Church
When I was young, Christmas Eve would consist of eating pizza for dinner, admiring the tree (which managed to look surprisingly similar each year), and attending midnight-mass. One of these things does not happen anymore. Three things I miss by not attending midnight mass are:
1) The mostly glass manger scene.
2) The operatic soprano hired by the church each year.
3) The fishing line.
Let me explain: Two parallel pieces of fishing line were strung 3 inches apart all the way from the balcony at the back of the church down to the empty manger at the front of the alter. At 11:59 - coinciding with an always stunning rendition of 'Oh, Holy Night' - one lucky individual positioned on the balcony would take the 'unborn' baby Jesus, rest his outstretched arms across the pieces of fishing line, and release. The effect was supposed to be that of baby Jesus levitating from heaven to earth. The actual effect was always that of baby Jesus zooming uncontrollably down towards a barn. Fun, just the same, sure.
Nothing, however, will erase the memory of one special year when baby Jesus scored a perfect ten on his landing (which did not always happen - despite him being Jesus and all) just as our lovely soprano hit the very highest note of 'Oh, Holy Night' causing the Virgin Mary's pretty little glass head to first vibrate ... and then downright explode. 'Oh night divine' indeed!
1) The mostly glass manger scene.
2) The operatic soprano hired by the church each year.
3) The fishing line.
Let me explain: Two parallel pieces of fishing line were strung 3 inches apart all the way from the balcony at the back of the church down to the empty manger at the front of the alter. At 11:59 - coinciding with an always stunning rendition of 'Oh, Holy Night' - one lucky individual positioned on the balcony would take the 'unborn' baby Jesus, rest his outstretched arms across the pieces of fishing line, and release. The effect was supposed to be that of baby Jesus levitating from heaven to earth. The actual effect was always that of baby Jesus zooming uncontrollably down towards a barn. Fun, just the same, sure.
Nothing, however, will erase the memory of one special year when baby Jesus scored a perfect ten on his landing (which did not always happen - despite him being Jesus and all) just as our lovely soprano hit the very highest note of 'Oh, Holy Night' causing the Virgin Mary's pretty little glass head to first vibrate ... and then downright explode. 'Oh night divine' indeed!
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