Formal Service, With Children

Fr. Daniel had a nice service lined up for Transfiguration today. I'd pull out the thurible again, Banning would carry the cross, Rose and Marissa would serve as torch-bearers, Joe as acolyte and thus we would precess: Thurifer, Crucifer, Lucifers, Acolyte and Rector. Ranjit would be Epistolator today (good news, I like hearing him read), but remain in the congregation.

Of course, no battle plan ever survives engagement...

First was a slightly late start, my fault. I had a question about the thurifer but for ten minutes or so I couldn't find Fr. Daniel. Anytime I asked someone where he was, well, when I got there he was very clearly somewhere else.

And the Decalogue, which we usually read the first Sunday of the month and which was in the bulletin, got left out. No problem; we'll read it next Sunday.

The incense became too much for one member during the Gospel and he had to retreat to the rear of the Nave. This is a shame; we have a number of people who really like the incense, including those from our Pro-Cathedral, St. Peter's, Oakland (did somebody called it "Smoky Pete's"?). But we have a few who have difficulties with it. Striking a balance won't be easy; we cannot open the Gospel-side windows for cross-ventilation anymore due to the traffic noise from Avondale.

Finally it was time for Communion. The families with children under 6 or so have been around irregularly this summer, but today it seemed they were all there. In addition we had visitors with children in the same age range. The Sunday School always comes in for a blessing during Communion and it's sometimes amusing to hear their entrance -- but today was, well, a semi-restrained pandemonium beginning when little Danny, age 2, started talking about his truck.

At one point I saw that those at the altar rail were working really hard to constrain their laughter. The quiet of the moment was gone for this service, but I really doubt that anyone would complain.