Or rather, the partying of all of those, living or dead, who wish to do so. I was just borrowing a title of an 80's tune by a band fronted by the guy who does all those really cool movie soundtracks, Danny Elfman.
Halloween and All Saints' Day 2008 are being viewed only in retrospect now. Having relocated and made major life-changes recently, the "great cloud of witnesses" that cheer me on include people alive and well whose faces i am unable to see everyday. Facebook, cell phone texting and voice, and IM chat keep me connected with kindred friends in former "homes" and those in lands i have yet to visit.
I was welcomed "home" to a place to which i've never actually been until yesterday. It was the last of a marathon of worship services over and above the ones for which i am usually responsible. Although i'd never before set foot in Wesley Theological School's Oxnam chapel, i felt the sisterhood with the seminary i attended at Drew Theological School. I played at the Craig chapel at Drew about 1000 times, worshiping with fellow students as well as staff and faculty and guests. The same feeling embraced me viscerally as those in attendance joined in singing, praying, and listening. I could feel the presence of my colleagues from Drew, and from Candler and Iliff and Claremont and the other Methodist seminaries, colleagues from Union in New York city and Pacific School of Religion in Northern California, colleagues from churches with which i have ministered and worshiped before, colleagues of other faiths with whom i've worked in helping professions... it felt like a big ol' transcendent party!
This is what corporate worship might feel like every time if i chose to be mindful of it. As one who believes in the sacredness of all things and all places, maybe my whole life could be like this if i chose to be mindful and spirit-full.
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