Sunday night we went to a Baptist Church to hear some good old fashion down home Christmas music. It was good. And loud.... and not so much down home.
Things have changed. It was no longer old time music with the old time religion - Electric guitars, moog organs, huge double screens on each side of the room, special lighting effects, and what every church needs, a fog machine.
This church has a large hearing impaired group. I enjoyed watching a man and/or a woman (they alternated) to interpret the songs and translate into sign language and visual pantomime. Once, the choir was singing something like “Joy to the World” or some other joyful song and the interpreter acted out like he was thrown in deepest darkest dungeon of the castle - or maybe he was acting out if he was in the deepest pits of hell - I wonder if he was deaf too and following the wrong page? Another time he did an excellent visual of climbing an invisible rope. I think a white-faced mime would do an excellent job for the deaf for this occasion.
The old fashion Christmas songs I knew as I was growing up seemed here had a bit more rock to them…. The choir members seemed to have a more bounce to the rhythm.
For a while I focused in on a angelic looking woman who looked to be in her mid thirties. She looked so content and intent. She opened her mouth very wide when she sung – She reminded me of Charlotte Church that suddenly jumped to middle age.
A group of teenagers were on the front row (next to the deaf) that were really into the music in a spiritual sense. They stood up and waved their hands with the music. It seemed to me they could be just as spiritual and get credit for being considerate too, if they used the back row- thus not blocking everybody’s view. Oh well.
It is hard to believe this is the same Baptist Church we were married in 40 years and one week ago.*
*Same church yes – but they have got too big for there pants twice since our marriage. Twice they have moved into a new and larger building since we got married, but three times total.
3 comments:
As a Christian who is sickened by Postmodernity and its willful adherents, I apologize on behalf of the loud people with a fog machine. It's hard to believe that most churches have changed to this therapeutic format, not just the one in which you were married years ago.
Let the good times - and fog - roll!
George,
No apology needed. It were not you and I wasn't offended anyway.
Suzanne,
I like that! Let the good times and fog roll.
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