Episcopal Mass
On Sunday, December 3 I attended the Solemn Mass at the Church of the Advent, in the North End. Now, you have to understand that I am religiously challenged, at best. I've been to my share of weddings and funerals, but growing up I averaged one regular church service every year or two. When I did go, it was either to Hardshell Baptist or Dunkard Bretheren services, with my father or mother's side of the family, respectively. Both these denominations focus heavily on simplicity and egalitarianism. The churches are usually one room, wooden affairs with a simple lectern. The music draws heavily on the English folk tradition, and the service is delivered in a straightforward manner. Imagine my trepidation, then, when I walked into this church, with its high, vaulted ceilings and an enormous, emaciated, and slightly malicious-looking Christ figure suspended thirty feet among my head. As I came through the entrance, the prelude began. It sounded like nothing less than the soundtrack to a horror movie, as the slasher is about to leap out and dice an innocent schoolgirl. The organ wailed in threatening, building minor chords and did nothing to allay my tr
The congregation, choir, and officials began a series of prayers at this point. The first was sung by all, with accompaniment by the organ. Then came two prayers led by the officials in a spoken form. Concluding this section of the service was a ritual in which the congregation turn to one another, shake hands, and say "Peace," like they're some kind of holdover sixties hippie dirt merchants. Then came the Sermon, which was both the most familiar part of the service, but also the strangest. The preacher (again, I don't know what to call him) addressed the congregation in a congenial tone from a pulpit that, although raised, was not too dissimilar from those I had seen before. He began with a description of the events that are to accompany the end of the world, as found in Revelations and other books of the Bible. Preparing for the Rapture, the Second Coming, and Armageddon is a big part of the churches I had attended in the past, so this was friendly ground. Then, he began finding parallels in scientific theories. The big bang and universal contraction were addressed, and he put all the millennial predictions into scientific perspective. Both the churches I am familiar with believe in literal interpretation of the Bible, and they would have found this dilution of God's supposed Earthly reign absolutely blasphemous. The service began to draw gradually to a close at this point. I think we studied motets in this class, and that's great because that's exactly what the choir and organ performed next. It was very upbeat and more happy-sounding than anything since the Offertory had been. The "Post-Communion Prayer" was accompanied by organ, as was the "Blessing and Dismissal." Everyone sang along with the Organ on the last hymn. Then, the organ played another slasher tune to mark the Postlude, and the cultish figures in robes made some more laps around the sanctuar
Some common words found in the essay are:
Dunkard Bretheren, Offertory Anthem, Coming Armageddon, Collect Day, Blessing Dismissal, Cantus Missae, Armageddon Sermon, Communion Sentence, Advent North, Sconyers December, accompanied organ, choir organ, choir organ performed, laps sanctuary, organ performed, call response, don't call,
Approximate Word count = 1274
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
