Happy Poppy Sunday!

I thought I had heard of every iteration of church holidays, but today I learned about a new one.  Happy Poppy Sunday!  Poppy Sunday is the Sunday closest to November 11, the last day of WWI.  There was much fighting in northern France, where the poppies were growing in the fields.  Todays service was dedicated to those who have given their lives in war, and have suffered because of war.  The whole concept seems so much closer to our daily lives here, with reminders of revolutions all around.  I have never been a big history fan, but even the most die-hard science geek is moved by all this European culture. 

You will be pleased to know that dysfunctional churches exist on both sides of the Atlantic.  We have had a very interesting experience trying to acclimate to a new church.   The girls jumped right in to the rehearsals for the Christmas play, but Tom and I have had to basically beg to be in the choir.  Three weeks after asking, we have finally gotten permission to go to a rehearsal.  On the first day, the first person we met at coffee hour basically said, "you are new, so that means I haven't asked you to bring a cake to the holiday bazaar yet".  No introduction, no greetings.  When I told her at that point that we were still in a hotel and had no bakeware, she retorted that it would not be hard to get together fillings for finger sandwiches, and she would need them by 9am.  I was speechless, and I did not fufill her request.  Tom met someone today who requested that he help with the assembly and disassembly of the Christmas program set.  We counted up and we are now at a 60% request for help per introduction ratio. 

Communion has been very interesting.  First, they sip, never dip.  Dipping can spread the glutens of the wafer in the wine, affecting those with celiac disease in the congregation.  They are shocked that the girls take communion, and ask every time we are at the rail.  The girls were a little shocked too when they got their first big sip of real port from the Chalice.  Lots of face making and groaning.  You have to leave something in your seat when you go to communion, because people take your seat while you are gone!   

All these complaints, and I'm not even on the Vestry.  Remember the Church Bazaar where we paid $4 for children's books?  They made over $70,000 yesterday, by selling only donated goods. 

Well churches will never be perfect, and we will continue with our new church family.

  Happy Poppy Sunday!