Well this past Sunday I had my Maryland debut of acolyting! It's been a long road to this point...
When I was growing up at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Bryan, Texas girls were not allowed to be acolytes (not just at that church but all churches way back then).
As my older boys grew up at St. Mary's By the Sea Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove, CA they were able to be acolytes and so were the young girls in the church.
One Christmas when the boys were with their dad for the holidays someone called me in a panic saying they didn't have enough acolytes for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. When I told them that the boys were not in town they asked me if there was any way I would consider doing it. Of course I jumped at the chance. It was one of the most special experiences in my life, I got to be a torch barer, and I didn't even care that the girl I was walking beside down the aisle was at least a foot shorter than me and that she was so young she fell asleep during the service. It's a very beautiful church, inside and out and the candlelight service was one that a lot of folks attended who weren't members, it was well known to be very special and the church was packed. When Easter came around, I was blessed to be able to serve side by side with Justin. I was 35 years old and finally got realize a childhood desire. Some things really are so much sweeter when you have to wait.
Recently, I volunteered along with another person to oversee acolyte service at our church which had fizzled out a couple of years ago. And this last Sunday, being Memorial Day weekend, and another service having Confirmation for the kids who are all acolytes, I stepped up to the plate (actually, I ran and I think I might have elbowed a few old ladies) to make my Maryland debut. It's just such an honor, I mean, I was carrying the cross! I guess you'd have to be there but it means enough to me to want to share. It's never too late for your dreams to come true...
P.S. Not a good picture, Paul was trying to get it before disrupting the flow out of the church.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Gladly the cross-eyed bear...
Well this past Sunday I had my Maryland debut of acolyting! It's been a long road to this point...
When I was growing up at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Bryan, Texas girls were not allowed to be acolytes (not just at that church but all churches way back then).
As my older boys grew up at St. Mary's By the Sea Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove, CA they were able to be acolytes and so were the young girls in the church.
One Christmas when the boys were with their dad for the holidays someone called me in a panic saying they didn't have enough acolytes for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. When I told them that the boys were not in town they asked me if there was any way I would consider doing it. Of course I jumped at the chance. It was one of the most special experiences in my life, I got to be a torch barer, and I didn't even care that the girl I was walking beside down the aisle was at least a foot shorter than me and that she was so young she fell asleep during the service. It's a very beautiful church, inside and out and the candlelight service was one that a lot of folks attended who weren't members, it was well known to be very special and the church was packed. When Easter came around, I was blessed to be able to serve side by side with Justin. I was 35 years old and finally got realize a childhood desire. Some things really are so much sweeter when you have to wait.
Recently, I volunteered along with another person to oversee acolyte service at our church which had fizzled out a couple of years ago. And this last Sunday, being Memorial Day weekend, and another service having Confirmation for the kids who are all acolytes, I stepped up to the plate (actually, I ran and I think I might have elbowed a few old ladies) to make my Maryland debut. It's just such an honor, I mean, I was carrying the cross! I guess you'd have to be there but it means enough to me to want to share. It's never too late for your dreams to come true...
P.S. Not a good picture, Paul was trying to get it before disrupting the flow out of the church.
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3 comments:
Best post title ever! xo-Mellie
Bless you!!! We call them Altar Servers in the UK, your title for them sounds much nicer!!!!
We also call them alter servers or youth servers here but when I was growing up in the Episcopal church they were called acolytes so I've kept that tradition. And since I want to be able to sub when possible I sure don't need to be calling them YOUTH servers. Thank you for your kind words, Stephanie
p.s. I want to live in the UK!
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