Monday, August 3, 2009

Clapping for the Choir

On Sundays when we go to church, Landon spends the first 90% of the service in the nursery. He loves their collection of blocks and trucks and seems to enjoy having new baby and toddler friends to play with. After communion, when all that's left of the service is the post-communion song and prayer, the blessing and benediction, and the closing hymn, JP goes to pick up Landon and bring him back to the pew to sit with us.

Yesterday they came in during the song, which thankfully covered up Landon's excited utterances of "chrch! chrch!" as he walked in. He ran over to me with a big smile on his face and then stood and swayed to the music, clapping enthusiastically (but quietly, thank goodness his hands are small, Lutherans don't clap) when it was over. He seemed confused when he saw other people weren't doing the same. After that, he saw everyone bowing their hands to pray, so he did the same, with his little hands clasped in front of him. He clapped after the prayer was over too. Then came the big closing song, with the full band and choir, and Landon stood in awe of the music filling the big room and then put his arms up and danced. He clapped as we walked out at the end and I thought two things: (1) the world is so much more fun when viewed through a child's eyes and (2) there should be more clapping in church. Also, my kid is adorable. I guess that's three things.

12 comments:

  1. hahah us lutherans do NOT clap :p

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  2. that's adorable. Jack is really into dancing and clapping, and he often runs to the iPod speakers at home to demand music. love the clasping hands part, too-- very sweet!

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  3. LOL. Congregationalists don't clap, either, but I did once for a friend's singing. Take that, John Calvin! :)

    And yes, your kid is adorable. We need more pictures!!

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  4. I've lurked on your blog for about two years now, and more than once thought to myself, "Huh... She seems Lutheran." (Obviously we are too. I don't think non-Lutherans have thoughts like that.) :)

    Anyway, I really enjoy reading about your family's adventures. We have a little one just a couple of months behind Landon, and it's always nice to hear of another little boy's exploits as he grows up. We also used to live in Austin, until about three years ago, so it's nice to get glimpses of our former home.

    Thanks for taking the time to share through your blog!

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  5. Love this images I get with this. You need to take Landon to a black church service. Now THEY (trying not at all to offend by the "they" here) know how to do some clapping. Even black funerals are a joyous occasion.

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  6. Haha Catholics clap too if you go to the right parish. :)

    Stephanie - as a Catholic, nope, I don't look at people and think gee, they seem Lutheran, but sometimes I do look at people and think, gee, I bet they're Catholic. :)

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  7. Singing with the choir made church very fun for me as a cradle Catholic, and I didn't even mind getting up early on the weekends for it. I hope this stays true for Landon! :)

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  8. Oh, this took me back to the first time we took Charlie into the "big church." It was so special! He was so into the music. So special.

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  9. Yeah Lanman would lose his mind at a black church. Not only do we clap, we shout, dance and cheer! That would be a sight to see.

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  10. "Catholics clap too . . ."

    Only the hippy, guitar strumming catholics. There weren't no clapping in my Catholic church.

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  11. So cute! I can just picture Landon dancing and clapping! I wish he went to MY church!

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  12. I can't stop laughing at "Lutherans don't clap"...!

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