#21 and #22 Services for Children and Grown ups too!

The Reardos at Advent is one of my favorite pieces of liturgical art

WHERE I WENT AND WHY:
Christmas needs the familiar.  Traditions!  So I continued a tradition with my grandchildren with the Christmas Eve service at Covenant Presbyterian.  When Ella was born a little unexpectedly on December 23, it was obviously not going to be a typical Christmas.  I took Abbie to the Christmas Eve service at Covenant that year as a toddler after we went to the hospital to meet her new sister.  The girls are now 6 and 7.  

Christmas Day, David and I went to our home church, Advent Lutheran.  They have supported us through my father's death and through out our 35 years in Charlotte.

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO:
The Christmas Eve service at Covenant is at 11 am  on Christmas Eve.  It is underwritten as a memorial to Hallie Goode Gramley, granddaughter of Rusty and the late Jane Goode.  It is short, and followed by a petting zoo in the circle outside of animals from the Nativity.  Covenant is the big church at the 5 points of Dilworth Rd., Morehead St. and McDowell St. in Dilworth.  There is ample parking on Dilworth  Road and in their parking lot.  Dress was Christmas casual to dressy!

Advent is located on University City Blvd. directly across from the tennis courts at UNCC.  Dress is church casual.  Christmas Day and New Year's Day services are at 10:30 am.  Usually there are 8:30 am and 11 am worship services.  

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MOOD:

Ella busied herself circling sight words waiting for the service to start.  Great suggestion mom (daughter Emily)!!

Covenant -  EXCITED!  is the only way to describe a church filled with toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school children and their parents the morning of Christmas Eve. As we waited for the service to begin, Ella circled her sight words to keep her from figiting and Abbie, my writer, wrote a wonderful prayer.

Abbie also gave herself an A+ for her prayer!!  (OK and a little Harry Potter!)

The imposing gothic structure buzzed with excited children.  Upon entering, one couldn't help but notice the natural Nativity Star hanging above the chancel.  It was breathtaking!

The nativity star had to be 10 ft. or more!!

Advent - After what I'm sure were special services on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day on Sunday, was more subdued.  Attended mostly by adults (except the delightful children of the substitute musician, our friends' niece and grand niece and grand nephew!), Pastor Ward set a casual tone in jeans and no robe.

MUSIC:

In liturgical traditions, Christmas carols are not sung until Christmas Eve.  I always know it is truly Christmas when we sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Joy to the World".  I got both at Covenant, along with tears in my eyes.  At Advent, the carols were not as familiar, except for the ending hymn, "Go Tell It on the Mountain", to which we all clapped.  However, the prelude and offertory were beautifully done, especially Lo How a Rose.

MESSAGE:

Covenant - This short service had a simple message, the enactment of the nativity by the 5's Sunday School Class.  This year the STAR was one of the stars of the message, especially his innovative costume!  The gentle music, with guitar accompaniment told the ancient story in a way children can grasp. I especially appreciated that the prophets from Isaiah were also included among the actors. 

Advent - Pastor Ward emphasized that most churches use the opening of John on Christmas Day:  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...."  I had never thought about how God "causes stuff to happen" through speaking and the word.  He speaks things into existence (Genesis) and goes to such lengths as becoming human to speak and have a relationship with us.  I liked the image of "God's voice is deep within us." Martin Luther called the church a "mouth-house" for God and God's words become visible to us through Baptism and Communion.  He concluded with "God speaks to us so that we can go out and speak God's word to others:  God loves you."

OUTREACH AND OBSERVATIONS

•  The petting zoo is always a highlight at Covenant.  Abbie was brave enough to feed the camel this year, and the quiet addition of doves was a nice touch from years past.

  

  Abbie feeding the camel

   

  

  Ella and Abbie looking at the doves

• In years past Covenant has collected diapers, etc. for Crisis Assistance, but this year they added other charities:  Highland Renaissance Academy, Crossnore Elementary, and Tomorrow's Youth Organization (peace in the Middle East).  A very short video highlighted these.
• Taking pictures was a favorite past time of the adults at the children's service (I was guilty too!).
  
