Christ the King

We celebrated the feast of Christ the King today in grand High Church style. It is our custom to have a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction after Solemn Mass. I sat in as second thurifer for the Procession by special request from the MC, and it was nice to be back up where I could smell the incense again. I've been sitting toward the back the past few weeks and now really have no sympathy for those who complain about the incense when there is plenty of space in the back where you will get barely a whiff. I almost had an overdose today, however, from my Processional blend. I guess I'm off my game when I can't open my eyes or sing because of too much smoke. But I've also been inhaling 105 years of West End door dust the past couple of weeks and that has been quite an experience. I'm helping strip all the varnish off the gorgeous old growth Oak doors and I felt today like I really needed to get some fresh air after 3 straight days of sanding then all the frankincense. The young sister torchbearers were coughing and their mother later said that was their last High Mass because it's too long, too late and too much smoke. Well, they are needed at the 9:00 so I hope they will help out there. I'll be glad to get back to my pew, since I can't help being an MC when I'm up there. I realized today how much I really need a sabbatical from all those details. I have enjoyed not being able to see what's going on, although I was unfortunate to sit right by the back speaker last week and got way too much information from the three sanctuary mikes. I turned them down after picking up some rather amusing flatulence during the censing of the altar. I guess if you're going to pass gas, that's the best time to do it, although it could be a fire hazard! At any rate, God was not totally glorified with that and other various mutterings and excessive chain rattlings. The previous rector would not allow mikes in the sanctuary for that reason. Then when he left the B&G chair immediately saw to it that we got two mikes on the altar and one behind the tabernacle lamp, so you have to be careful.

Fr. Harding gave a very interesting sermon which started out with a quote by EB White and then wandered through Stephen Hawking's imaginings about the End of Time. It was Fr. Harding's last Sunday with us for awhile, sadly, although it is a joyful thing that he and Mo Swain are expecting a child on Epiphany. We hope to see them back soon. Next Sunday our Interim Pastor, Fr. Rob Schwarz, takes charge so that should be a nice stabilizing factor. It's been a very long and bumpy two month transition and I think Fr. Rob is just what we need to bring us all back together again. Let us pray.

All Saints and All Souls

On All Saints Day I went to St. Mary the Virgin for Solemn Mass and 3 baptisms and a reaff, with Bp. Grein presiding. I hadn't been to SMV for several years and was glad to see it is still drawing a decent crowd for an impressive floorshow, although they no longer have processions for such occasions and the strange things they have done with the ceremony make me rather upset. Still it was a lovely service in many ways and the incense is beyond compare. I learned all I know from the incensemeister of SMV, but he didn't teach me his best secrets evidently. I have never attained quite that incredible bouquet that lingers for days. The large thuribles also help create the large clouds of fragrant smoke and the thurifer now goes down the center aisle censing the congo.

The reception afterward was not quite up to the standard of olden days but it was good to see several old friends there all the while ducking the rector successfully. I thought he had followed me into the ladies room as I slipped behind him to make a narrow escape and suddenly there was that unmistakable voice talking about church history as I settled into a stall, but it was just that he was talking to a young visitor while holding the door open.

The next evening I was at St. Ignatius for a sublime All Souls requiem and absolution at the catafalque accompanied by the Faure Requiem. Our choir had never sounded better and it was just a transcendent experience to hear the Faure in that setting. I was sitting toward the back in my new favorite pew and enjoyed very much not having to do one bit of work.

Sunday I was at St. Ignatius again for the Solemnity of All Saints which was also lovely. I can't believe I have been going there for more than 22 years and have never realized how wonderful the service is from the back of the church. At that distance it is an elegant liturgical dance, with just enough smoke to obscure the details. I also didn't quite realize how good the sound is from that pew, with a speaker right on the column. And the sunlight comes streaming in from the clerestory stained glass so wonderfully, although I realized how dirty the floors really are in that light. We have a new sexton starting this week so I am hoping we can get the place clean again.

I prayed for the Zabriskies and all our faithful departed as we sang my favorite hymn, St. Catherine's Court, at the ablutions.

These stones that have echoed their praises are holy
And dear is the ground where their feet have once trod
Yet here they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims
And still they were seeking the city of God.