Necessary Roughness

I was able to go home Friday without delay this time, so the family had the opportunity to go to church Sunday morning. Wouldn’t you know it, it was Matins.

The kids were a little confused because Pastor Gau didn’t chant his parts, but the congregation was left to sing all of their parts. I had a hard time singing at first because I wanted to hear the kids sing against the organ, and I was quite glad for them. Five-year-olds participating in church and saying the Lord’s Prayer kicks major butt.

Amy Grant’s “Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet” was substituted for the Venite, and that deserves points for replacing a psalm with another psalm. “Thy Word…”? If Jacobian English was good enough for Amy Grant…

We did sing the Te Deum, and the younger daughter got a few words right in various spots; not bad for a nine-verse hymn.

We even sang the Amens. You can’t take those for granted now, either. Too many places would rather say them and get out of Dodge.