A Serial Blog Entry

A Tale of Two Pieties

Piety (pi-eh-tee) – style of religious devotion, personal preference as to a way of

worshiping God.

It was the best of worship services, it was the worst of worship services.

Mrs. Klopher arrived early, got her bulletin, and proceeded directly to the seat she had sat in for past forty years. She picked up her hymn book, marked the hymns for that day with the ribbons, and then sat quietly, watching the dust motes drift lazily around in the sunshine, colored by the stained glass of the rose window. She smoothed her Sunday dress, and sighed deeply, remembering her husband, gone now ten years, and how they had sat here together week in and week out, praising and thanking God. It felt good being here, and she closed her eyes and thought of how God had blessed her over the years.

Suddenly, her musings were interrupted. First, two of the men of the church stepped into the sanctuary and began discussing (loudly) their plans for that afternoon. Then some children ran around the sanctuary until their mothers came in and corralled them. Finally other worshipers started filtering in—some quiet and reserved like Mrs. Klopher, but some talking and laughing—enjoying each other’s company.

And it didn’t get any better after the service began. Children cried and talked loudly, people excused themselves to the restroom at all times (no matter what was occurring), and some of them even sipped coffee and finished up their pre-worship snacks! It was all Mrs. Klopher could do to keep silent in the face of what was to her, such disrespect! Still, she enjoyed the worship—loved the sermon, felt uplifted by the singing (even though there was one of those “new songs” in there), and was comforted taking communion amongst all the saints.

It was the best of worship services, it was the worst of worship services

TO BE CONTINUED…