Sunday, November 02, 2008

From My Perspective...

My goal was to get through both Catholic and Presbyterian services this morning without having to endure either the marching-band quality of For All the Saints or the jauntiness of I Sing a Song of the Saints of God, and without breaking down as the litany of names of this year's deceased was read. It was my first attempt to return to my own church since the memorial service for our son two months ago, and I managed to achieve none of my desired ends, but the morning brought other gifts ~

An early morning email from my spiritual director ~ yes, he has some extra time for me as I begin to address the question of whether/when to return to seminary, which could be as soon as in four weeks ~

Beautiful mass readings from Wisdom, Romans, and Matthew ~

(And then: Thought I was on target until after the final hymn when, sure enough, the recessional was For All the Saints ~ Which was then the processional at my own church, where I arrived just a couple of minutes too early to avoid it ~ And was eventually followed by, again, sure enough, "I Sing a Song . . .," which actually gave me a little smile as three darling little girls crowded into the pulpit to sing the first verse, and I have wonderful memories of the time period when the Lovely Daughter would have been one of those little girls) ~

Redemption (for me) with the choir's singing of Agnus Dei from Durufle's Requiem during the offering ~

The solemn reading of names, through which I remained dry-eyed until the very last and unexpected insertion of the name of the father of the friend with whom I was seated; as I said to her, "It's always the surprises that get you" ~

The hands and arms reaching out to touch and embrace me as I walked down the center of the church toward communion, and the tears of our pastor as she served me ~

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful communion music: In the Singing and Jesus the Lord Said, 'I Am the Bread.'

So. I made it. And I feel cared for. Maybe I can do it again.

12 comments:

RevDrKate said...

You were very much on my mind this morning as we lit our candles for the saints....he was one of mine. Holding on with you as time sweeps us forward.

Gannet Girl said...

Thank you, Kate.

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

"In the singing...in the quiet"...you made it through both this morning. May you do so again.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on making it through today, GG. One day at a time...

Katherine E. said...

I'm so glad, GG.

Lisa :-] said...

Perfect.

Magdalene6127 said...

(((Gannet Girl)))

Lori said...

Yup you can. And we'll be with you all the way then too.

((((GG))))

Anonymous said...

Congratulations.
I named Josh this morning and also sang For All the Saints.

Gannet Girl said...

Thank you, Alexandra. Thank you all.

Kathryn said...

Back from All Souls Eucharist this morning, and you and yours were so hugely with me. We have prayed for you as a church at Morning Prayer every day and as I heard and read name after name this morning I imagined you nerving yourself to hear what you had thought never to have to hear...
Our gospel reading this morning was "I am the bread of life" and as I placed a precious fragment of that bread in each empty hand, I so wanted to do it for you too.
Ongoing blessings

Anonymous said...

I love you Robin - thinking of you for sure :-)