As I've told you, my wife BP is one of the thurifers at the Cathedral in San Diego, leading me to make comments like "are you thurifing this weekend?" and "I must remember, you swing the thurible and I swing the thurifer!" Recently, she was invited to begin training as a verger. At the choral Eucharist on Sundays, there are generally two vergers PLUS the Canon Verger, who house-manage the service, wrangle the readers, acolytes, choir, and children, and can step into any other server role as needed. It's a Cathedral, so they do a big service. BP is doing great; altar service is a wonderful ministry for her, and suits her talents well.
However, she still loves to swing smoke. Yesterday she told me that in addition to serving twice a month at the Eucharist, in whatever capacity is needed, she's going to do a regular once-a-month gig as a thurifer at Evensong as well.
My comment?
"Just don't burn out."
Ba-da-BUM. Happy Friday!
(As an aside related to the conversation on the Lead, by offering a traditional choral liturgy, great music, excellent preaching, and inclusive welcome, coupled with an active voice for social justice in the community, the Cathedral congregation is growing, and I see increasing numbers of young people.)
24 comments:
Where is the "like" button?
Love vergers- they free the priest to do the priest things not fret about what else is or is not happening.
Ann, that's it! All that, plus, they get to carry a big stick. What's not to love?!
Love it. The vergers at the National Cathedral are amazing - half an hour before the noon day Eucharist I discover I am to preside (yes - high altar at National Cathedral - thanks to Howard Anderson). They dress me, walk me about, point to the book, etc -- what could have been a terrifying experience becomes a joy.
You're in SoCal, IT, so you might try this one:
Do you love me?
Do you, Thurifer Girl?
[Girl, Thurifer Girl, my little Thurifer Girl...]
Heh-heh.
Love liturgical humor.
IT, send me an email. I am trying to fix out incense problem here in ABQ.
I'm sure you've heard the famous Tallulah Bankhead quip when seeing a thurifer processing down the aisle with a pot of smoking incense:
"Darling, I love your drag, but your purse is on fire!"
I heard it "Dahling- your dress is divine but your purse is on fire."
I heard it the way Ann heard it.
Hey -- this difference is worthy of a schism! Your side can be the Anglican Church of North America (Dress Synod) and my side can be Anglican Church of North America (Drag Synod). But I get to keep the property -- at least the vestments and thuribles.
We could be Annanites for short.
oh no not the thuribles -- we have such a nice jangly one at our church
hah!
You guys are too funny!
Paul I don't have your email. Send it via Mimi?
Wrong paul. Don't know how to reach you.
The way Ann heard it . . . and @ St Patrick's Cathedral re "Cardinal Mary Frances Spellman" [re whom his thurible was not the only thing *f-laming*, apparently! ;-D]
Remembering flaming Cardinal Archbishops of NY seems appropriate on this day that that r@t b@stard Timothy Dolan got his red beanie... >:-/
IT, I am looking for an incense recipe or process that doesn't drive the congregation out the door in coughing fits. I have heard the key is to avoid self-starting charcoal, but I'm not sure what the alternative is.
Higher quality incense and no self lighting charcoal. It is the impurities that cause the choking IMO
Could you be more specific? Are there sources you would recommend? What is the alternative to self lighting charcoal, and where would I get some?
Thanks.
Also --a very clean thurible --without the build up on the inside, helps alleviate the coughing.
I like the Greek Orthodox incense - they have some very pure varieties.
http://orthodoxincense.com/frankincense.html
BP uses self-lite charcoal. I should think the important difference is the "flavor" and quality of incense. I know they have a number if different ones on hand for different tastes and purposes.
IT
Yes, we use self-lighting charcoal; otherwise, the thurifer would miss all of the Word of the Lord, save the Gospel. :-) In my experience, you get complaints (other than the expected heckling from the vocal talent) ;-) when the incense... "burns." In other words, when it's been in direct contact with red-hot heat for too long, liquifies, and then chars. I've found it to be less of a problem when using pelleted/formed incense (the pellets resemble small pillow mints) or larger varieties (~1/4" chunks) of the natural resins.
-BP
Post a Comment