• Covenant is to be commended for their website.  It has a great portal for first time visitors and many ways to join in outreach. 
• In January they are sponsoring a speaker series on Race, Culture, and Opportunity. I've already invited (and she accepted!) my friend Tommi to go with me!
• Advent's Weekly Announcements also highlighted an opportunity to "Be Bold Like Jesus" at a conference on crossing borders, breaking down barriers, building bridges and being a blessing in the world  at a ecumenical gathering of AME Zion, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Moravian congregations in Greensboro the first weekend of February.
• Both congregations sponsor Room at the Inn.
• Advent also highlighted an outreach to the Robinsdale community (near the church). They held a Christmas party there and hope to build more relationships. 

  THIS WEEK'S FUNNY

It comes from my daughter's Facebook post.  I think we should never forget Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were REAL people!!

#20: Joseph, the Beatles, Buddhists, and a little Holy Comfort

WHERE I WENT AND WHY:
This Sunday I wanted to stay in the liturgical tradition for Advent and I needed an early church so that we could have a Christmas dinner with my in-laws in South Carolina.  Holy Comforter Episcopal fit the bill.

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO:
Holy Comforter is located at 2701 Park Road just south of where Park splits with Kenilworth in Dilworth.  It sits up on a hill.  Parking was plentiful at 8 am and dress was church casual.

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MOOD:

Immediately upon entering I saw a previous neighbor, Gene Humphries who is serving as a Deacon there.  I had lost touch with where Gene was serving and it felt good to see a friend and know he is well.  The mid size Gothic sanctuary is beautiful with rich stained glass windows, especially the rose window .   The bells at 8 am were a welcoming touch. When I entered only about a dozen folks were scattered around the sanctuary and the number only grew to about 30 by Communion.  I'm sure the church had a more robust feel at the later service, but the early worship felt sparse.

MUSIC:

The announcements leaflet that accompanied the bulletin had a whole column, "About Today's Music".  I like this idea and think it would enhance the worship experience. Unfortunately only 2 of the 5 highlighted pieces were used at the early service.  The organist was very accomplished and I recognized that his choices were not just Advent carols, but reflected the readings today.  Usually I lament that the pipe organ sits vacant.  That was not the case today and his Voluntaries and Offertory were exquisite, especially, Bach's Fugue on the Magnificat.  However with such a sparse crowd and no choir at the early service, the organ often drowned out the congregation, making participation difficult because I could hear no other singers and I need them to keep me on key!  Perhaps the ushers could "condense" the congregation by roping off the back pews or a music leader's voice could be miked.

MESSAGE:

The Rector, The Reverend Kevin Brown, used the Gospel from Matthew 1 about Joseph heeding the angel's call to embrace Mary and her child in a dream for his text.  He began with a story of his family using the Advent wreath as a joyful vehicle of waiting for Christmas.  I could identify with the children jostling to light and snuff the candles and I delight now as my granddaughters have taken on that role, including the "enthusiastic" use of our "snuffer", complete with wax clean up afterward! 

He then talked about a quote many think is from John Lennon, but he learned to his chagrin that it is from the cartoonist Allen Saunders (Mary Worth, Mike Nomad, Steve Roper) (He did not say which cartoonist, so I had to look it up!!  LOL) :  "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."  Joseph was making other plans, but was open to listening to God.  This should remind us not to be so busy for that all that is great, is possible now.

He then went deeper into Joseph's choice.  He took the opportunity to serve God through a crazy circumstance.  Being to open to God, to the unexpected and inconceivable like Joseph, can bring us joy beyond our wildest imagination.  

I woke up this morning listening to Krista Tippet and On Being on NPR.  She was interviewing two Buddhists, Sharon Salzberg and Robert Thurman.  http://www.onbeing.org/program/sharon-salzberg-and-robert-thurman-meeting-our-enemies-and-our-suffering/transcript/9097#main_content  They spoke about the the notion of the infinite in each moment.  I think that may have been what Joseph was facing:  a choice to accept God's way and in that moment be part of changing the world forever.  Salzberg and Thurman stressed that our choices may only change the world a little, but each pinch and tilt is important.

