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Published: December 21st 2010
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Internet connectivity is better today. Yesterday afternoon it was quite hopeless. I think the link must be getting saturated by too many people trying to use it at once. I bought another four hours' worth. The link's still not good enough to let me upload to Travelblog, though.
Today I went to church at St. Andrew's, which proved to be an attractive 19th-century church. They do not have their own minister; apparently there is a shortage of clergy all over New Zealand. One Sunday a month they make do with a lay service, and this was that Sunday.
So we had Morning Prayer. Everyone was very kind indeed. They took my name and then recognized me when they made their announcements. The service was simple and earnest, though modern. I liked the sermon, on Joseph's willingness to hear and heed God's will.
After service I was invited to have fruitcake and coffee with the parishioners. Evidently they have no parish hall, as they gathered in the church itself. Someone explained to me that it was too wet to have tea on the lawn as usual -- and, indeed, it had been showering as I walked there.
Church was 11 blocks away -- over a mile -- but a lady named Ida very kindly gave me a ride back, so it was not too tiring. Even more kindly, she offered me a ride to a community Festival of Lessons and Carols, to be held at 7 in a neighboring town, Bannockburn.
I didn't feel too well; I suspect that the Rainbow Takeaway meal did not agree with me after all. So I stayed in the dorm and rested all afternoon. Then at 6:30 I went to the Festival of Lessons and Carols.
It was a delightful service. Local children, in costume, presented a live Nativity scene. The intent was for the children to read the (very short) Lessons as well, but some of them got the giggles and had to be helped by adults.
Despite my best efforts I began to cough in the middle of "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night." Ida guided me over to the parish hall and fixed me a drink of water, and I took more Tussin, which now seems to be helping (oddly, it wasn't, two weeks ago). I missed the Third Lesson, but got back in
Nativity Scene
In the churchyard, before the performance time to hear and try to sing an interesting New Zealand hymn, Te Haranui. As someone explained to me later, the first Christian service ever held in New Zealand was held on Christmas Day. "Te Haranui" evidently means "Glad tidings."
There were only five Lessons and six Carols, as the children had to go to bed. As is usual for such a service, it ended with the congregation, with lit candles, singing "Silent Night." Unfortunately, since the sun didn't set today till 9:30, it was still broad daylight, which reduced the effect of the candles somewhat. On the positive side, the members of the Nativity scene had much skimpier costumes, especially the angels, than any I have ever seen. I was amused to see that Joseph was about half Mary's age.
After the service everyone gathered in the parish hall. I got into an interesting conversation with one of the four Asian students from Pinot Lodge who had come to church this morning and who also came to the Festival. They are going to Queenstown too, and even to the YHA, but unfortunately we will just miss each other; I will be checking out the morning of the
day they'll check in. After that, though, they will head north rather than south, so our paths will not cross again.
She asked whether I was a working holiday-maker as she was. I felt rather flattered that she thought I was young enough; the upper age limit for it is 35, and I passed that mark 13 years ago. Of course as an American I was never eligible in any case, and so I told her.
Ida was increasingly concerned by my cough, and on the trip home she advised me to see a doctor if it did not soon clear up. I suspect she thinks it is turning into pneumonia, since she advised antibiotics. I don't think it is, yet; the sputum is still mostly clear. I am getting a little worried myself, though, as it is being so very slow to improve. No, that's not accurate; it
has improved markedly, going from continual racking coughs to a few coughs an hour. But I am nowhere close to well yet, and I am used to a week or two at Myrtle Beach's clearing my bronchitis right up. It has been twelve days since I got here, long enough that I should be nearly better. Of course, it was rather cold in both Christchurch and Tekapo.
I told her I would go to a doctor if it wasn't much better by the first of the year, and she seemed satisfied by that.
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Rosie H
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Festival of Lessons and Carols
"As is usual for such a service, it ended with the congregation, with lit candles, singing "Silent Night."" Is this usual in the USA, or in New Zealand, or both? I have never come across it in England; our similar services normally finish with something rousing like "O Come all ye Faithful" or "Hark the Herald-Angels Sing". Interesting to hear about these differences that never occur to one. I'm glad you're having a good trip.