PeaceBang
The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather. Blogging about Unitarian Universalism, UU Christian spiritual practice, occasional cultural and political ravings, and the inner life of ministry. PeaceBang is the alter ego of a small town pastor serving an historic New England Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Hark How the Bells
December 5, 2007 on 8:59 pm | In Inspirations, Just Funny, Mind of the Minister |I attended a lovely concert of Christmas music this morning at church, but the thing is, I wasn’t at all in the spirit. The woman’s ensemble was really excellent — they always are — and I just sat there feeling guilty for having arrived late and for not being angelically appreciative of being there, just rarin’ to get into the office and GET SOME WORK DONE. As many pastors recognize, this is a seasonal event that goes with the call at this particular congregation and the one time I missed it I felt lousy about it, just wrong. We have this concert and then the Alliance has their holiday luncheon with those sandwiches on crustless white bread that you can eat 100 of if they let you. I think I ate between 8-10. I would have gone back for more of the roast beef ones, seriously. So it’s the whole morning and by the time you get into the office you’re in a carb-induced bloat and need a nap even though you have a scary long list of things that need doing.
Anyway, when the choir ladies brought out the handbells during the concert this morning I definitely perked up because I love handbells. To be more specific, I love handbells when they’re played imperfectly, because the times I have tried to play in a handbell ensemble I became a nervous wreck and clanged away at all the wrong times and for some reason that strikes me as hilariously funny. So this is what I hope for when the handbells come out: that someone will mess up and then the next person will mess up and there will be this gentle, melodious train wreck of sound coming from these earnestly lovely people with white gloves on who are just trying, dammit, to make the music of the angels.
To my great and tender delight, not only did the last song slowly degenerate into such a confused cacophony of off-rhythm BONGing that the director had to stop the gals and give it a second go, I caught one of the ladies in the first row mouthing an alarmed OH Jesus as she made the first of the mistakes. Lady, whoever you are, you totally made my day and possibly my entire Christmas season. I’m thinking of her now with her pretty white hair and pristine gloves, and her festive red vest going oh Jesus and she is my Special Advent Favorite.
In other silly things that make me unaccountably happy at this time of year, there’s this.
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Wow!! I thought I was the only person in the world who found “Ding Fries are Done” the funniest “Christmas” carol on earth!! I got this sent to me a few years ago, and then I reprised it for all my friends last year, all of whom rolled their eyes at me.
In fact, I was just thinking of this carol the other night when I was taking a walk in my neighborhood and I discovered the neighbor with the lighted Christmas trees that play music and the lights flash in time to the music… Somewhere in the middle of it playing, “Hark, the Herald,” I broke out into “Ding Fries are done” under my breath.
Perhaps it’s all those years I worked at McD’s through high school and college… the fry grease must have gotten to my brain!
Comment by Mars Girl — December 7, 2007 #
Love your blog.Thank you and Merry Christmas.
You should enjoy this one !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D09DCZryG2U
Comment by Seu — December 7, 2007 #
Thanks for the guilty pleasure in “Ding! Fries are done.” And for offering me a bit of pastoral care. I was running late this morning to a particularly painful graveside service for a man who was killed flying his own plane. He was only 40, and I had married him & his wife 4 years ago. They have a daughter who is less than 2. Difficult family dynamics among the in-laws. And I’m running late, not sure I knew how to get to the cemetery, not sure if I’d nailed down who was bringing flowers for people to lay on the grave, so I had to stop and pick some up to be sure… Stress, self-recrimination, panic and then suddenly, floating through my brain: “Ding! fries are done…” I laughed a giddy, punchy laugh of surrender. I found the cemetery in plenty of time, and was there early for the service. Thanks.
Comment by Rev. Gidget — December 8, 2007 #
Ah, bells! Such a shame no one plays them here (Australia). There’s used to be all of one adult bells team in my town, and then we had to disband.
We once played in a Christmas concert where one of the ringers had the wrong piece and was about 3 bars in before she noticed. We then spent the next 6 bars passing her the correct bells in between our notes!
Comment by ecumaniac — December 10, 2007 #