OUTREACH AND OBSERVATIONS

• This church has a healthy outreach to our Latin community, offering a Spanish church service each Sunday at 12:30 and sponsoring La Escuelita Weekday school.
• A bookmark in the hymnal explained their outreach to children:  It was entitled "We welcome those Wiggles!"
• I liked the title of their Christmas Day worship:  Jeans and Jammies!  It was billed as "come as you are" and featuring the world's shortest sermon!  (I'm guessing:  "Happy Birthday, Jesus"!?)
•  Both "Deacon Gene" and Rev. Brown responded thoughtfully to my sending them my rough draft.  Brief but thoughtful interactions and email conversations with clergy have been a surprising delight in this adventure and often a source of my own growth!

THIS WEEK'S FUNNY:  

From the "Pretty Good Goods" catalogue... now this could be an interesting Christmas sermon!!  I'd love to hear it preached by the Reverend Nancy Kraft!!

BULLETIN AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

   

#19: ADVENT: A WELCOME BREAK IN CHRISTMAS STRESS

St. Martin's Episcopal Church

WHERE I WENT AND WHY:
Again I chose a liturgical church for Advent.  After playing catch up on Christmas preparations and re-entering Charlotte after Dad's illness and funeral, I felt I needed some quiet Advent time for reflection.  I had been to St. Martin's many times during my work at CPCC, but always to their preschool, never for worship.

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO:
St. Martin's Episcopal Church is located at 1510 East 7th St. next to Independence Park.  Though the church was full for the 10:45 service, parking was not a problem.  Dress was "church casual" .  They also have an 8:30 am service. 

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MOOD:

They had a cart for newcomers in the courtyard with information about the church and 2 folks personally greeted me and asked me my name and if I was a "first timer" before I was seated.  Several also greeted me afterward.  The printed literature made the service easy to follow except it took me 2 verses of the spiritual hymn to realized that LEVAS meant the alternative hymnal:  Lift Every Voice And Sing.  I especially appreciated the wording of the full page in the bulletin dedicated to Children in Worship.

MUSIC:

Though there was a pipe organ, the musical director exclusively used a grand piano.  The opening Voluntary quieted the congregation, along with direction in the bulletin.  The Treble Youth Choir processed with the adult choir and did a joint anthem with them for the Offertory, People Look East!  A mike near the children would have been helpful for balancing their beautiful voices with the adults.  

MESSAGE:

Most of my nuggets came from the Prayers of the People, which were beautifully written.  I loved the way the imagery especially from today's reading from Isaiah, was used to pray for our actively living out the passage in our community.  I especially liked "leaping like a deer into action on behalf of those who are poor, undocumented, in prison or homeless, especially... (10 first names)..., our guests at Room in the Inn."  Many of the intercessions had a question "Are there others?" and a pause for congregants to voice their own prayers.  Each intercession ended with "Strengthen our weak hands"...to which the congregation  responded, "that those you reach through us may obtain joy and gladness."

To me the Rector's sermon was "tuna casserole" (see blog #1).  He related the readings from Isaiah and Matthew to his favorite Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life.  Most of the very short, and abruptly ended sermon was spent on the historical context and connection between the two passages.  I did like his emphasis on the passage from Isaiah about "not even fools shall go astray."  He assured us that God will make a way for us even when we are foolish.  

OUTREACH AND OBSERVATIONS

Advent wreath at St. Martin's

•  At the end of the service, the congregation went to the social hall to dedicate a shower that had just been installed for Room in the Inn.  The joy of this accomplishment and the dedication to this ministry was obvious.  Room in the Inn is an inter-faith ministry where homeless guests receive a night's rest and a couple of hot meals in churches around the community.  Most churches serve the homeless one night per week during the cold months when the shelters overflow.
• I've never heard such an impassioned plea for greenery, volunteers, and money from a floral guild!
• Social media was mentioned twice.  During the pre-service announcements, a deacon urged us to "let folks know where you are now".  (What a nice way to say (or mean?) use your phone now, and then put it away.  And during the regular announcements folks were urged to use Amazon Smile when ordering from Amazon to support a mission of the congregation.
• Some churches use purple and pink as colors in Advent, but recently (the 80's?) light blue has become the color associated with this season.  St. Martin's blue paraments and the pastor's stole were exquisite!

