Subject: RE: Chieftains on cable
From:
wysiwyg
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 05:46 PM
Spaw,
We are fortunate to be at what I call a Church of the Real Deal. What I mean is, there is as little brainwashing going on as possible-- none we are aware of, only that which we ourselves cannot see in ourselves, see what I mean? Focus on actual spiritual experience and upon strengthening that. And so much caring. Our praishioners have taught us many lessons, us big-city fools. No pretense to speak of. It is an Episcopal church in a small, old- fashioned town with gaslights, town green, the whole thing.... brickwork Main Street shops all doing well... and close-knit families.
Hardiman's genius in bringing this church into the present century has been to remind people that since this is the only Episcopal church in the whole county (which is large, but is sparsely populated) that has fulltime clergy, and since so many people move here in retirement from other areas, and soince so many come to us in search of church from other denominatioal backgrounds where they were badly hurt, St. Paul's has to offer ALL that our denomination can offer.
So instead of having to choose between incense and robes, versus whitewashed walls and spare preaching, he offers BOTH. Not in a mishmash, either, or in any way watered down. But if you like fancy church with big choir music and you like to dress up on Sunday in your best, come to the 10 AM service. If you like hushed, contemplative prayer, 8 AM. Healing mass with laying on of hands? Wednesdays, noon. Old time gospel music and grinning? Come-as-you-are Saturday night (me for music). Greek or Russian Orthodox tradition? None of these churches for miles around. But our liturgy is much the same, more so than Roman Catholic. So come on in and you will find an ikon in Greg's office, old liturgies offered that fit your childhood loves, and certain things in the chapel that you will recognize. And his Bible studies draw upon all these strands of tradition so that people relate to one another and their whole heritage.
We also don't tackle, clip, or block newcomers. The worst thing you are likely to encounter as a newcomer is a pewful of stuffed animals or, worse, the Rector's Wife (me!) sitting nearby handing you the Prayer Book conveniently opened to the page we are on so you don't get lost.
The acoustics are such that even our small choir sounds big. When the Wellsbnoro Men's Chorus comes in to sing once or twice a year for the serve, with about 35 guys, it sounds like a train coming through. And there are sweet spots all over the place, from which even a small, unamplified voice rings in the whole space. The church is large but not cut up into sections-- old stone, covered with plaster, and open crosswise as opposed to those ucky pillars that a lot of old big stone churches have along the side aisles.
When people come in for the first time, and this includes everyone from babies to grandfathers, the first reaction is almost always the same. They come in, stop dead in their tracks, and LOOK, up and around, at the spaciousness and dignity that seem quite warm and welcoming. They sigh peacefully and sit down in a back pew. And they usually come back, if they can.
Then there is Jesus... but that would be another story.
~S~
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sj
