Church-going as much sociological as theological
A fable--but a wonderful fable! As H.L. Mencken put it in his classic tale, “Christmas Story”: Christianity offers “beautiful consolations.”
That’s what I concluded after attending the Christmas eve candlelight service at the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Reno. The camaraderie, the happy chatting of friends and the religious fervor of some parishioners were striking.
Church-going is as much sociological as theological.
One of the St. Stephen’s readings, from Isaiah 9:6, was familiar: “For unto us a child is born…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (The verse sounds better when sung in Handel’s great oratorio, “Messiah.”)
The major reading, as usual in most Christian churches at the Yuletide, was the nativity story related at Luke 2:1-20. Alas, it was not the King James Version.
Modern translations may be more accurate, more precise, but they lack the poetry of the KJV. The poetic “sore afraid” of the KJV is rendered by the commonplace “terrified.” “Being great with child” comes out as the prosaic “pregnant.”
The St. Stephen’s service was blessed by the magnificent soprano voice of Katharine DeBoer in several solos, including “O Holy Night” sung during the communion. (Ms. DeBoer sometimes graces Nevada Opera productions.)
But churches should abandon unison singing. The choir at St. Stephen’s is fine. But when parishioners sing along the words are either mumbled--or worse--sung several syllabuses ahead or behind the choir. It ruins the joy of song.
Memo to the priest of St. Stephen’s, the Rev. Rick Sorensen, courtesy of Schweitzer autobiography, “Out of My Life and Thought”: “The opportunity to speak every Sunday to a congregation about the essential questions of life seem(s) to me wonderful.”
One of the great things about the interiors of Episcopal churches is their simplicity. Unadorned, unencrusted. In contrast the interiors of Catholic churches seem so cluttered. Why? After all, isn’t the Episcopal Church, the American version of Anglicanism, really the Roman Catholic Church without the pope?
•
When I was a young man I would go to the polls and leave with a great feeling that I had done my sacred democratic duty, that I was privileged to vote.
My, oh my, how naive I was in those days. Today I vote unhappily for the lesser of two evils. And while I always vote for Democratic presidential candidates because I know leftists will not win, the election of Democrats won’t make much difference. Example: the crushing disappointment of the Democratic Congress elected in 2006.
•
Money is not just the mother’s milk of politics. It is everything. As Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia has rightly lamented: “Money! Money! Not ideas, not principles, but money that reigns supreme in American politics!”
•
One of the most revolting aspects of British politics is the obsequiousness to the queen. During the state opening of Parliament in November you had the absurd spectacle of Lord Chancellor Jack Straw walking backward from the throne so he would not turn his back on Queen Elizabeth II. Straw wore a baroque outfit that included a long, heavy robe trimmed with gold.
Jack Straw, former socialist and once head of the radical National Union of Students! This “man of the people” totally repudiates his past. If only Gilbert and Sullivan were alive to satirize his volte-face and pomposity.
Yes, the Brits love their pomp and ceremony. But to prostrate themselves before an unelected queen who is accountable to no one offends democrats (lower case d) to the marrow.
•
Speaking of prostituting one’s self. Tony Blair, former British prime minister, made $500,000 for a 20-minute speech recently in China. First, Blair sold out the British Labor Party. Now the boy socialist turns into an obscene capitalist.
Chinese newspapers reported that Blair uttered nothing but clichés for that ridiculous sum. The China Youth Daily noted that China was fast becoming a gold-digging market for international celebrities.
•
LATEST SPORTS OUTRAGE: Bowie Kuhn, the non-entity baseball commissioner, has been named posthumously to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Marvin Miller? Ignored. As baseball union leader Miller had a tremendous impact, liberating players from slavery. Yes, Virginia, there is no justice in the world.
That’s what I concluded after attending the Christmas eve candlelight service at the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Reno. The camaraderie, the happy chatting of friends and the religious fervor of some parishioners were striking.
Church-going is as much sociological as theological.
One of the St. Stephen’s readings, from Isaiah 9:6, was familiar: “For unto us a child is born…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (The verse sounds better when sung in Handel’s great oratorio, “Messiah.”)
The major reading, as usual in most Christian churches at the Yuletide, was the nativity story related at Luke 2:1-20. Alas, it was not the King James Version.
Modern translations may be more accurate, more precise, but they lack the poetry of the KJV. The poetic “sore afraid” of the KJV is rendered by the commonplace “terrified.” “Being great with child” comes out as the prosaic “pregnant.”
The St. Stephen’s service was blessed by the magnificent soprano voice of Katharine DeBoer in several solos, including “O Holy Night” sung during the communion. (Ms. DeBoer sometimes graces Nevada Opera productions.)
But churches should abandon unison singing. The choir at St. Stephen’s is fine. But when parishioners sing along the words are either mumbled--or worse--sung several syllabuses ahead or behind the choir. It ruins the joy of song.
Memo to the priest of St. Stephen’s, the Rev. Rick Sorensen, courtesy of Schweitzer autobiography, “Out of My Life and Thought”: “The opportunity to speak every Sunday to a congregation about the essential questions of life seem(s) to me wonderful.”
One of the great things about the interiors of Episcopal churches is their simplicity. Unadorned, unencrusted. In contrast the interiors of Catholic churches seem so cluttered. Why? After all, isn’t the Episcopal Church, the American version of Anglicanism, really the Roman Catholic Church without the pope?
•
When I was a young man I would go to the polls and leave with a great feeling that I had done my sacred democratic duty, that I was privileged to vote.
My, oh my, how naive I was in those days. Today I vote unhappily for the lesser of two evils. And while I always vote for Democratic presidential candidates because I know leftists will not win, the election of Democrats won’t make much difference. Example: the crushing disappointment of the Democratic Congress elected in 2006.
•
Money is not just the mother’s milk of politics. It is everything. As Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia has rightly lamented: “Money! Money! Not ideas, not principles, but money that reigns supreme in American politics!”
•
One of the most revolting aspects of British politics is the obsequiousness to the queen. During the state opening of Parliament in November you had the absurd spectacle of Lord Chancellor Jack Straw walking backward from the throne so he would not turn his back on Queen Elizabeth II. Straw wore a baroque outfit that included a long, heavy robe trimmed with gold.
Jack Straw, former socialist and once head of the radical National Union of Students! This “man of the people” totally repudiates his past. If only Gilbert and Sullivan were alive to satirize his volte-face and pomposity.
Yes, the Brits love their pomp and ceremony. But to prostrate themselves before an unelected queen who is accountable to no one offends democrats (lower case d) to the marrow.
•
Speaking of prostituting one’s self. Tony Blair, former British prime minister, made $500,000 for a 20-minute speech recently in China. First, Blair sold out the British Labor Party. Now the boy socialist turns into an obscene capitalist.
Chinese newspapers reported that Blair uttered nothing but clichés for that ridiculous sum. The China Youth Daily noted that China was fast becoming a gold-digging market for international celebrities.
•
LATEST SPORTS OUTRAGE: Bowie Kuhn, the non-entity baseball commissioner, has been named posthumously to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Marvin Miller? Ignored. As baseball union leader Miller had a tremendous impact, liberating players from slavery. Yes, Virginia, there is no justice in the world.
Labels: christianity, christmas, elections 2008
posted by Jake Highton | 4:02 PM
1 Comments:
Blair made a huge blunder supporting Bush in the Iraq adventure. However to say that he, "sold out the British Labor Party." Blair brought Labour back from the political wilderness and ended over a decade and a half of
Tory rule.
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