THIS WEEK'S FUNNY:  AN ADVENT CARTOON AND VIDEO!

And St. Martin's had this 2 minute video about Advent on their facebook site:
https://youtu.be/S02KOlw7dlA?list=PLutdcjUWQW72fE2kPLnyh4qLdSFxGxuv_
I may be checking out more of BustedHalos.com!!

The Bulletin:

#18 A WORSHIP BUDDY IS A BIG HELP!

St. Peters is the only surviving structure on Tryon St. from the 1800's

WHERE I WENT AND WHY:

 Advent is one of my favorite times of the year and I wanted to visit a liturgical church.  I have been curious about St. Peters.  It has a reputation as a liberal Catholic church run by the Jesuits and I have been curious about its art work. 

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO:

St. Peter's Catholic Church is at 507 South Tryon Street across from the Mint Museum.  There are 4 hours of free parking at The Green (under the park).  Get your ticket stamped in the Narthex.  Dress was church casual, though many men had on ties.  The church was full at the 9 am mass and a family mass was also being held  in the social hall at the same time.  There is a Saturday Vigil at 5 pm and other masses on Sunday at 11:30 am and 5 pm.

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MOOD:

A "worship buddy" can make all of the difference in one's experience!  It is never my intent to compare churches in this space, but I must admit that after my experience at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, I was hesitant to visit another Catholic church.  However, I knew that St. Peter's had a welcoming reputation.  Upon entering, I spied my neighbor, Steven.  I moved to sit beside him and told him briefly about my project and asked for help following the service.  He was most gracious and helpful:  helping me follow the liturgy, explaining when to sit, kneel, or stand, and answering my questions.  I almost giggled when as we were holding hands during the Lord's Prayer (a practice we also use at Advent Lutheran and we've adopted in my own family). He signaled for me to stop at a place where the Catholic Priest inserts a sentence before the final sentence that Protestants are not typically "ready for" and usually recite through.  I had made this mistake in Catholic churches at least twice before (and probably would have again!).  When I shot him a note asking if I was welcome at Communion, he replied, "Yes. Absolutely.  Those rules are made by men, not God."  I'm not sure if the Priest would have agreed, but I "went with it," praying I wasn't being disrespectful.  Thank you, Steven, for making me feel welcome and comfortable.

MUSIC:

A worship sheet (not really a bulletin, though a "bulletin" was printed with announcements), held the hymns and musical responses.  I loved the traditional Advent carols, especially Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn.  This carol has many meaningful words to me including, "He opens wide the heav'nly door And lives now inside us forever," and "The weak be raised above the strong, and weapons be broken asunder." The cantor for the psalm and some responsive readings, was a wonderful soprano.  They have a beautiful pipe organ.  

MESSAGE:

The homily was delivered by a visiting Benedictine Monk from Belmont Abbey, with the theme presented in the psalm of "Justice shall proper."  I loved the way he preached on all three of the readings, blending them together in a message of justice, peace and reconciliation.  He began with a passage from Isaiah 11, where all of the animals, wolf, lamb, cow, and bear lie together and "a little child shall lead them."  He declared, "It doesn't get any better than that".   He compared Isaiah's time to ours as one of fierce political upheaval and suggested that in our polarized world perhaps what awaits us (patience, folks!) is God's justice.  In the second reading from Romans 15, he declared that we should have hope of God's welcoming justice and should choose peace and reconciliation.   He brought this together with the Gospel from Matthew 3 where John the Baptist calls on us to repent.  It would have been easy to slip into the "fire and brimstone" of John, but instead he called on us to lay aside our prejudices, and take a long hard look at ourselves before we judge others.  We should look at our lifestyle and make sure that it allows us to take care of our family and friends and to winnow away the distractions of the world as we prepare for Jesus and Justice.  He referenced Ferguson, Charleston and Aleppo as modern day examples of times we should change the way we think and act, and instead choose peace and reconciliation. 

