Mardi Gras Sunday

We had a minimalist Mardi Gras Sunday today at church. Over the 10 years we were in Tucson, we led that congregation to an extravagant, fun-filled expression of worship on this Sunday, complete with balloons, wild outfits, beads, and a fabulous Dixieland band (who held that Sunday open for us every year after the first year because they enjoyed playing for us so much). On our first year here in Pittsfield, James and I both wore green, purple, and gold and we played "When the Saints Go Marching In" as our first Gathering Song at the beginning of worship, with the festive touch of tambourine to add a little oomph. Unfortunately we didn't think ahead enough to get beads to give out to everyone--this crowd would have worn them, for sure! (They all wore the tinsel haloes we handed out at Christmas, with pleasure.) So next year we'll at least have beads. Hopefully a little more festivity as well. It's fun to think about how this tradition will evolve here in Yankee Territory. Stolidly low-church congregationalists finding their way into a hot-blooded, earthy celebration of excess! Hold onto your hats...