News Item: : NEWS FROM THE HILL
(Category: News)
Posted by Tom Kane
Friday, May 15, 2009 - 22:39:37
There is an old custom which still persists in many of our rural Churches. We know it is frowned upon by some of our 'brethren of the cloth', and by some laymen too for that matter. Just the same, we like it, and we make no effort to discourage it in our parish.
Our people arrive at the Church considerably ahead of the hour for Service. They aren't afraid they won't be able to find a seat. They come early to meet their friends and neighbors, and to exchange news and views. You can see them gathered in little groups about the Church on any Sunday when the weather is good. If you get close enough to hear the conversations, they go something like this.
"I don't see your mother. Isn't she here this morning?"
"No, Mamma's been in bed all week. Her heart's been act�ing up again."
"Now, that's too bad. I'll run in and see her tomorrow� bring her some cake. I made one yesterday and it turned out right good."
"I see you got your old barn painted at last." "Yeah, and 'twarn't before 'twas needed�soaked up paint like nobody's business."
"Mary Lou's baby came last Thursday, a girl, weighed eight pounds, cute little thing. Oh yes, Mary Lou's getting along fine."
"Our new neighbors seem to have gotten pretty well settled. I think we're going to like them. Seem to be right nice folks, not afraid of work either. Got that place of theirs looking good al�ready."
"I was noticing that corn of yours. Don't look as though you're going to make much out of it."
"No, that piece of land's pretty well worked out. Needs building up. Think I'll sow it down in blue grass and run some steers on it."
"I didn't see you at the club last week, Sally."
"I couldn't make it. Jimmy was sick. Seems we always have somebody sick at our house. I don't seem able to get all those children well at the same time."
So it goes�talk of people and their doings, swapping of recipes, exchange of agri-cultural and house-hold hints, the care and nurture of children. There are invitations for dinner, or for the evening, offers and requests for help, just plain gossip. There is talk of anything and everything people need to know and do to live.
Of course there are some disadvantages in all of this. Some�times we have a double processional when our people get so in�terested in their conversations that they follow the choir and Rector into the Church. Also, in bad weather, when the visiting goes on around the hot air registers in the Church, we have to delay the Service until our organist calls out: "Hey, you all sit down and keep quiet. The Parson is ready to start the Service."
To some people, this visiting in and around the Church be�fore and after Service seems to indicate a lack of respect for God and His House. We don't believe that at all, and we wouldn't discourage the custom for all the world. It is one of our firmest and most hopeful beliefs that God's chief interest is in people, in their happiness and their welfare. We know that their visiting in the House of God inspires and fosters in our people a sincere and genuine interest in each other and in their welfare. We know it increases mutual help and friendship among them. It binds them together in a real 'family' unity.
Moreover, we notice that their feeling of being at home in God's House, and at one with each other, enhances their worship and makes it more sincere and joyful. We believe this is pleasing to God. In fact, we be�lieve it is one of the chief things He is trying to help men achieve.
As long as the old custom does such things for our people, we think it is grand, and wouldn't discourage it for all the world.
This news item is from Trinity Anglican Church
( http://www.trinity-anglican.org/news.php?extend.20 )
(Category: News)
Posted by Tom Kane
Friday, May 15, 2009 - 22:39:37
An Old Custom
Taken from the �The Curate� (1951) written by Fr. Arthur LeBaron Ribble (d.1961)There is an old custom which still persists in many of our rural Churches. We know it is frowned upon by some of our 'brethren of the cloth', and by some laymen too for that matter. Just the same, we like it, and we make no effort to discourage it in our parish.
Our people arrive at the Church considerably ahead of the hour for Service. They aren't afraid they won't be able to find a seat. They come early to meet their friends and neighbors, and to exchange news and views. You can see them gathered in little groups about the Church on any Sunday when the weather is good. If you get close enough to hear the conversations, they go something like this.
"I don't see your mother. Isn't she here this morning?"
"No, Mamma's been in bed all week. Her heart's been act�ing up again."
"Now, that's too bad. I'll run in and see her tomorrow� bring her some cake. I made one yesterday and it turned out right good."
"I see you got your old barn painted at last." "Yeah, and 'twarn't before 'twas needed�soaked up paint like nobody's business."
"Mary Lou's baby came last Thursday, a girl, weighed eight pounds, cute little thing. Oh yes, Mary Lou's getting along fine."
"Our new neighbors seem to have gotten pretty well settled. I think we're going to like them. Seem to be right nice folks, not afraid of work either. Got that place of theirs looking good al�ready."
"I was noticing that corn of yours. Don't look as though you're going to make much out of it."
"No, that piece of land's pretty well worked out. Needs building up. Think I'll sow it down in blue grass and run some steers on it."
"I didn't see you at the club last week, Sally."
"I couldn't make it. Jimmy was sick. Seems we always have somebody sick at our house. I don't seem able to get all those children well at the same time."
So it goes�talk of people and their doings, swapping of recipes, exchange of agri-cultural and house-hold hints, the care and nurture of children. There are invitations for dinner, or for the evening, offers and requests for help, just plain gossip. There is talk of anything and everything people need to know and do to live.
Of course there are some disadvantages in all of this. Some�times we have a double processional when our people get so in�terested in their conversations that they follow the choir and Rector into the Church. Also, in bad weather, when the visiting goes on around the hot air registers in the Church, we have to delay the Service until our organist calls out: "Hey, you all sit down and keep quiet. The Parson is ready to start the Service."
To some people, this visiting in and around the Church be�fore and after Service seems to indicate a lack of respect for God and His House. We don't believe that at all, and we wouldn't discourage the custom for all the world. It is one of our firmest and most hopeful beliefs that God's chief interest is in people, in their happiness and their welfare. We know that their visiting in the House of God inspires and fosters in our people a sincere and genuine interest in each other and in their welfare. We know it increases mutual help and friendship among them. It binds them together in a real 'family' unity.
Moreover, we notice that their feeling of being at home in God's House, and at one with each other, enhances their worship and makes it more sincere and joyful. We believe this is pleasing to God. In fact, we be�lieve it is one of the chief things He is trying to help men achieve.
As long as the old custom does such things for our people, we think it is grand, and wouldn't discourage it for all the world.
This news item is from Trinity Anglican Church
( http://www.trinity-anglican.org/news.php?extend.20 )