Kicking back a bit

Most everything that can be prepared ahead of time has been, and I am now resting my poor, tired bones. The dishwasher is hard at it taking care of the dishes used to cook with the balance of the pots ‘n pans ‘n spoons waiting in the sink for their turn in the machine. My kitchen looks none the worse for the wear! Since then I have also dealt with a basket of laundry plus washed another load which is safely tucked away in the dryer. Later I will grab my choir pants out of the dryer for tomorrow but since they are a stretchy fabric, wrinkles are not a problem. Some recently hatched ducklings are swimming in the still water below my window, not quite ready to venture further without their parents. They are not yellow like when Cassidy first saw them, and they are not goslings, either, which we originally thought.

Earlier there was a good deal of boat traffic but right at this moment only a few are going up and down the river, with one stationery vessel apparently fishing off the breakwater. Soon it will be the cigarette boats tearing it up and there is no mistaking the noise they make! Sounds like a jet airplane engine as they race past. When I see those boats I often think of the time Tommy and Linda were here and we found ourselves almost in the middle of a poker run on Doctors Lake, when Twila’s grandson had us out on her boat. First Linda was crying going down the dock because she was apprehensive without handrails, and then the actual getting into the boat freaked her out. I believe she liked it once we got going, and then we had to get back to avoid the racing boats coming our direction. One of the entries always has a tiny helicopter escort, matching the boat, which is fascinating to see and hear. Twila’s dock is just before the entrance to Swimming Pen Creek where the boats pull in to get their playing card so we have cat bird seats for that annual show. (Ooooh, there go two bright yellow jet skis shooting out from a nearby dock!!!) I miss that!

It seems I did not say much about the worship on Maundy Thursday. Pastor was the officiant that evening, and we had a nice number in attendance. The tone of the service was appropriately somber, and when the choir members had all partaken of the Lord’s Supper, we were encouraged to sit together toward the back of the church, as it was after the distribution and prior to the altar being stripped that our anthem was sung. Robbie had us work and work until we didn’t know what we were singing anymore, but it certainly paid off when it came time to offer it. Many came up to me (and I am sure the others) to let me know how beautiful it was, thought-provoking and such. Even Robbie’s dad reportedly got misty-eyed and afterward gave me a hug outside of the church in thanks. Of course, we thank Robbie for his efforts with us, and the glory goes to the Lord!

The stripping of the altar in the dimly lit chancel area was beautifully dramatic with Robbie on piano and Sterling on bassoon playing “What Wondrous Love is This?”…The congregation joined in to sing the stanzas and then left in silence. Quite moving and edifying an experience. Later Robbie met me outside and gave me a hug too, saying, “Y’all sounded awesome!” This was not my favorite choral piece when we first began working on it, feeling uncomfortable singing a capella through parts of it. Based on Psalm 130, in fact, almost word for word, with a haunting melody, it turned out just lovely. Fortunately Lynne called Brian to remind him about church as he had forgotten and was just then paying his tab at Ted’s Restaurant on Blanding. Yikes! He is the Head Elder besides our head tenor and was badly needed. Glad Lynne got a hold of him!

Judy J. and I went out for dinner after church, each of us ordering the small stromboli at Aron’s. Man, that was delicious! Perhaps I will eat those leftovers for my dinner tonight…mmmm! We actually dined indoors because we were so warm from church, even me! The A/C was on the fritz and with the day’s temperatures over 90 degrees, well, it was toasty in there. The little boys all came dressed to cute in matching vests but Laurie had to peel them off, as the kids were sweating in their sweaters…So, back to Aron’s---we very much enjoyed our quiet dinner after the service, and were the last two out of the restaurant, even though they close at 10:00 pm.

Friday’s service also lovely and meditative, with Mike C. as the officiant this time. He had handled the service at Keystone Heights on Thursday so they traded for Good Friday. The chancel was dressed in black paraments and banners, the wooden cross draped in black and the crown of thorns over the top of it. On a table before the altar was a tray with seven candles, plus the Christ candle off to the side near the lectern. (I just got gooseflesh when I typed that!). The acolyte lit all the candles but as the service progressed, one by one the candles were extinguished. Very significant and moving. After the last candle on the stand was put out, the lights were turned off and a loud sound was made to indicate the rolling of the stone across Jesus’ grave. (More gooseflesh…) Then, the acolyte carried the Christ candle, still lit, down the aisle and back up again. At that point Robbie, The Maestro, sang a stanza from a hymn, a cappela, and when he was finished, we sat in silence, leaving when we were ready. When Robbie sang, my eyes overflowed, the significance of it all, the lone candle lighting the sanctuary….very very nice!

This a.m. I spoke with Judy C. who was at church getting things set up for Easter breakfast tomorrow. I had gotten an e-mail last night from one of the preschool ladies informing me that the playground would be off limits on Sunday due to new sod being laid on Thursday. Oh oh! Alternative plans would need to be made for the egg hunt which takes place after the Festival service. There is a grassy area between the Fellowship Hall and classroom building where the little ones can look for eggs, although there is little area there for hiding them, and the older kids can go in front of the church for theirs. I am glad that is someone else’s job, to hide the eggs---fortunately.

So, now the meals preparations for tomorrow have me quite weary so I will rest. “House” marathon tonight! Whoo hoo!