2nd Mass Review from Big Church #1

Not being content to let well enough alone, I lassoed the family into returning to the Big Church for Mass.  Same organist, but this time all the selections were screwy (that's my code word for "stupid"); any church song that has the words "my deepest self" is officially stupid.  I believe that same song also has the line, "I am Your song."  Barf. That's what I get for being excited last week.  Anyway, the cantor had good pitch at least, even if she used motions normally reserved for guiding aircraft to the proper gate.  And the priest had a good homily.  He used not only the word "sin", but also the term "Holy Day of Obligation."  I was impressed.  Here at Local Church, the term is shortened to "Holy Day", and the obligation isn't usually discussed.  I didn't mention last time (because we were too close to the front and don't have eyes in the back of our heads) that this is a hold-hands-during-the-Our-Father and raise-'em-up-high-for-the-Lesser-Doxology parish.  At least no one tried to grab our hands, and they didn't join hands across the center aisle. Overall, though, this is still a good and decent parish for regular attendance.  I do wish it was closer.

Side note:  If you hear someone behind you coughing and hacking through Mass, do you extend your hand to them during the Sign of Peace?  I was the hacking one, and the lady in front of me unabashedly offered her hand.  Now, I had coughed into my coat sleeve every time, but she didn't know that.  Still...hygiene, people!

The fam intends to visit more area churches, so stay tuned.  Perhaps I'll record the whole Mass and then tear everything apart bit by bit.  *kidding*

Oh yes -- some of us attended the All Saint's Vigil Mass at the church where I formerly played.  The music director apparently couldn't be bothered to prepare the psalm with a cantor, so we spoke it. There was a choir, however.  There were five EMHC's for a congregation of about 60 people.  I was slightly upset and a little amused at the absurdity of it, but my nerves were calmed and soothed by the tinkling piano lounge music emanating from the electronic keyboard.  Hearing the keyboard always makes me think of wire-cutters.  Not sure why.  In my past engineering life, I always carried a mini-screwdriver (the tool, not the drink) with me "just in case," because you never know when you'll need one! Thinking about it, this could also apply to the drink. Anyway, I thought about carrying wire-cutters, but that may be a near occasion of sin. (Or would it actually be a sin?  Hmmm.)

Until next time mes amis, au revoir.