« Economic News | Main | Who Likes What? »
High Heel Church
The community committee formed to seek ways to provide aftercare for men and women whose incarceration was over was taking a break for lunch. The parson headed with a couple of committee members to the nearby Cafe of the Gourmet Sandwich. Truth be told, the parson loved the restaurant primarily for their gumption in naming the place.
Once the gastronomical delights framed by slices of bread were spread before the trio sitting at a table looking out over the old town, Rhonda Gilmer said, "Parson, would you ask the Lord's blessing on this delightful mean?"
The parson did so, and the three began the preliminaries of unwrapping utensils, stirring coffee, squeezing lemon into tea and other actions required of polite and sophisticated persons about to dig in.
Halfway through her tuna melt, Rhonda said to the parson, "Parson did I hear correctly that your church is going to utilize some kind of multi-media during your worship services?"
"The rumor is true," said the parson.
"What brought this on?" asked Howard Turner the other third of the lunch set.
"Well, one day I looked out on the congregation during the Offertory and I started counting. One-third of the congregation was under the age of eighteen. I also realized they were bored to death. Only the dynamic youth program we have was keeping them in church. It just seemed obvious we needed to do everything we could to keep these folks in church during their young adult years."
"You think videos and stuff will do that?" asked Rhonda.
"Not really," said the parson. "Having media is important, but I've still got to deliver a relevant sermon." The parson leaned across the table to further engage both Rhonda and Howard. "But these young folks are part of a visual generation. You and I were raised in the traditional sermon approach. It doesn't work anymore. We need to capture their senses in a way they are accustomed to. Besides, I got to thinking about those early days of Christianity. Think about all those icons; think about the stained glass windows; those were visuals; they were means of communication beyond the spoken word. The screens and projectors are just an extension of that, I think."
"When are you going to start this?" asked Howard.
"Pentecost, the birthday of the church," said the parson. "Who knows with a little Pentecostal Holy Spirit we might really have a birth day in our church."
Rhonda, with a dainty east that evidenced her Southern genteel upbringing, patted her lips with her napkin. "I understand what you're getting at, Parson," she said. "But I think I'd be a bit uncomfortable with that kind of worship."
"You probably would, Rhonda," said the parson. "Look at it this way: Whenever I've seen you at some community event like a show at the Arts Center or a wedding or some other important social event, you dress like a true Southern lady. I bet you spend a good bit of time poking about your closet for the perfect pair of high heels."
"One does have to coordinate one's attire, Parson," said Rhonda.
"You feel good in those heels, I bet," said the parson. "I bet they make you feel feminine, lady-like, fashionable and such."
"I have to admit that's true, Parson."
"I noticed that when you had your granddaughter with you at the concert last week, she was dressed quite fashionably, too. Did you buy her that outfit?"
"I noticed something else, Rhonda. You granddaughter wasn't wearing heels."
"She doesn't like heels. As hard as I try to convince her, she refuses."
"I bet she says they pinch her feet and make her legs hurt."
"Rhonda," said the parson, again leaning over the table, "my church has been a high heel church too long."
Posted at 10:24 PM in Church, Daily Blog, Worship | Permalink
Just my opinion, but wearing uncomfortable clothes is part of growing up. If kids are catered-to their whole lives, what will life be for them when they have to get along in the world where they're expected to dress appropriately and follow the basic rules of polite society? I've always been taught that people dress for church because they should present their best, body and soul, when entering God's house. Is there anything wrong with showing some reverence and respect?
Posted by: Lucinda Rogers | April 04, 2009 at 04:29 PM