Realm: Various - Subrealm: Politics

[choco_frosh]

I'm really beginning to wonder whether some of John Sununu's campaign signs have been put up by Democrats as a sabotage campaign. There's been one that says STAND WITH BUSH: Vote SUNUNU up for some time; and today the campus is littered with "Privatize Social Security: SUNUNU" signs.


Subrealm: Liturgy Rant

Dear organist,
Look, I understand that you are doing a difficult job trying to make sure that the procession for All Saints doesn't turn into a traffic jam. But there are occasions when you just DON'T put in an extended organ interlude. Between verses one and two of "For all the Saints" is one of those times. And it's not as though we needed it: even with Father K. censing the altar, we still had a verse's worth of spare time at the end of the hymn. And if we're really low on time, why not just noodle for five minutes between vv. 4 and 5, or 6 and 7?

Censing: this brings me to another, admittedly minor, point. I know what you're trying to do using an incense mixture that includes sage; but even if we admit that political correctness trumps Anglican tradition, there still shouldn't be so much of the stuff that it drowns out the frankincense.

Dear Choir Director: It was not actually necessary to do three anthems in one service. Especially when it becomes obvious that we're not comfortable with all of them. There are times when ditching an anthem at the last minute is the better part of valor.

OK, OK, this is all petty. But it IS annoying how there's always something in services here that ticks me off. Maybe it's just the stress in the rest of my life...

On the plus side, Evensong (yes, we did that too!) worked out all right, though we didn't do a Mag&Nunc, and realized I was nostalgic for them. And there were multiple large and tasty receptions! though no sherry, despite the joking promise of one of the basses. Perhaps I should bring some next time?

Comments

[tree_and_leaf]

I know what you're trying to do using an incense mixture that includes sage;

I don't; what's the idea? (Something to do with the First Nations?)

no sherry

Are you quite sure you're Anglicans? ;)

ETA: I'm curious: what on earth did you do instead of the Mag and Nunc? We sometimes have the Phos Hilaron instead of the Nunc for reasons of college pride, but it doesn't seem like Evensong without at least the Mag...

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

I don't; what's the idea? (Something to do with the First Nations?)
Sorry, should have made that clear. Anyway, yes! Native Americans use various species of sage as incense.

Are you quite sure you're Anglicans? ;)
< sigh > It's the U.S. People tend to regard any form of alcohol as somewhat disreputable. There are TONS of jokes about Episcopalians and Martinis, but I have never known, say, a choir to actually go down to the pub after rehearsal.

what on earth did you do instead of the Mag and Nunc?
Some hymns. I'm not sure what the rationale was. (There are some perfectly good melodic/plainchant settings of both in the Hymnal!)

for reasons of college pride

???
(We sometimes did the same in Bangor...or maybe instead of the psalm?)

[tree_and_leaf]

Gosh. A choir that doesn't haunt pubs seems a strange concept!

for reasons of college pride

The translation we use is by a well-known fellow of my college.

[catilinarian.livejournal.com]

Native Americans use various species of sage as incense.

As do many Wiccans and other pagans. Still, the use of it in an Anglican church strikes me as... odd. I mean, why should a religious service be representative of other religions? Unless you've got a large Native American Anglican population, I can't imagine anyone being that concerned.

[gaudynight78.livejournal.com]

(1) The Sununu signs say "Paid for by New Hampshire Democratic Party" at the bottom. But yes, they're funny.

(2) The sage may have been just because that's what there was in the pre-mixed incense from Cathedral Church Supply.

(3) The canticles were funeral hymns. So it's clear what they were TRYING to do (since we were observing All Souls', after all); whether it was a good choice is open to debate.

(4) At Berkeley Divinity School, the amount spent on post-Wednesday-evening-Eucharist wine would have financed a couple of full scholarships.

[sovay]

I know what you're trying to do using an incense mixture that includes sage; but even if we admit that political correctness trumps Anglican tradition, there still shouldn't be so much of the stuff that it drowns out the frankincense.

What's the sage for?