December 11th. The Ordination

Goochland, about an hour and a bit drive from Charlottesville.  A wealthy area, full of immense houses set in large areas of ground.  Why do people need such large houses?  Seems to me like an awful lot of dusting, tidying and mending. 

We arrived at a huge Episcopal church complex - the venue for the ordination of six new priests, one of whom Mary Carolyn knows.  The large church was packed with representatives of congregations from surrounding districts.  The existing and new priests – impressive in numbers and red and white surplices – processed into the church.  The service was full of colour and music, and the six ordinands must have felt the support and enthusiasm emanating from the congregation.  Afterwards a massive buffet – Americans do seem to know how to party.  On the way back, I asked about the Church in the USA – church in the widest sense as in all Christian believers.  At home we tend only to hear about the extreme ‘religious right’ in the US, but I have met none of those and plenty of sensible, reasonable committed Christians this last week.  Mary Carolyn said that on the whole the church is in good heart, growing in size and commitment.  Yes, she said, there is the right wing who hold to some ridiculous views, but this is not where most Christians stand.  That is good to hear.

More quirkie things – I love the little red fire hydrants (or sometimes silver) which are on the pavement edge.  Apparently in one town, a group of enterprising ladies painted these up as little firemen, with hats, jackets, and faces, as a fund raiser.  Looking at the shape of them, you can see how this would work.  Pity none are done like that here.

Our time here is coming to an end.  Tomorrow we go to Washington overnight, to see the sights there, before flying home on Monday.  So tonight is packing, packing, packing.