from the rector

April 2010

It was some years back that I first saw “curling” on TV, the year it was a demo sport in the Winter Olympics. As pretty much everybody knows, it’s now a full-fledged Winter Olympic sport.

What I remember from the first was how incredibly “weird” it looked. Guys playing around on the ice with brooms and 40 pound stones – seldom had I ever seen anything that struck me stranger.

Well, I still can’t figure out why it’s an Olympic sport BUT –

Sunday night we went curling (actually Virginia went curling, I photographed – I don’t do ice sports!). And being on the rink with a bunch of people who really loved the game, and seeing Virginia taught the fundamentals of the game, I have a totally different perspective. It’s a blast! Just another one of those things that’s strange to see but fun to do.

Things that are odd to observe from the outside but make perfect sense to those who do them – sort of sounds like Episcopal worship.

I posted about the curling on FaceBook and one response I got was, “Did you know curling is steeped in tradition?” I’m sure it is, I just don’t know the tradition! And that is the position many from other religious traditions are in when they experience our “steeped in tradition” worship for the first time. To experience what Christian worship means (and this doesn’t just apply to our form of worship!), you have to be willing to be part of it, not just observe it.

Why did Virginia try curling? Simple – somebody who was enthusiastic about it invited her!

And how might we get more people to “try out” worshiping with us instead of just observing from afar?

Maybe something will come to mind…

 

Yours in Christ,

       David Garrett