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That was awkward
Apr. 6th, 2007 08:31 pm
I volunteered to sing at a Catholic Good Friday church service today; it was definitely awkward for me.
There was a lot of standing and sitting and sitting and standing and kneeling and standing and 'amen''s and sitting and standing and lining up and kneeling and standing and sitting, not necessarily in that order. I liked the whole Readers' Theatre rendition of John 18-19. For some reason it was entertaining, and I thought it was really nifty how the congregation could follow along with the detailed text of the service in their Missals. At least this time I was able to actually recite about 80% of the Lord's Prayer (I only know the Protestant part of it though). I thought the chanted psalm thing was fun too.
My seat was close to the wall so I wasn't able to see anything that was going on while we were standing and no one was saying anything (I assume the Priest was doing something but I couldn't see it, whatever it was). Also, since the chorus was at the back of the room, I could only see people's backs as they lined up for the Veneration of the Cross and to receive the Eucharist. I would have just stayed at the back when the chorus was invited to go do those things, but I didn't want to feel entirely left out. I tried to watch people's backs as I was singing (and also attempting not to lose my place in the music) to figure out what they were doing.
With these sorts of things, though, one either has to do it right, or not do it at all - otherwise I think it's kind of disrespectful.
I had originally said I wouldn't go up to kiss/touch/something the Cross, but when everyone else in the chorus went to line up to do so, I couldn't help but not want to appear left out. I think I faked that okay.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint) the people singing around me were (I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in the group was) Catholic and one pointed out that I could opt to just receive a blessing instead of the wafer thingy by crossing my arms over my chest. Either that or the other non-Catholics in the group were Christians that had been through all this before and knew to do that (I'm pretty sure Bob goes to United Church but I could be wrong) - if you're atheist, you stay back, of course, but I'm decidedly not atheist. Anyway, it's nice to learn new things, even if it's awkward to do so.
I feel so drained after that. I'm not sure why.
===
I never thought I'd ever meet anyone who owns Khet. But His Steve-ness just received a copy for his birthday.
There was a lot of standing and sitting and sitting and standing and kneeling and standing and 'amen''s and sitting and standing and lining up and kneeling and standing and sitting, not necessarily in that order. I liked the whole Readers' Theatre rendition of John 18-19. For some reason it was entertaining, and I thought it was really nifty how the congregation could follow along with the detailed text of the service in their Missals. At least this time I was able to actually recite about 80% of the Lord's Prayer (I only know the Protestant part of it though). I thought the chanted psalm thing was fun too.
My seat was close to the wall so I wasn't able to see anything that was going on while we were standing and no one was saying anything (I assume the Priest was doing something but I couldn't see it, whatever it was). Also, since the chorus was at the back of the room, I could only see people's backs as they lined up for the Veneration of the Cross and to receive the Eucharist. I would have just stayed at the back when the chorus was invited to go do those things, but I didn't want to feel entirely left out. I tried to watch people's backs as I was singing (and also attempting not to lose my place in the music) to figure out what they were doing.
With these sorts of things, though, one either has to do it right, or not do it at all - otherwise I think it's kind of disrespectful.
I had originally said I wouldn't go up to kiss/touch/something the Cross, but when everyone else in the chorus went to line up to do so, I couldn't help but not want to appear left out. I think I faked that okay.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint) the people singing around me were (I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in the group was) Catholic and one pointed out that I could opt to just receive a blessing instead of the wafer thingy by crossing my arms over my chest. Either that or the other non-Catholics in the group were Christians that had been through all this before and knew to do that (I'm pretty sure Bob goes to United Church but I could be wrong) - if you're atheist, you stay back, of course, but I'm decidedly not atheist. Anyway, it's nice to learn new things, even if it's awkward to do so.
I feel so drained after that. I'm not sure why.
===
I never thought I'd ever meet anyone who owns Khet. But His Steve-ness just received a copy for his birthday.
