While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

I hosted my first gathering in my home since moving in a year and a half ago. I wanted to sing Sally DeFord's arrangement of "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night," but I didn't get it organized in time to sing it at church. Luckily for me, Rick and Marilyn were willing to come play the piano. I made gingersnaps and wassail. The Gleasons, Crawfords, and Davies came. We crowded in downstairs around the piano, sight-reading in German, French, and English. Angela introduced us to "Out of the Oriental Skies," which was pretty fun. Audrey commented as she left that, "I thought it was just going to be like 'Joy to the World' singing, but it wasn't--in a good way!" It's nice the Crawford and Davies kids are old enough either to participate or play games on their own in the next room.

The best part was Alice and Anna arriving in the middle. After everyone left, we had some conversation. I was trying to point out that it isn't helpful to be angry and frustrated because it puts people on the defensive, disinclined to change, people like Church members who want marginalized people to make more room for them. I wasn't effective. I just made them think I was minimizing the burden we often place on marginalized people to make it easier for us to include them, instead of assuming the burden of being inclusive. I do think the burden rests with the majority to be more inclusive. I just don't think the way to get there is to be dogmatic about our obligation. Persistent, yes.

Church was pretty great. Rick played two organ solos. One was an arrangement of "Silent Night," but he still played the one with the bells in the postlude. The youth speaker did a nice job focusing on the Savior. I sang "How Far is it to Bethlehem?" with a small group. My height plunked me right in the middle of the six, directly in front of the microphone, and I didn't die from the experience. I had started off on the end. When I realized that Ben's typical pew was in the center of my line of vision, I asked to flip the line around, then Rick suggested we arrange in a more aesthetic manner. Ah, well. It was fun to have Annie and Laura play the flute parts.

Marilyn gave a beautiful sermon about sheep, the Good Shepherd, and the Lamb of God. She is absolutely the best! I may now be able to make it through this week.

Since Brandon informed Angela that the men's part of our song was boring and he didn't want to sing it, there were no men in our group. The young men sang with the young women at the start of the meeting. The bishop conducted the meeting. Rick played the organ. The rest was all women. Visible women.