We are not daily beggars that beg from door to door

Every year around this time Annette and I attend a Christmas Caroling party. First we go out in the cold and sing for some select houses. Then, after being properly frozen, we go inside for more singing and fun. The party was started many years ago by a fellow south-sider. Then when one of her friends who had always led the group was murdered, the mantle was passed to Annette and she reluctantly leads the biggest group of Type A personalities you'd ever want to meet. The crowd is full of people who can sing, act, write etc.; many of them professionally. Like herding cats, it is. Anyway, many of them are Catholic, so this year was especially poignant as the Arch Bishop of St. Louis just announced that the local Catholic church/school would be closing. St. Cecilia's has been a part of this neighborhood for very long time. So, our hostess had us singing at the homes of the elderly folks who were hit particularly hard by this news. I can't imagine going through that, but I try to remain focused on the whole notion of "the church" as opposed to "the building." If we remain focused on what God wants and not what we want, the building itself pales to the mission. But, having said that, I am very sympathetic to those folks who have worshiped in the same sanctuary their whole life and now it's closing; just like that. A sad day indeed.

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