I forgot to tell you.

That last night I went with Andrew from work to St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square for the 6:00 Eucharist celebrating the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.


WOW.

There was so much incense choking the air that by the end of the 2-hour service I could barely see the altar. And it was sung! For those of you who remember my Christianities and the City course last semester, you'll recall I went one morning to a Methodist service where we sang 14 hymns in their entirety and I was about ready to bolt, screaming. Sung services are really alienating to people who don't sing. It actually felt strange to take the Eucharist because I didn't feel like I was part of the community's life and affirmation in the service! I couldn't sing it, and I felt awkward consuming something I didn't help make.

But it was quite an experience, and there was a schmancy wine-and-pate, WASP-centric recetion afterward where everyone was very nice. And it is certainly a show. I don't think I've ever - even when I was attending Catholic Mass - been to a service where the priest has his or her back to the congregation (I almost said audience). It was astonishing! But overall it was beautiful. I am going to bring my mom when she comes.


My friend Andrew was somewhat worried about me, I think, because he knows I am much less of an Anglican-ist, a traditionalist, than he is (even though I'm more of a traditionalist than most of the people I know at St. Mark's). I think he thought I would be in a tizzy about how traditional it was. And, I mean, I don't use the language they use, but they are preserving a cultural legacy, they are making something beautiful, they are preserving a part of my narrative, and for that I am truly thankful. It works for a lot of people, and I'm all about what works.