Where should the choir sit?

I can’t believe that this is an issue (not really a Bosnia issue, more like a bad barrista issue). The different churches that I have been in have all done it differently with various levels of success (In my opinion).

I’ll present them all arranged according to geography, church geography, not american geography. Front to back they are:

1. Choir sitting in a choir loft in front of the Organ, robed and separated from the congregation by both height and a substantial rail
   1. choir also entered the loft from a “secret” door in the loft, having come through the fellowship space beneath the sanctuary
   2. Choir had to compete with the pipes of the organ which were in the following configuration:
      1. Organ
      2. Choir
      3. Congregation
      4. Congregation
      5. Congregation
      6. Congregation
   3. The choir sat and sung for the most part at a 90 degree angle from the congregation, essentially singing to the pulpit
   4. Choir remained in the loft for the duration of the service
2. Choir processing to a choir loft in front of the congregation, separated by a low rise, robed
   1. choir processed every week despite the notations in the Manual on Liturgy (which normally occupied a place right next to the Bible)
   2. Choir remained in the loft for the duration of the service
3. Choir, unrobed, sits in the pews until the anthem is sung, they gather in front of the congregation and sing their song, then sit again with their families
4. Choir sits, robed, in a choir loft at the rear of the church separated only by the piano which accompanies them
   1. Choir remained in the loft for the duration of the service

I think that about does it.

I’d like to hear from choir members and congregation members alike to see what you think (or if you think) about this.
I like people to worship with their families probably because it is the one thing denied me in this calling. What do you think?

Joys of the season

I love Christmas Carols. Not just the ones in the Green Book, or in the Blue Book or even (gasp) in the Red Book. I love the odd little ones, I saw Three Ships, Good King Wenceslas, and even Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. When else do we sing out in utter silliness, utter joy and reverence in succession?

But even in caroling groups there seems to occasionally be a kind of pandering going on. Our church, like many in this area, carols to those who live in assisted circumstances. One one of the visits (our last) we bumped into a group from a larger church downtown and instead of competing, they lent us their spare caroling books and we joined forces. We joined them on each secular carol until I was going to say something (at Jingle-bell rock) when they relented and sang what child is this.

Now I think Bill O'Reily is as much of an ass as the next rational person, but are we surrendering Christmas, just a little, when we decline the opportunity to proclaim in joyous song the coming of Christ? And frankly, we put on a pretty good show, having practiced quite a bit. I didn't get the same sense of dedication from the other group (could be pride, I confess that I am in bondage . . .) and so when they did switch to a Christo-centric hymn, they didn't seem to have their hearts in it and it came off flat.

Maybe we don't need custom-made caroling books so much as we need to remember how much we have been given, and how much it cost.

I spent about three minutes that evening chatting with a lovely resident of one of the complexes. I see her in chapel which I hold there once a month (in rotation with other local clergy so it's well covered). She was so pleased to come down and enjoy the singing and the gift of someone coming to visit that I remembered that is not often what we say that speaks the Gospel, but what we do.

But we can still put a little more thought into it, I think.

Newborn babe, smile up at us from the position you have chosen so that we might learn from you what Lordship truly is. ALl of our preparation and all of our practice are less that simply showing up with a kind hearts and a willing hand to help out those who suffer, those who fear and those who feel the sting of lonliness. Guide our feet Lord, to those places where we might be infants of grace, children of light to those whose lives hold darkness.