canang-l RE: happenings

[Maloney, Linda M]

Dear All,
I hear a lot of churchly "stirrings" from one quarter and another on the list. In response to Noeline's account, I'd say that I'm feeling somewhat more sympathy for those clinging to the BCP and resisting the BAS since I've been worshiping in a parish in California that is wonderful in every respect *except* the music, which is relentlessly hokey, "praise music," "Jesus and me." I suppose I was paid out for my grumbling when, on returning to New England for the month of March and going to Boston to give a talk, I found myself on my first Sunday back in New England in a Boston church that celebrated Morning Prayer on Sunday (even though the priest was there!) and featured music from some deep Victorian past . . . nevertheless, I maintain that any song containing the word "yeah!" is not suitable for the principal Sunday service!
That said, the parish in California is the most dynamic I've ever experienced, a fine mix of young and old, steadily growing, with a dynamic new young(ish) rector, and definitely a "program parish." They have welcomed me with open arms and I have been invited to preside, preach, and teach in the rector's Bible study, in every case to much acclaim. Church life back home in Vermont and surrounding area is extremely tame by comparison.
Besides that, the best part of spending the winter in California is being close to my youngest and his family -- including my only two grandchildren. We're very proud of grandson Andrew (13 next month), who, despite being apparently the only oboist in El Dorado County (and therefore lacking private instruction) won a solo award at a band competition while I was out there. In honor of that, and his upcoming birthday, his aunt and grandmother have chipped in to buy him his own, concert-quality oboe, and we are hoping another youngster at the Middle School will take up the student instrument he is laying down and thus constitute a "quorum" to lure an oboe instructor from Sacramento to give them some lessons! Granddaughter Rachel plays saxophone with the band (she moves up to Middle School in the fall), but her forte is art. In July the two of them will both be going to camp for a week: Andrew for music (his second year at camp) and Rachel for art.
And since I love to cook, it's especially gratifying for me to have a family to cook for while I am out there. Another benefit of this rhythm is that I get to experience two springs -- though I must say, the one in Vermont is proving recalcitrant!
Pentecost blessings to all of you,
Linda+

[Mary Mainwaring]

Hi Linda,
I have the same response as you to the 'praise' music of today. Much of it
is not really singable. It is written for performance. But then the people
don't sing in general any more - a sad fact - so the older music or music in
that style seems old fashioned I suppose.
Morning Prayer used to be the principal service on Sundays when I was
growing up and I miss it, so enjoy it when it happens to be celebrated
somewhere I'm staying.
The old style churches can be lively (ours was on Sunday, celebrating our 50
years and of course Pentecost) but nobody except the members know that.

Grandchildren are special gifts, eh? One of ours just won a Math
competition at district level, so got a university day and really enjoyed it
so much he didn't even complain that the other kids got a day off school
(fire in the rectory across the road) and he didn't. Another just got taken
on as an apprentice driver with England, a long haul trucking company. It's
amazing to me that some kid of ours can drive an 18 wheeler!

I am enjoying hearing from people on the list again. Hope it continues.
Mary.