As you can see from the pictures, last Sunday’s dedication was beautiful and theological with a little bit of pomp and celebration, all wrapped up into one. Quite a few emotions stirred through people during the service. From where I stood, perched on a ladder, I saw a few tears and at the very least, some dabbling of eyes. It was truly well worth the last four months of planning. I told Pastor that it took us four months to plan our wedding and the same amount of time to plan this dedication. At least the priorities are even….
The service went off with only a small hitch or two. The wind blew the banner off the banner bearer’s pole outside, and the choir & organist were missing page 11 from the service bulletin, so there was a bit of looking around at each other going, “Kyrie? I don’t have a Kyrie.” Thankfully, the congregation can sing A-capella for a short bit.
The service began in the old sanctuary, with the removal of all the altar area. Banners were removed, Bible & Lectionary, Paraments, Communion Vessels, Pulpit, Baptismal font, Altar and Crosses. The most touching had to be the removal of the altar. It looked like a coffin taking its last trip down the aisle. The congregation followed the cross outside and the doors were locked while Pastor gave something of a eulogy. Ok, I’m sure that’s not what it was, but I was too far away to hear at that point. After that, we followed over to the new doors, where the cornerstone was dedicated, the steeple was blessed and the contractor unlocked the door and gave the keys to the congregation. Pastor again took the cross and crossed the entryway with it before anyone entered.
The procession into the new sanctuary was my favorite part. I was standing on a ladder by the organ, watching people’s faces as they streamed in behind the cross to the choir’s singing, “Lift High the Cross”. (Even though Pastor didn’t get the message that there would be an interlude after vs. 2&4, so he was singing a solo for a while). The natural light in the new sanctuary is next to perfect, as it’s completely indirect but sunny. The altar area is lit up with two banks of row lights and both the light and sound reflect off the wood Reredos at the front and the wood doors at the back. A cry room sits cock-eyed along the back, with a short pew in front for those days when it’s better to be back there spanking your children rather that doing it in the 3rd row from the front. It’s all really very nice.
The service continued with the dressing of the altar area, lighting of the candles, setting up communion, blessing the new lectern & original 8-sided baptismal font, and the like. As soon as it seemed to have started, it was over and people were recessing out and signing the guest book.
The new sanctuary is simple and classic, with modern touches of energy efficient windows and new plumbing & electrical. The sacristy is bigger & more altar guild friendly. The acoustics are so much better than I thought they would be with wall to wall carpet and the choir sounded angelic, almost crypt-like. (For the few of us I know who’ve been in a crypt and whispered just to see what it sounds like).
Following the dedication, the church put on a dinner at the community center, which was really nice for 150 people to sit around tables and visit without feeling cramped in. The natural light from the windows made for a cheery atmosphere, the food was great and Laura’s cakes were a hit! The kids had the opportunity to eat and go into the gym and play and run around, which was really nice for me! I put together a short slideshow of the process from the ground breaking through to the end of the rehearsal on Saturday night and we played it while everyone was eating cake. It seemed to go over well and many were happy to see the progression and the final product, since they had not been a part of the planning and didn’t know what was really happening behind the closed walls.
Former pastors were there to tell a few stories from of old and the DP came to share in the day and say a few words. Scrapbooks were set out to peruse through, as well.
Since there was about an hour break between the dinner and the Vespers service, I went home to get the kids a snack, change clothes, start the dishwasher, since I forgot to do that in my hurry out the door at 0800 that morning, and get supper going. What I didn’t plan time for was setting my kitchen on fire. Who knew a dishwasher could catch fire?
After contemplating what to do when I saw smoke pouring out of it, I opened it up to check to see if it really was on fire. It was. The smoke alarm was going off, and the kitchen was filling with smoke. I pulled Lars from his high chair, grabbed the phone and headed down the hall to shut off the alarm. I came back to the kitchen, grabbed the fire extinguisher from the pantry (Thanks, Kristen, I knew it would come in handy someday!) and dialed Laura.
“Where do I unplug the dishwasher!?” I cried.
“Under the sink” she replied.
“Ok, that was hot” says I.
Click
Phone rings, (it’s Mark) “Did you shut off the breaker?”
“No, should I?”
“Yes”
“Ok”
Click
Here comes Mark to check things out. It’s all good. Sarah saved the Parsonage, with a little help. If we don’t hurry, we’ll be late for Vespers service and Mark’s already got a light bulb out (literally, not metaphorically) that needs replacing before then in the new sanctuary. We all leave and go back to church. After church, EVERYBODY is asking me about the kitchen. Pastor still hasn’t heard and has no idea what anybody is talking about. How did everybody else find out so quickly??
Monday, I got a new dishwasher installed. Thanks, Mark, I owe you another one. Sorry I spilled your beer.
The rest of the week was taken up with cold weather, a bit of snow shoveling, and some last minute touches to spruce up the house for Sunday’s parade. I taught Piano Lessons, made dessert for the Advent Supper, a pot of soup for the Ministerial Association’s Christmas potluck, ironed a pile of clothes, did 800 loads of laundry, rounded up suit coats & pants for the dry cleaner, rocked a sick son repeatedly then took him to the doctor on Friday, ran a bunch of rescue calls, made peanut brittle & star cookies, and generally wore myself out.
Friday night, we went to Douthit’s for a Stew supper. Unfortunately,
Until next time…
No comments:
Post a Comment