It has been a joke at our parish for as long as I can remember that if you don’t like organized religion, have we got a church for you!
Yesterday was especially disorganized, even by our standards. The organist played the Sanctus instead of the Gloria, which prompted the rector to suggest we sing the Gloria later in the service, which we did. The organist also forgot the Doxology, so we all just started if off without her. The poor woman was about to crawl under the organ bench. At that point, the rector asked her just how late she had been up the night before, and organist admitted she’d had her grandkids all weekend. “Ah, that explains it! God will understand.”
As I turned to carry the chalice from the left side of the communion rail to the other side, I stepped on my alb, and nearly fell, and then as we were processing, my hip gave out and I staggered again, just grabbing the front pew in time to keep myself upright. (Someday I will tell you my “drunken hussy” story.)
We had two visiting families; fortunately both former members. As we were shaking hands on the way out, Jane, who had left in 2000, told me it was nice to know that some things just never change.
For better or for worse.
I love it. And I love the go with the flow attitude. I especially like the congregation leading the organist. We’re trained well, aren’t we?
Some Sunday it’s like Amateur Hour; has anybody here ever done this before?