storytime!

So, I decided to go to the orthodox church for nativity vigil tonight. Partially because I hadn’t ever been to this service and partially because I figured they wouldn’t do the traditional Christmas hymns. I’ve been pretty much completely bah-humbuggy this year and have pretty much ignored Advent, with the intent of avoiding Christmas as much as possible.

I walked into the service and stood behind some other people. I was thinking the service would be fairly long, definitely more than an hour, probably closer to two or three, but wanted to know if it were longer than that, for sure. Finally I walked over to Steve, a (longer term than me, anyway) member and asked “How long is this service.”
He paused and said “Really long.”
Needing a bit more clarification, as I knew that much already, I asked “Yeah, but how long”
Holding up three fingers, he said “Three hours. I think. I mean, Easter vigil is about that long, so I believe it will be about that long.”

So yeah, it was a little over three hours. Three and a half, if you count the post-communion prayers. My clothes smell highly of incense. Gotta say, I really love it.

In other words, I’m finally getting used to the “Christ is Risen/He is and shall be” response and now they’ve gone and changed it to “Christ is Born/Glorify Him” or something.

One final note on the Orthodox service, I was totally wrong about the carols. They were sung. I thought I was going to have a panic attack during them. Ugh. BE NORMAL DANA.

SO HOPEFUL

I have a job interview Monday! I’m very excited about this as it will put me

a) physically closer to where I need to be for classes
b) in a hospital/acute setting
c) working with the population I hope to work with post nursing degree.

in this season of holidays,

Happy Liturgical New Year! (now, to decide on my advent devotion)

Advent Break

So, I’ve been rather distracted later with work and the holidays and quite a bit wrapped up in my own mind and not necessarily in good ways. I’ve been writing stuff, but it’s mostly been random crap that come to mind and just throwing it out there, without all that much thought. I’m going to now take some time away from posting. I’ll probably be gone through Christmas. Hopefully I’ll be cultivating some posts that are on things other than “Damn, I’m Depressed” I have higher quality things to say than that. And plus, once the semester starts, I’m sure I’ll have some interesting stories to share.

I’m still checking out your blogs, though!
until then, with peace, yo.
~dana.

liturgical lexicon

So, I have mentioned my disdain for the “protestant lexicon” before, but have I mentioned that I LOVE the liturgical lexicon? Because I do. I love that we are in Advent and awaiting the Incarnation of our Lord. I have gotten over most of my GRR! People! It’s Advent, not Christmas, and am much more okay with the nonliturgical/secular Christmas season which, apparently has already begun.

But I will wait and anticipate and prepare for Christmas.

Advent is coming…

The Christmas tree was put away about a month ago, more or less. Now I’m looking for a place to hide the baby Jesus. (Because the nativity set has been out year long. It is one of the truly beautiful things my mother has given me.)

… did you bring your coat?

white trash continued

elle: you know what excites me?
dana: what?
elle: Advent is just around the corner.
dana: That reminds me: I’m going to get my tree put away before Advent.