Easy Like Sunday Mornin’
This weekend was fabulous. Fabulous I tell ya!! Fabulous like having a snow day when you have a test you didn’t study for. I did nothing but relax on Friday. And that was good. But Saturday, it was great. Granted, during the day I didn’t accomplish anything I was trying to accomplish. Manfriend’s gifts still haven’t been purchased. I still don’t have my book club book!! And dammit if I didn’t even get to look for new black boots.
Saturday evening, I volunteered with a group of friends. Where were we?? The juvenile detention center. And surprisingly, it was a lot of fun. When we got there as we stood waiting to be escorted from the lobby into the area we’d meet the kids, we realized we probably have zilch in common with these kids. What would we talk about?
Two burly men gone to get us and escort us into the room where we’d craft. Slowly three groups of kids came in. It was a mixed group or boys and girls ages 10-18. Like hard kids do, they swaggered in and took seats. But, they weren’t so hard. By the end, they sang a Christmas song, were dancing, and very child-like. I can’t think of any incidents that stood out–except so many of the girls were mothers. However, since Edwige was also there, maybe she can tell a better story.
Then Sunday I met two of my linesisters for brunch. One was here from Germany and the other is my front who lived up the street. Man, y’all, it started out at 12:30 and I didn’t get to my part of town until 9-ish. We had brunch, then went for dessert. And then to dinner!!!! It was really cool. I had a fabulous (Can you ever use ‘fabulous’ too much?) time!!! On my way home, I called up one of my neighbors and she was having folks over. So I stopped over there for wine and football, and card playing.
But, that’s not what this post is about. It is about Sunday mornings. Just like the title says. Go figure. This Sunday, like many Sundays, I caught a little TV church. I’m not opposed to TV church. For it allows be to combine two of my favorite past times (lying down and TV) with getting the ‘word’.
I don’t consider myself to be a religious person. More of a spiritual person. I have no lofty aspirations of joining the usher board or being a mother of the church. That being said, when I start popping out mini-me and ‘nem, we will go to church. No question about it!!! We will hit up some Sunday school, have a little post service fellowship time, and maybe in the summers a little vacation Bible School.
Why would I want my kids to participate in organized religion when pre-kids, as an adult, I don’t? Simple! I want my kids to believe there’s something higher. I want them to believe in something higher than what we see in this world. I want something to back up my words. Ya know?? I also want my kids to have a working knowledge of the Bible. I want them to be in the Easter Program and all that!!!! And maybe even some choir rehearsal on Thursday and Saturday!!! And where will I be?? Right there with them.
I am Catholic-Lite (Episcopalian). Will my kids be?? I have no idea. And I’m not even sure I will have them Christened. Because I want them to test out some religions and make their own choice. See, I don’t know how it works, but somehow, kids who go to church end up coming back to those basic ideas even if they don’t attend church regularly as adults. Sure they go through their rebellious phase. But as adults, they seem to be a bit more morally sound that the people who spent every Sunday morning playing soccer.
Now, the thing I haven’t figured out, with all my taking my kids to church, how will I manage?? Nothing about me says “Bible Beater Here”. And I know you can go to church without getting obsesses. And I know people at church are far from perfect. Even with that, I still feel like it’s a good place for kids. And my kids will be there every Sunday mornin’!
What amazed me on Saturday night is that these kids didn’t have any new vocabulary words for me. I was looking forward to learning the newest slang. lol! Either way I had a great time and look forward to doing something again. These kids are kids with adult problems and its absoutely amazing that despite their situation they were able to get back to basics, craft and enjoy themselves.
I’m sure you meant to say CRAFT, not GRAFT. It’s been changed. But yeah, they did have adult problems. And I can see how if the people who were leaving are their parents. The exiting parents were scarier than the kids!
Comment by E to the Dwige — December 19, 2005 @ 2:e pm
Hey man, the greatest thing about being Episcopalian is the fact that there is no pressure. Yeah, you have to repeat the Nicean creed and all, but, other than that, it is a get in-get out-have a eucharist, type of environment.
And my chuirch ain’t for the bible beaters. We had beer and wine at new members class. I really felt at home.
Comment by arauh-e-double-d — December 19, 2005 @ 3:e pm
Glad you had a great time this weekend. I feel you on the bambinos and church thing. That’s my main motivation for trying to get back involved…so that I can set an example for them. Still, I know that I’m going to have to reinforce and probably re-teach some things to the little ones when my husband and I get home.
Truth be told, I don’t like to attend on Sundays and so I don’t. I’d rather do my own thing because there are so many beliefs/practices that I don’t agree with. But I ended up joining a church down here this past year because the pastor there talked about the fact that he wanted to build strong families and strong children. That sold me…well, that and the fact that the services are broadcasted via internet on Wednesdays and Sundays…
*off to see if E to the Dwige has updated this morning as instructed…*
Comment by Beloved — December 19, 2005 @ 4:e pm
Right there with you. I mean, I think you expressed my rationale nearly exactly. Hell, maybe this notion is more common than I realize.