OUTREACH AND OBSERVATIONS

• Some readers may have realized that I used one my "chips" and missed last Sunday. (This has been a trying time for my family, and I think God would approve of my family time last Sunday.  And Jesus cured the sick on Sunday and God rested on the 7th day!!)
• The mood, music and message were all meaningful to me this week.
• At the end of the message, the Monk declared, "Seven minutes!  You have a clock back there!  Thanks be to God!"  The congregation laughed and clapped.  I was reminded  of visiting St. Matthews Lutheran church in Charleston, more than 50 years ago,  with my Luther League friend Ruthie Epting, whose father had been the pastor of the church for 25 years.  To recognize this milestone, the church had a big celebration.  Among the gifts was a clock to be put in the back of the church.  Not a very subtle cue!  I think that was one of my first recognitions that pastors are also human and struggle bringing us the Word of God in a "timely" manner!  Though when Ruthie's dad used his "preacher voice" to call us down to breakfast, I was SURE it was the Word of God!!
• During the announcements, folks were invited to a film, The Visitor, about immigration and a retreat at Our Lady of Consolation on Charlotte Catholics:  Their Stories in Black and White.

Ben Long Frescoe before it fell

• Twice the congregation has suffered from "man made earthquakes."  According to the church history, not long after the parish was established in 1851 a munitions explosion during the Civil War (1869) caused a crack in the wall, making the building unstable.  The Ben Long frescoe in the current sanctuary fell in 2002, probably as a result of the driving of pylons for new buildings on Tryon St.  I was very disappointed that I did not get to see it and according to the church history, there are 18 saved pieces on display throughout the parish.  I guess I'll just have to go back and take a tour.
• In 2004 and 2008, the artwork was replaced by a free standing triptych of Jesus as a fisherman, and 2 bas-reliefs of a Madonna and Child and a Homeless Man before the Crucified Jesus .  These are magnificent and their description in the church history is very interesting.  http://www.stpeterscatholic.org/index.php/information/history-of-st-peters/

Art by John Collier -note the Disciple in modern clothing

MY DAD, FUNNY TO THE END:

My dad died last Tuesday.  Thanksgiving Day was really the last time he was lucid and "had a good day."  After visiting their other grandparents on Thursday, my children (thirtysomethings) and granddaughters came by to see Dad.  I had wheeled him out into the sunshine, as it was a beautiful, warm day.  I took the granddaughters off while they were visiting to let them expend some energy at a playground.  I thought everyone would leave fairly quickly when I returned, as nursing homes can be pretty depressing places, but it was as if my children knew this was their last encounter with Dad, and just didn't want to leave.  Dad would seemingly doze and then surprise us by joining in the conversation.  At one point we were talking about Yellowstone, and he chimed in with a story about cutting a long branch and attaching a string to it to fish in a stream while they were hiking. (Mom and Dad worked at Yellowstone for 2 summers during their "RV years".)  "What did you use for a hook, Granddad?" asked my son Clay.  "Oh I bent a safety pin."  "Did you catch anything?"... "Of course not... I've been lying to you the whole tale!!"  Dad was famous for his fish stories, both true and embellished, and the one thing my son Clay wanted from his house was a picture of his Granddad with an 8 pound bass he REALLY caught!

One of my favorite pictures of Dad, with his grandchildren @1982

His namesake, Clay, is in the Superman T Shirt

Tuesday they had put "Mr. Clay, Man of God" on the sign at the church.  My son, also named Clay, laughed and said he needed to take a picture of the sign, as he would never see this in writing about him!  As he planted his foot to take the photo, he came down on a large fire ant hill!  After he recovered and had gotten all of the ants out of his pants, he said, "I guess Granddad was messin' with me one last time!"  My daughter, Emily did a wonderful eulogy for the family, retelling "Granddad stories" to illustrate life-lessons he had taught them.

THE BULLETIN: