Ship of Fools: Raindrops keep falling on my head

Thread: Raindrops keep falling on my head Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Easter Sunday, as well as being a celebration of Jesus' resurrection, is also often the time to renew baptism vows. I also observed a very clear case of 'Asperges Syndrome', characterised by an irresistible urge by priests, deacons, readers to slosh water all over the congregation - way more than is necessary, with wicked grins on their faces, and especially enjoying soaking the choir. At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things [Roll Eyes]

).

Does your church take part in these or other rituals associated with baptism vow renewals?

Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things ).

Does your church take part in these or other rituals associated with baptism vow renewals?

Please tell me you're joking about the organ accompaniment? I'm all for humour but that's not funny('twould be if the roof had a leak and rain was coming in) and just seems to be ridiculing a church tradition or trivialising the renewal of baptism vows.

At our shack we were sprinkled and after renewing my baptism vows I'd have found it very disconcerting to be serenaded by raindrops keep falling on my head [Projectile]

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

No, I'm not joking. Our church has a bit of a reputation of treading close to the line between light humour and sending up. Opinions vary as to when the line gets crossed. Usually, any musical references are more subtle, but often spotted by the choir. This time, the reference wasn't subtle at all.

(Our roof does need repair btw, and we sometimes need a bucket for drips - anyone got a spare £million? - but on Easter Day it wasn't raining outside, only 'inside').

Posted by sebby (# 15147) on :

Sounds really trite.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Oh dear, the Asperges - yes. The trick is to sit in the middle of a pew rather than at one of the ends - which is where I'd always try to sit so I suppose it was my own fault, but I remember thinking, "I washed my hair just before I came here, I don't need it done again, thanks", as a large shower of indoor rain came my way.

Looking around, you could see, if you looked closely, where the water from previous years had spoilt the varnish on the pews, which were spotted with watermarks.

The last time, I was prepared for this, all seemed to be going well and I thought I'd got off lightly, but somehow the priest managed to send a dollop my way that went right into my eye. He processed down the aisle in stately fashion soaking the congregation as he went, while I frantically scrabbled for a handkerchief and missed the next 10 minutes or so. Holy water or not, it stung.

Posted by venbede (# 16669) on :

I only wish we were asperged. My last church we sprinkled in the penitential rite every Sunday in Eastertide.

Why smirk when we are symbolically going through the dark waters of death?

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

Pete and I were the only two foreigners there on Sunday and I think he wanted us to feel included so we each got a special dousing all of our own.

Posted by Japes (# 5358) on :

I seem to come in for an extra special dousing wherever I happen to be if asperging is taking place. Can't think what I do to deserve it... [Roll Eyes]

I did feel quite cheated this year that we all queued up at the font and blessed ourselves with holy water. Less messy and more seemly, maybe, but lacking the over-the-top-ness of the liturgy that I so enjoy. (We didn't make a lot of noise at the Gloria either, but that's maybe another thread!) [Big Grin]

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

I was rather surprised that at the (fairly up-the-candle) vigil I attended, the congregation weren't aspersed (asperged?) but instead invited to come to the font one by one and sign themselves with the blessed water. I suppose it made for a more solemn and thoughtful mood, but I think a bit of jollity is well in keeping with the Easter joy.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Pete and I were the only two foreigners there on Sunday and I think he wanted us to feel included so we each got a special dousing all of our own.

Yeah, it woke you up really suddenly from your nap!

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :

quote:
Chorister: At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things ).

At my parents' church, there used to be an organ player who would do this kind of musical jokes. I find that the fun of this wears off quite quickly.

Posted by Robin (# 71) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things ).

Shouldn't you have been singing the Vidi Aquam?

Robin

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

quote:
Originally posted by PeteC:

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
Pete and I were the only two foreigners there on Sunday and I think he wanted us to feel included so we each got a special dousing all of our own.
Yeah, it woke you up really suddenly from your nap!

If you continue to commit calumnies like that I shall be forced to post what you said last night! I am sure the Tans-Tasman folks will be understanding [Snigger]

Posted by St.Silas the carter (# 12867) on :

Ours has been much more restrained in recent years. Two years ago, the priest decided to use a brush, something we generally don't use, and managed to soak completely in water half of his chasuble and the MC who was holding the chasuble out of his arm's way.

Posted by Oferyas (# 14031) on :

Just as most problems with incense actually seem to be problems with the charcoal, I find myself wondering whether Ariel's problems with holy water are in fact problems with the quantity of salt in it.

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

It's been awhile since I was aspersed, and I've never been vidi-aqua'd at all! [Ultra confused]

However, when it has happened, the amount of water has been rather nugatory, disappointingly so in fact. I'd say this is something that varies from priest to priest rather than being a general trend to douse...

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

No doubt the climate makes up for it. [Biased]

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Angloid:
I was rather surprised that at the (fairly up-the-candle) vigil I attended, the congregation weren't aspersed (asperged?) but instead invited to come to the font one by one and sign themselves with the blessed water. I suppose it made for a more solemn and thoughtful mood, but I think a bit of jollity is well in keeping with the Easter joy.

We used to do the dipping finger into font thing but we have gone back to sprinkling. Our vicar did it with such a vengeance that the paschal candle I was holding nearly got extinguished.

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

Oh good Lord yes! I'm inclined to think that the symbolism of sprinkling makes a lot more sense in the Middle East or Rome or other places where one isn't being continually being sprinkled by the atmosphere...

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

quote:
Originally posted by sebby:
Sounds really trite.

This is the danger.

The major festivals are supposed to be enjoyable, but also meaningful. A difficult balance to achieve.

Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :

I thought the opening post was a joke 'til the rest of you chimed in. Never heard of such a thing. Never. Not a hint of it.

Never heard of renewal of baptism vows as an Easter thing but it wouldn't alarm me, baptism vows are renewed any time someone else is baptized but people don't get re-sprinkled!

Water spotting the varnish, water damaging expensive bibles and hymnals, water spotting fine Easter clothes, I thought I'd heard it all by now but this one startles me as much as some of the stranger pentecostal practices.

Posted by PD (# 12436) on :

The Organist playing 'rains drops keep falling on my head' crosses a few lines for me. It would have earned him a dirty look at the time, and two reamings out; one for the playing such a trite ditty at Mass; the second for giving me an earworm!

I use the bundle of twigs we use for washing the altar for asperging the congregation at the Vigil. I don't think I tend to overdo it, though one of the servers a brush full this time.

PD

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

We got sprinkled by the bishop as usual at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday evening. The new bishop doesn't seem quite as gung ho about it as the previous one who looked as if it was the bit of bishoping he enjoyed most and walked all over the cathedral making sure everyone got a bit of water. No hiding in the middle of the pews from him. He could swing a mean bunch of hyssop (or whatever it is they use).

And have you any idea how long thirty baptisms and ninety confirmations takes? At least that what the service sheet said, I think they sneaked a few more in at the last minute...

Posted by the Ænglican (# 12496) on :

We use a proper aspergillium with the vidi aquam and it was delightful. Our priest is normally good with water volume but both at the Vigil and Sunday I was safe as I was holding the bucket in one hand and cope in the other.

"Raindrops" would have earned the organist an uncomfortable chat with me after the service--and I imagine the rector and half the choir would have been in line as well...

Posted by Lietuvos Sv. Kazimieras (# 11274) on :

The amount of water you get tends to be a function of the aspergillium. At one of my former shacks, the thing seemed to take in a good deal of water, and everyone got sensibly wetted at the High Mass every Sunday. At my present place, the instrument doesn't seem to take in much water or perhaps has teeny-weeny spinkler-holes (probably the former problem is a function of the latter feature) and doesn't get the job done very well at all -- I've never actually felt or seen any water being emitted from the little tool.

The sloshiest shack I've ever been to is St Mary the Virgin Times Square, where they were as profligate with the asperges/vidi aquam as with the consumption of incense. One hot summer morning we seemed to get doused about three times each from an extra-productive aspergillium and enthusiastic celebrant throwing water on everyone like mad.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

I am not sure whose suggestion 'Raindrops' was, but it wasn't necessarily the organist's own choice. All I know is, it wasn't mine!

(Further details about the service can be found in my sig.)

We normally sing a hymn at that point. (And it isn't 'Our God Rains', either.)

Posted by Spiffy (# 5267) on :

I'm sad, they used twigs that didn't hold a lot of water so I didn't get any splashes.

(Although when I took my seat at the Easter Sunday service, I found the Easter Bunny had left chocolate eggs for me and the other EMs.)

[ 09. April 2012, 16:27: Message edited by: Spiffy ]

Posted by Morlader (# 16040) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
I am not sure whose suggestion 'Raindrops' was, but it wasn't necessarily the organist's own choice. All I know is, it wasn't mine!

(Further details about the service can be found in my sig.)

We normally sing a hymn at that point. (And it isn't 'Our God Rains', either.)

Trite in the extreme. No defence that it might not have been his idea: he played it: it wouldn't have happened if he hadn't played it. [Projectile]

Gotta go and take a couple of anti-nausea pills now.
So what was wrong with your usual hymn? Or was your organist making some point not-so-subtely? Perhaps he's fed up and wants out?? But I don't get that impression from all the musical activity at your church. Perhaps he's ill?

Posted by NatDogg (# 14347) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Morlader: Perhaps he's ill?

That's the only explanation that I can think of. . . [Ultra confused]

[ 09. April 2012, 17:18: Message edited by: NatDogg ]

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

quote:
Originally posted by LeRoc:

quote:
Chorister: At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things ).
At my parents' church, there used to be an organ player who would do this kind of musical jokes. I find that the fun of this wears off quite quickly.

The tradition of the "naughty organist" is a venerable one, well documented on these boards. I remember mention of an organist who played a well-disguised "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" at the news that a particular lady vicar, who was not well liked, would be leaving.

Usually, however, such bouts of naughtiness are subtle. To make them blatant does seem like a mockery.

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

Usually, when organists do naughty things such as this they sneak it in in the background so that it registers but only just! A little gentle irony is fine, but nothing blatant!

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

We weren't missing a hymn, it was just done differently this year. No idea why.

How do other churches / denominations organise their asperging (if they have it at all)?

Posted by Martin L (# 11804) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
How do other churches / denominations organise their asperging (if they have it at all)?

Ours (the "big" Lutheran denom in the US) is very Roman Catholic in style, taking the place of the confession at the beginning of the service. Typically these take place before the entrance hymn. It's supposed to signify that these are preparatory rites, and not technically part of the Holy Communion liturgy proper. In reality, it is just a bit confusing, until one gets used to it.

-Trinitarian Invocation (as usual)
-Brief scripted explanation (of the "we're blessin' the water" sort)
-Blessing of the water
-Sprinkling during the opening hymn
-The liturgy continues with the Kyrie and Gloria (or alternate)

My church has an aspergillum, but much of the time in Lutheranism I encounter a branch, and get royally splashed. I suspect that many churches don't know that such a thing as an aspergillum exists. In any event, the ritual has only been in our latest worship book, which came out six years ago. Before that, we had supplemental texts that suggested it, but it was only practiced in "special" places.

[ 09. April 2012, 19:14: Message edited by: Martin L ]

Posted by MrMusicMan (# 16343) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:

quote:
Originally posted by LeRoc:

quote:
Chorister: At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things ).
At my parents' church, there used to be an organ player who would do this kind of musical jokes. I find that the fun of this wears off quite quickly.
The tradition of the "naughty organist" is a venerable one, well documented on these boards. I remember mention of an organist who played a well-disguised "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" at the news that a particular lady vicar, who was not well liked, would be leaving.

Usually, however, such bouts of naughtiness are subtle. To make them blatant does seem like a mockery.

Clearly I'm really not a good organist, as I've never snuck "naughty organist" antics into the music. The worst thing I've ever done, and maybe it counts, is, being an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin Band, tacking an On Wis (the first four notes of On, Wisconsin) onto the end of a verse or a hymn when my alma mater has enjoyed a significant win.

There's nothing quite like the Badger hockey team sweeping North Dakota and then me tacking an On, Wis onto the Amen at the end of the closing hymn the next morning... "A----men (da,da,daaaah!)"

Perhaps I can sneak a lick of "The Final Countdown" into the prelude for Good Friday next year. Or not. [brick wall]

Posted by Spiffy (# 5267) on :

quote:
Originally posted by MrMusicMan:

Perhaps I can sneak a lick of "The Final Countdown" into the prelude for Good Friday next year. Or not.

That would amuse me to no end if I was in that church and that happened. Although if anyone ever accused me of being reverent, I'd probably sue them for slander.

[ 09. April 2012, 21:02: Message edited by: Spiffy ]

Posted by Devils Advocate (# 16484) on :

I was involved in the Asperges 3 times over Easter On Holy Saturday as part of the Vigil Liturgy after water in the font had been blessed then again at Low Mass in place of the creed and at the same place in the Solemn Mass 90 mins later.
The Aspergillium which has been in use for years is moulting ( Its the Holy Pastry brush Type) and sheds as much hair as water so the Vicar went out on Saturday and bought a traditional pastry brush and we used that. On Saturday Night the Celebrant ( who on this occasion wasn't the vicar, who was acting as Deacon, managed to slosh it straight in my eye. Im hoping to source a new Aspergillium for next year one of those which looks like a Tea Infuser on a long handle.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

The reason we got so wet is that, with a full church, there were at least three priests/readers going around, each with their own separate aspergillum and supply of water. They spread out to different parts of the church, but for some reason they all sprinkled the choir (quite liberally). Perhaps we were in special need of cleansing? [Ultra confused]

Posted by Comper's Child (# 10580) on :

Funnily enough we had a parishioner who complained that the roof was leaking despite the sunny day. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Perhaps we were in special need of cleansing?

Especially your organist?

Posted by Martin L (# 11804) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Comper's Child:
Funnily enough we had a parishioner who complained that the roof was leaking despite the sunny day.

...to which the appropriate reply is, "Yes, we cannot afford to fix it. It would be a shame to see the church that your ancestors built with their bare hands fall to pieces." [extends hand, palm upward]

[Snigger]

Posted by sonata3 (# 13653) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Angloid:
I was rather surprised that at the (fairly up-the-candle) vigil I attended, the congregation weren't aspersed (asperged?) but instead invited to come to the font one by one and sign themselves with the blessed water. I suppose it made for a more solemn and thoughtful mood, but I think a bit of jollity is well in keeping with the Easter joy.

We did this as well at the Dominican community where my wife and I attended; I thought it a nice way of emphasizing the baptismal emphasis of the service.

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :

quote:
Amanda B. Reckondwythe: Usually, however, such bouts of naughtiness are subtle. To make them blatant does seem like a mockery.

quote:
dj_ordinaire: Usually, when organists do naughty things such as this they sneak it in in the background so that it registers but only just! A little gentle irony is fine, but nothing blatant!

With this I agree completely!

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Devils Advocate:
Im hoping to source a new Aspergillium for next year one of those which looks like a Tea Infuser on a long handle.

Yes, that was the sort that got me in the eye, so I'm not too sure that'd be a huge improvement.

(ETA when I say it got me in the eye, I mean the water, not the actual aspergillium. That would have been a bit much.)

[ 10. April 2012, 13:28: Message edited by: Ariel ]

Posted by venbede (# 16669) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Belle Ringer:
Water spotting the varnish, water damaging expensive bibles and hymnals, water spotting fine Easter clothes,.

I keep my Dolce and Gabbana copy of New English Hymnal for Evensong.

Posted by bib (# 13074) on :

The behaviour of the organist and the excessive wetting of the congregation would make me think of changing churches as I find such actions rude in the extreme and unacceptable in what is an important part of the service on Easter Sunday. I would hope that you seek an apology and a commitment to never again engage in such antics.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Some things that happen in church do annoy me, but not that. We like our organist, and he is often told to play things other than his own choice. As are the choir. It is an interesting question, which several of us have examined recently - how far is one a servant of the church and how much should one act according to one's own conscience even if part of a group? (A thought for another thread, perhaps?)

I've noticed different amounts of wetting according to what is being used. Usually some sort of sprig (rosemary) rather than a metal object. This year's was very effective, one year we hardly got a drop, when the sprig was rather thin and weedy.

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Usually some sort of sprig (rosemary) rather than a metal object. This year's was very effective,

Sprig showers bring fresh flowers. [Smile]

Posted by ORGANMEISTER (# 6621) on :

At our place the sprinkling is done with a cluster of evergreen twigs which have been tied together. This is a relatively new addition to ELCA liturgics. I shall always remember being seated next to my dear sister who whispered to me that she didn't want any water spots on her silk blouse!

Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :

The year the town that neighbored Massanetta (or maybe it was Harrisonburg itself) went from Dry to having legal sales of liquor, the organ improvisation that formed the prelude to divine service at the opening of the Church Musicians Conference began with the thundering chords A!, B!, C!, being the vernacular for "Alcoholic Beverage Commission." Most of the musicians could barely keep a straight face at the audacity. The Grim Presbyterian Elders were not amused.

Posted by FatherRobLyons (# 14622) on :

We sang "Baptized with Water" and invited people to come forward and sign themselves with water from the font. It worked well.

Posted by Trisagion (# 5235) on :

Our organist in seminary hit upon the fact that the Tantum Ergo could be sung to the tune of 'All the nice girls love a sailor' - and vice versa. Consequently he often wove the tune into processional music at benediction.

Posted by The Royal Spaniel (# 40) on :

You can also sing it to the Austrian National Anthem, and indeed it has been done
The proper one I mean not the present one...... [Biased]

Posted by The Royal Spaniel (# 40) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Some things that happen in church do annoy me, but not that. We like our organist, and he is often told to play things other than his own choice. As are the choir. It is an interesting question, which several of us have examined recently - how far is one a servant of the church and how much should one act according to one's own conscience even if part of a group? (A thought for another thread, perhaps?)

I've noticed different amounts of wetting according to what is being used. Usually some sort of sprig (rosemary) rather than a metal object. This year's was very effective, one year we hardly got a drop, when the sprig was rather thin and weedy.

It strikes me he's taking a cue from the renowned Joseph Haydn and his 'Farewell' Symphony
Chorister I get the impression you have a vicar whom you have to get under control...... [Devil]

Posted by MrMusicMan (# 16343) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The Royal Spaniel:
You can also sing it to the Austrian National Anthem, and indeed it has been done
The proper one I mean not the present one......

What should scare you is that like a dumba## I miss read this as "Australian National Anthem," and discovered it just about works with "Waltzing Matilda."

Posted by The Royal Spaniel (# 40) on :

[Killing me]

There's just no reply to that at all.....!!

Posted by UCCLynn (# 16633) on :

This board is so interesting! Everytime I check in, I learn new words (asperge, aspergillium!) as well as new traditions. I had never heard of this practice.

Growing up in a consevative US Lutheran denomination, returning to the church as the large body of Lutherans that Martin L referred to, and now having been with the United Church of Christ for about 8 years, I never encountered this practice.

In the UCC, as well as others I am sure, the renewal of baptism vows often happens in January at the Baptism of Jesus celebration, if that event is being observed (it isn't always depending on the scheduling of Epiphany on a Sunday). Once as a congregant and once as a seminary intern did I see/participate in a sprinkling of the congregation. When I did it, I took a small bough off the Christmas tree and sprinkled folks with that. I can't imagine that anybody got too wet. I think it more likely that people on the far sides got little if any.

I admire the humor but probably would have left the raindrops out of the service or just had 4 bars or so played so that people got the reference but weren't immersed in it, so to speak.

Posted by Martin L (# 11804) on :

quote:
Originally posted by UCCLynn:
This board is so interesting! Everytime I check in, I learn new words (asperge, aspergillium!) as well as new traditions. I had never heard of this practice.

Growing up in a consevative US Lutheran denomination, returning to the church as the large body of Lutherans that Martin L referred to, and now having been with the United Church of Christ for about 8 years, I never encountered this practice.

Many quarters of the ELCA has been sprinkling people at assembly liturgies for probably about ten years or so, but it hadn't appeared in a hymnal until the cranberry book came out in '06.

Here is where you can find a reasonably-priced aspergillum, or at least get a look at them in their various forms. It seems like just the sort of new-found ritual that some in the UCC love to employ!

[ 12. April 2012, 21:31: Message edited by: Martin L ]

Posted by Martin L (# 11804) on :

I should have added:

UCCLynn, this is where the terms come from. It's sung during the sprinkling (except in Eastertide, when Vidi aquam is used).

Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :

I have to admit I find the use of "Raindrops..." during the asperges rather, no, make that totally inappropriate. Some of the "organists behaving badly" tales above (or from this great old thread)¹ are funny because they are -- well, most of them are -- subtle and are snuck into other bits. It's the difference between a wink and a pratfall. The asperges can be joyous and even playful without losing its sacredness. Burt Bacharach tunes, on the other hand, would ruin the moment for me.

So I may be a bit of a traditionalist in that respect. But at the same time, I'm not keen on aspergilla. I find them fussy. There's something earthy and almost primitive about using a sprig of evergreen for the asperges. It works well enough at our joint: if you open the hymnal to the Baptism section, you'll find the pages still crinkly from drops of water.

[¹Seriously, how did we not Limbo that one?]

Posted by Amazing Grace (# 95) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Spiffy:
I'm sad, they used twigs that didn't hold a lot of water so I didn't get any splashes.

(Although when I took my seat at the Easter Sunday service, I found the Easter Bunny had left chocolate eggs for me and the other EMs.)

That last is a terrific idea and gives me notions for next year.

We got asperged at both the Vigil and the main service. What is the correct plural of aspergillum? We have two - brass plate bucket and big shaker thing that sort of looks like a mace.

Previously we had used glass vases and rosemary branches (which make the water smell very nice) but I believe the equipment is on loan from the seminary.

Vidi Aquam all the way for the music both times! "Raindrops" definitely qualifies as Organists Behaving Badly, especially if it was in a form that could be recognized by non-musicians.

Last year at the Cathedral, I got "got" several times by the bands of roving clergy [Biased]

Posted by Trisagion (# 5235) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Amazing Grace:
What is the correct plural of aspergillum?

Aspergilia - second declension neuter nominative. Oh the joys of a mis-spent youth...whoever he was
[Biased]

Posted by Bos Loquax (# 16602) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Easter Sunday, as well as being a celebration of Jesus' resurrection, is also often the time to renew baptism vows. I also observed a very clear case of 'Asperges Syndrome', characterised by an irresistible urge by priests, deacons, readers to slosh water all over the congregation - way more than is necessary, with wicked grins on their faces, and especially enjoying soaking the choir. At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things ).

Does your church take part in these or other rituals associated with baptism vow renewals?

Soberly: no splashing, no drowning, no grinning, no campy music choices, no cutesy implements. We did get more water than I've noticed previously in the liturgical year, though.

Perhaps a former rector at my old parish grinned once or twice, but I don't clearly remember.

Posted by Pancho (# 13533) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Easter Sunday, as well as being a celebration of Jesus' resurrection, is also often the time to renew baptism vows. I also observed a very clear case of 'Asperges Syndrome', characterised by an irresistible urge by priests, deacons, readers to slosh water all over the congregation - way more than is necessary, with wicked grins on their faces, and especially enjoying soaking the choir. At our shack this Easter Sunday, the Asperges took place to organ accompaniment ('Raindrops keep falling on my head', of all things ).

Does your church take part in these or other rituals associated with baptism vow renewals?

Yes. At my parish the priest is an enthusiastic splasher and does his best to get us all soaked. On Easter Sunday I went to Mass at another parish and the priest sprinkled with less energy but was accompanied by the singing of the "Vidi Aquam" :

quote:

I saw water coming forth from the temple
on the right side, alleluia:
and all those to whom this water came
were saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.

V. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good:
R. For His mercy endureth forever.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
R. As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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