this sunday was pentecost sunday. it was also senior recognition sunday, 4th grade bible presentation sunday, parenting sunday school class sunday, head of staff coming back from a week of vacation sunday, mother-in-law arrived yesterday sunday. lots and lots and lots of things to do and take care of.
i left the house early - even for me - and arrived at church before anyone else (only the second time that's happened!) carrying 4 bags, i opened the outside doors, the office doors, and then my office door. driving into the parking lot i had drilled myself on the things that had to be done and in what particular order - bibles, senior gifts, storeroom, recycling. bibles, senior gifts, storeroom, recycling. bibles, senior gifts, storeroom, recycling. you get the idea.
i greeted people as they came into the office, chatted absentmindedly with other staff, began to center myself for worship. i dressed in my white alb (did i mention it was also brand new white robe to match the rest of the staff sunday?) and red stole and headed toward the sanctuary for the first service. carrying in the baptismal pitcher i glanced at our parish associate and hissed 'why are there congratulations graduates 2010 balloons in the sanctuary on pentecost?' she gave me a wry smile and noted 'apparently they're pretty sacred' - to which we both giggled and moved along.
worship went well and went in the taize style. cute children, great readers, wonderful opportunity to preside at the communion table and invite the community to feel the spirit.
next was a sunday school class on raising children in the faith - and i was worried no one was going to show. reality proved me wrong. we had great conversation about modeling our faith for future generations, how children won't remember everything you say but have a permanent impression of the type of person you were. Discussed ways not to conform to society but to be transformed by our faith.
after finishing a tad late i breezed through the fellowship hall to congratulate our high school seniors, grabbed a cookie, and headed to my office.
re-prepare, re-center, re-robe, re-peat.
presented bibles to 4th graders, affirmations of my children's moment (thanks to emily - that's right! punctuated my every sentence), congratulated our graduates and sent them on their way, Acts 2 read in Spanish, French, and Ewe, red streamers as 'tongues of fire', joking with the lay liturgist during worship, prayer, benediction, jawing in the narthex, done and done.
back to my office to de-robe and gather my things to be gone for the week. I check in with the head of staff and head toward home, to meet j and d and the baby for lunch.
when i arrive all three ask me about church. i honestly hadn't thought much about it. j asked me specifically 'how was pentecost?' and my first thought was 'it was pentecost?'. it didn't feel like pentecost to me.
on reflection that's because i didn't experience what has been my normative pentecost experience - joyful, swinging music, brass choirs, spiritual songs, clapping and (maybe if you're lucky) a little dancing. it was a bit more calm and staid than i had prepared myself for. did i miss the spirit? did WE miss the spirit?
what was different about pentecost sunday? honestly, it was smooth. i was calm in the face of a thousand things to juggle, i was at peace inside, i enjoyed interaction without being anxious. the scripture that morning - peace i leave with you. my peace i give to you. here i was preparing myslef for a whirlwind and pentecost bestowed the spirit in a gentle, meandering guide that floated me along the day. no ups and downs, no crest and troughs, steady seas, calm sailing.
the gift of the spirit is always a surprise.
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