Happy Belated Reformation Day

So we had a reasonably good time on Wednesday.
It was balmy-windy and warm-and there were lots of little kids running top speed from house to house. We got to meet several neighbors hitherto unmet. Everybody wanted to see the baby. I’d been walking the block for months pregnant so I guess it was only fair.

The highlight of the day, though, was accidentally wishing our very good friends/neighbors a Happy Reformation Day-such a fun thing to wish Roman Catholics. K- wanted to know what ‘the reformation’ was. Periodically I help her fill out her Confirmation Class worksheets. Told her and her brother in great detail and then asked if they would be dressing up for All Saints. T- couldn’t remember what that one was either.
‘What do you do in church?’ I asked him.
‘Go in the cry room’ he said, ‘the sermon is so boring.
Told him he should be glad he can go in the cry room. ‘I sit with our teenagers during the sermon and make them take notes.’
He was aghast. All this time our Jewish neighbor was pondering. Finally she asked if the sermon was all in English. ‘Oh yes,’ I said, ‘All in English, but its very long. At least 20 minutes.’
‘My class has to lead the service this week’ she said, but she wouldn’t say any more. Then I asked them all if they remembered anything for Religious Ed. L- remembered the Shema in Hebrew but didn’t know what it meant (Emma told her), and T- remembered that there is someone named St. Paul but didn’t know why he was a Saint. ‘Wasn’t he an apostle?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘but do you know what an apostle is?’
T- thought maybe it was Jesus. Laughed heartily and then told him. Invited them all to church.

I enjoy these conversations with our young neighbors. Its so interesting to see what the average person is getting out of church (any church). And I’m impressed that they’re interested. I wish their clergy/pastors would tap into this interest. But of course, K- and T- are not voicing this interest when they are in church.

Anyway, we are launching into the weekend. Micah is here (the official sign that CHURCH will be happening). He is arguing with Matt, well, its sounds like Micah is arguing and Matt is laughing at him. I am going to vacuum the house and muscle the extra bed out of the nursery into the basement. And I’m hoping Matt will cook something fabulous for supper. I bought chicken on purpose for him to do so.

OH! and a big shout out to Bishop Duncan for an AWSOME comeback.