more Christmassy stuff
Dec. 25th, 2006 11:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kayreMom-in-law gave us all cash-- plus lovingly written personal notes. I don't have mine handy, but she wrote about how glad she is that her son and I have made a good life together, plus some stuff specifically about me. It ended with "I'm glad you're my daughter-in-law... I love you." Worth more than the green stuff.
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Christmas Eve service last night was a mixed bag. We arrived with just a few minutes to spare, but the greeters, assuming there were any, had already abandoned their posts. The service began with O Come, All Ye Faithful and opening prayer, then the choir cantata was the main part of the service. The choir is very good, and would be truly excellent if they would stop using taped accompaniment. (At least half the director's attention was on simply staying in time with the recording, and even so they came unglued once. I'd rather hear that energy being used in other ways.)
After the cantata, we had communion. When I realized they were having only one station, I checked my watch. It took 15 minutes to serve, and during that time the pianist played very slow, quiet music on an electronic piano, never even changing sound settings. Couldn't we at least have sung carols?
Then we closed with Silent Night, the whole candlelight thing, and spoken and sung benedictions. Hubby and I couldn't find mom-in-law, who had sung in the choir, and felt very disconnected as we left-- folk were literally turning lights out behind us (visitors!) while we checked to make sure Mom wasn't still there. When I'm In Charge (if ever) I'll ask greeters to resume their stations after Christmas Eve services and make sure everyone receives a warm farewell, as well as greeting!
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Christmas Eve service last night was a mixed bag. We arrived with just a few minutes to spare, but the greeters, assuming there were any, had already abandoned their posts. The service began with O Come, All Ye Faithful and opening prayer, then the choir cantata was the main part of the service. The choir is very good, and would be truly excellent if they would stop using taped accompaniment. (At least half the director's attention was on simply staying in time with the recording, and even so they came unglued once. I'd rather hear that energy being used in other ways.)
After the cantata, we had communion. When I realized they were having only one station, I checked my watch. It took 15 minutes to serve, and during that time the pianist played very slow, quiet music on an electronic piano, never even changing sound settings. Couldn't we at least have sung carols?
Then we closed with Silent Night, the whole candlelight thing, and spoken and sung benedictions. Hubby and I couldn't find mom-in-law, who had sung in the choir, and felt very disconnected as we left-- folk were literally turning lights out behind us (visitors!) while we checked to make sure Mom wasn't still there. When I'm In Charge (if ever) I'll ask greeters to resume their stations after Christmas Eve services and make sure everyone receives a warm farewell, as well as greeting!