As for the stint with the teens, sounds like a good time and a worthwhile endeavor. It’s nice when people who can, do. Ya know? And it’s nice to have opportunities that don’t require signing over a month of Sundays to do it. I’m glad you enjoyed that time, and hopefully Ed has a recap as well.
Comment by O — December 19, 2005 @ 4:e pm
i had a whole comment, but blogsome is tripping today. let’s try again. church gives me the willies. i’ll give my children the fundamentals and let them come to God on their own, like my parents did with me. but we will most likely attend a church as a family if i can find one that doesn’t make me want to run out screaming.
Comment by glory — December 19, 2005 @ 4:e pm
Yeah, I feel you on the church on TV thing. That is how I do church most Sunday Mornings. While it is the same word, my mom feels I need to sit in a church building to hear it. I disagree. But I am with you, I will have my kids in church, because that is how my mom raised me and I think I turned out pretty good. I’m gonna quote the bible verse that goes with your post “Train up a child in the way he/she should go and when he/she is old he/she will never depart from it.” See, it works! I haven’t physically read that in years, but I never forgot it from Sunday school.
Comment by Cool AC — December 19, 2005 @ 5:e pm
I’m probably the only one to comment who already has a little person. But that was exactly my reason for searching for and finding a church for us. I absolutely hated getting up every Sunday going to church as a child. But I’m so happy I had to do it. And now my son is the same way. He hates actual service b/c he has to sit still, but he loves Sunday school. He loves his teacher too. I really believe in that training up a child thing. Cause Lord knows I departed during college, but found my way back. Hopefully to stay. And you can manage all the activities. It just becomes apart of your routine.
Comment by Serenity23 — December 19, 2005 @ 5:e pm
I don’t know what or where I’d be without being raised in the church. I became such a free spirit that I’d probably be dead without the grounding that I received in Sunday School that was reinforced at home. Definitely a moral structure that helps you navigate young adulthood.
Comment by nativelovechild — December 19, 2005 @ 6:e pm
I have no intent of taking my kids to church regularly, but I do think about how my life has been positively (and negatively) shaped by my experiences with church. I know plenty of people who had great moral values without going to church regularly. Granted, I also know many many more people with terrible moral values who never went to church… so I don’t know how I’ll address the need to instill those values within my children, but I hope that decision is a far ways off…
Comment by Massander — December 19, 2005 @ 7:e pm
Well, Well. Glad you had a Fabulous time Sunday.
On the topic of Church.. Hmmm.. you know I am at church pretty much every sunday. Unless I am out of the country.. I am at church. Ohh.. I swayed during college and grad school.. I am not saying I am perfect or noting of the sort. But “I LOVE GOING TO CHURCH”!! It took awhile for me to get to this place. I think it has a lot to do with the church I attend, my pastor and the service lasts from 11:45-1:00pm. There are two morning services too I have an option to attend. I am also involved in the womans ministry, life group, and I study my bible as often as I can. I am a Christian. I know some say well what type~ I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for all our sins, and was raised from the dead”. I am not going to get all religious on the blog.. but I do believe that those individuals who attended church or believe in some type of higher being as a kid does eventually revert back to doing the ‘morale’ thing as an adult. Now no one is perfect.
I will take my kids to church and as they get older let them choose the right way for themselves. Okay… Ive rambled enough. Peace
Comment by The Rambler — December 19, 2005 @ 9:e pm
I’ve always thought going to church was the best way to teach a child discipline. Fear of God is a powerful thing that most parents don’t tap into. Do you know how many times I almost did something as a child and my mother’s words stopped me…God don’t like ugly.
Comment by Nia — December 19, 2005 @ 10:e pm
I’m Lapsed Catholic myself, but I’ll (probably grudgingly) take my children to Church too.
Builds character
Comment by the bachelor — December 20, 2005 @ 1:e am
By the way, love the way the ads on the side are for vacation bible school.
Heh…
Comment by the bachelor — December 20, 2005 @ 1:e am
Hey there,
I’m reading your post all late, but it put such a smile on my face. I guess it was kinda weird for me to read that you didn’t think you had anything in common with DaJuvies. Aside from their rambunctious lifestyles that got them into the situations that they are now in, I believe that there are many different levels that we can connect with them. Maybe I feel this way because I’ve always dealt with them. Maybe, because I would have been a Juvie had it not been for my mother placing the fear of God in me.
Which leads me to the next thing…Religion/Spirituality. I agree that it more often than not, creates adults with morals. I do believe that church builds character. And maybe, that’s what separates us from those children. That being said, glad to see you still putting it down on cyber paper. If I do not get at you, Happy Holidays
Comment by cee — December 20, 2005 @ 3:e pm
Um….WTF??? It’s damn near one o’clock. This is unacceptable….
Comment by Beloved — December 20, 2005 @ 6:e pm
I took the punk way out and put my lil (now teen) in Catholic School. I don’t do church. I was forced to do it as a kid and my mom would chill at home. I guess I’m keeping the tradition since he MUST attend while at school.
As far as being morally sound as an adult after wildin’ out as a teen/young adult/etc…I’m not worried because I make sure that he knows right from wrong. He’s proved that to me over and over. So I believe if he strays he’ll find his way back.
Comment by Golden — December 20, 2005 @ 6:e pm