.
He has been in the choir since time began, and still comes, when he gets the time right. One of his hallmarks and triumphs in the past has been a solemn liturgical dance he does at the doxology on Thanksgiving. (I think I wrote about this somewhere...on a board, maybe?)Two Sundays ago, a lady from the choir arranged to pick him up to bring him to church. When she got to his house, he didn't come out, so she went up to the door and knocked. She was a bit taken aback when he came to the door nude and said he wasn't ready!
She left quickly, but he showed up later, shirtless, standing in the door to the sacristry. The organist reacted swiftly and got him into the sacristry and into a choir robe. He meandered out to the choir, in the midst of everything, and then began his dance! His thanksgiving dance. On the Sunday before Palm Sunday. The organist slowed his pace to match the old man's, and our young priests waited respectfully until the dance was over.
Yesterday, Palm Sunday, the old man wandered up into the choir stalls sometime during the service, dressed, thankfully. Then, long after the doxology, he stood up and began to come forward to dance again. Mrs. P. shook her head at him, very discretely. The congregation held its breath. She went on with the Eucharistic prayer (how she stayed focussed, I'll never know), while the old man stood, waiting to dance.
When we began to say the Lord's Prayer, he realized that somehow he had missed his "cue", and finally sat back down. You could feel the whole congregation release a soft breath. He took communion as usual and returned to his seat in the choir stalls.
I was teary-eyed; for the old man, and in gratitude for Mrs. P's gentle head shake at him. Both she and her husband truly love this old man, and are very worried about him. One of our parishioners is the intake worker for Social Services, and she is working on the problem. I have mixed emotions about this; I hate to see him lose his independence. I remember what it did to Ma, and she was at least able to be with her son. This gentleman has only an elderly brother, who doesn't know how to handle the situation, so does nothing.
And so, in this Holy Week, the church tries to surround the old man with love and concern. At the noon service today, Mr. P prayed for him with great emotion in his voice.
Holy Week: lots of work for the Altar Guild. Services each day at noon. On Maundy Thursday there is the 7:00 a.m. healing, the noon time prayer service, and Eucharist with foot-washing at 7:00 p.m. We strip the chapel altar after the noon service, then the church after the evening service. Friday there are two services. (Mr. P., and two of the men in the choir are going to chant the Gospel, using an ancient tune.) Saturday, a 9:00 a.m. prayer service, then decorating the altar. Saturday night, I read at the Great Vigil at a neighboring church. Then two services on Sunday that require the altar to be cleaned and reset between them, then clean afterwards and distribute the flowers to shut-ins. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it!
And of course, Mr and Mrs P have the biggest job. Mrs P will sing the "Exultant" at the Great Vigil. She has a beautiful voice. We are blessed with the musical abilities of these two people.
This noon time I read and served at the Eucharist. Mr. P. asked, "Did you get the papers (to start the discernment process)? I mailed them to you." And so it begins. Where to from here, Lord?
8:02 PM
We took the Dollhouse over to Perfect Bay yesterday afternoon. It was beautiful there, and quiet. The owner is putting in some new electrical lines, and had broken the main water pipe, so we didn't stay long. But we played cards, walked to the lake, DB raked the site and I planned the deck we hope to build this summer. I had packed a picnic, and after we ate, we came back home. It was a refreshing break.
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