I did not go to Church today

I didn't go down to Church this morning for the Palm Sunday service.

Palm Sunday in the Episcopal Church is a hybrid. 

Its full name is “Palm Sunday: The Sunday of the Passion”. 

That name indicates the nature of the service.

It begins with a commemoration of the “event” when Jesus (according to the bible) entered Jerusalem mounted on a donkey.  The service disposes of that very quickly (usually with the singing of the terminally boring “All Glory, Laud and Honour”), and then moves to a reading of one or other of the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ betrayal, trial and crucifixion.

It’s all too much for me.  It “feels” as if we were to re-enact the marriage of Charles and Diana, and then recall her tragic death – all in the space of 70 or so minutes.

Mostly it’s all too much for me because of the “words, words, words” which dominate the service, with never a minute for silent reflection, (see my grumpy blog for last Sunday).

So I skipped Church this morning. Instead I drove down to Sarasota Bay, sat myself on a park bench, and quietly read and prayed the Prayer Book service of Morning Prayer. My companions were a couple of pelicans on a nearby rock.  My music was the gentle lapping of the waves.  I experienced a sense of deep peace.


A DISCLAIMER

None of which I write should be understood or interpreted as criticisms of the two parishes at which I am privileged to serve.  Both places have good and holy priests, holy and superb musicians, and fantastic parishioners.

What I write has everything to do with my lifelong spiritual restlessness, and nothing to do with the local Episcopal parishes.


SINCE THIS IS “HOLY WEEK”  .....

.....  I will not be “blogging” again until Easter Day.  I will “see you” next Sunday.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shoe insults

Last year I consulted with a local podiatrist: Dr. Robert F Herbold Jr. D.P.M. 4717 Swift Rd., Sarasota , FL – 34231  because I was being bothered with a couple of bunions  (yes I am at that age). I was very impressed with this Doctor.  He agreed that I had bunions, but he ventured that it was much too soon for surgery. (Now there’s a first). Instead he recommended some “arch supports” to relieve the tension for my feet, a tension which was exacerbating the bunions. What’s more -  he told me that he sells these arch supports at the miserly sum of $2.50 each (about 1/5 of the price in the local pharmacies). He is an honest man, and I recommend him to anyone with foot problems. So, a couple of weeks ago, having purchased some new walking shoes, I knew that I needed to buy a couple of new arch supports I took myself to his office. Once there, my mind went blank. I wanted to ask his front desk Clerk if I could buy some “shoe inserts” , as I could not rem...
Read more

It began in Bristol U.K. "A man dies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Image
I well remember the swirling controversy in Bristol, U.K. when a (Presbyterian) Minister the Revd, Earnest Marviin created a ":Rock Opera", called "A Man Dies"  in and for his congregation in the Lockleaze area of Bristol, U.K. Earnest Mrvin I was a sixteen years old member of the Plymouth Brethren Church back in those days, so I most likely disapproved of "A Man Dies" .  We, (the Plymouth Brethren),  disapproved of everything! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had forgotten all about "A Man Dies" until earlier today when saw these pictures on the "Bristol, Then and Now"  Facebook page.   St. James Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze, Bristol  The Bristol Then and Now page includes the following commentary: Lockleaze, Bristol  -  'Jesus Christ Superstar' began at St.James (Presbyterian) Chur...
Read more

The background, the couple, my friends, the wedding ceremony, the Shaykh, the Priest,

Image
The background   I have known the Keller/Bonsey family since 2000 when I became the Rector at St. James's, Cambridge, MA. They (Elisabeth Keller and the Revd. Steven Bonsey with their four children Noah, Sam, Josiah and Annie) had come back to Cambridge from Hawaii where Steve had been the Rector of an Episcopal parish. Steve had just been appointed as a Chaplain at Tufts University (no Sunday morning duties) so the entire family was able to enrich our common life at St. James's - which they did with great love and joy. I count them as friends and have stayed in touch with them since my retirement.  Noah, the oldest son is eloquent in Arabic (he spent a year in Damascus when Syria was a safe place).  He has developed a super career as an analyst of social media in the near East.    Noah worked in Tampa for a while a few years ago, so he and I were a...
Read more