This morning Hubby Tony and I walked to the church just down the road from our condo.We picked up individual palm leaves from a table, then walked into the nave and chose our seats. Just about the time I was settled the lector invited everyone outside.
There, the priest and deacon went through a short rite (consisting of prayer and a short Gospel reading), then everyone processed back inside. Once people were settled in the pews the priest issued an invitation to the young children who wanted to participate in the Children's Liturgy. They gathered in front of the altar, then followed their teachers out for their lesson.(After they left the Liturgy of the Word began. There are always three readings at a Sunday mass. The first is from the Old Testament or Acts of the Apostles, the second is from one of the New Testament letters, and the third is from one of the four Gospels. On Palm Sunday, rather than being proclaimed by the priest or deacon the Gospel is divided into four spoken parts-Christ, the narrator, a reader, and the crowd.)
At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist the children returned for the rest of the mass.
The family in the pew in front of me had three children (who looked to be about 7, 5, and 3). The children were well mannered except for their new palm leaf toys. As much as I tried to concentrate my attention kept wandering their way:
- Boy One used his like a floppy baton, swaying his body in time to the music in his head.
- Girl twirled hers around in the palms of her hands until it fell on the floor. She hopped down to retrieve it and then started again.
- Boy One poked Boy Two with the tip of his and Boy Two retaliated.
- Boy Two turned his palm into a sword and batted his sister on the head, then stuck it in her ear.
Kids will be kids -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteHahahahaha, some things never change, eh?
ReplyDeleteNo they don't. And the same thing will still be happening decades from now.
DeleteOh those children playing with their palm fronds. It is so good to see children in church. Palm Sunday is such a special day. Years ago I was in Jerusalem at Easter and I walked in many of the streets where Jesus walked in that Holy Week.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that you were able to visit Jerusalem at the holiest time of the year.
DeleteI can just see those three children, bless them.
ReplyDeleteI went to a Christmas service once at a catholic church, just out of curiousity. The ups and downs, standing, kneeling, you can't fall asleep at a Catholic service. Those kids sound like .......kids.
ReplyDeleteYes, a Catholic mass has a lot of moving around, but I've seen many people snooze during the homily :-)
DeleteOur church doesn't do individual palm fronds. Yesterday there were two very large palm branches at the front of the church. That was it. When we first started attending, 11 years ago, they had the large fronds on each pillar but the couple who decorates the church are very elderly and their health is not as good, so things have changed. The elderly and poor health pretty much describes the whole congregation. There have not been any children in the service for weeks.
ReplyDeleteI love how every church finds the way to celebrate that works best for them. Catholics are encouraged to take home their individual leaflets and use them to decorate their homes. (Tucking them behind a religious picture or crucifix is popular.)
DeleteI had to smile…
ReplyDeleteYes!
Deletebeen there for sure in church when our kids wanted to play. Mom did good. It is a big distraction, but kids are really just kids.
ReplyDeleteMy only regret is about MY distractability.
DeleteAt the church I attended as a girl, the children were gathered before the altar and blessed, then processed out and downstairs where they were taught during the rest of the service. For some years, being a docent to these kids was part of my Sunday. The worst behaved brats in the lot were the Minister's own. (Anglican/Church of England). Until it was MY brats in the gathering, hacking other kids on the shins while being blessed. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, children misbehaving at church was always my favourite part, ha.
ReplyDelete