Four Hours

I was at the Episcopal Church for four hours this morning.  Ugh.

Gracious.  It's going to take some time for me to get used to this choir singing stuff again.  There are a couple things I have forgotten about church choirs since my last gig ended nearly two years ago.  Today served as the beginning of a reminder.

I've decided on a title for this overall story:  How to Be Episopal Without Really Trying, or, What Unemployment Drove Me to Do.  Whether it will be a story all its own, or a part of my memoirs remains to be seen.  I'll have to start, however, with an introduction stating that it is not my intent to poke fun at Episcopals.  I try not to make fun of most religious denominations, except Southern Baptists.  And sometimes Presbyterians, but only because I am one.

Oh yeah - the service lasted an hour an a half.  I didn't get out of there until 12:30.  The choirmaster said, "Wow.  Usually we're out of here by 5 after."  When I realized that we were singing nearly an hour's worth of music, it should have occurred to me that there was no way I was getting out of there close to 12:00.

It might not have been such a big deal, but I was eager to run two blocks to Edgewater Pres for the Annual Congregational Meeting (Apparently, this is Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday - the Episcopals were doing that today, too).  I got there in time for a little bit of budget talk, and then adjournment.  Sadly, the budget's looking pretty nasty this year.   I wish I had a job, so I could tithe.  Even so, I've tried to put a little bit in the plate as I've been able.  But a dollar or two here and there really isn't much.  I give time, of course, but that's not a whole lot as these things go.