By Georgia Osten
We missed our Saturday evening church due to fatigue and/or projects a’plenty. I suggested we go to Galveston on Sunday morning, we could catch the eight o’clock ferry and make it to mass by 9, then catch breakfast somewhere after. It was a nice church, obviously older and seasoned – wooden pews and kneelers. I was hoping I hadn’t forgotten when to kneel. We were greeted by some really friendly Galvestonian folks, we felt quite welcome. Actually, looking around the church, we noticed some other Bolivar friends who had obviously missed Saturday mass.
They had a choir of about 5 or 6, they came and went as the service continued. There was a drummer and a piano player. The piano player was so animated, I imagined he would be playing later on at one of the bars on the Strand. The music was lively, people were swaying back and forth in their seats. I found myself tapping my toes and fingers. Then people clapped along with the music on the last song. I half expected to see Shug Avery come storming into the church singing to her Daddy in The Color Purple, or for sure, Whoopi dancing down the aisle in her nun habit in Sister Act.
It was Amazing…Grace!
GO’s Sand Bucket is only one beach bum’s journal of life at the beach, probably something each of you can relate to. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts, visions and/or feelings of just exactly what the beach means to you.
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Sounds wonderful!
Another great “moving” service is at St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church in Galveston. It was the first African-American Church in Texas.
It is now home to an ethnically mixed group of parishioners. Every 2nd and 4th Sunday features a jazz service. While the service is traditionally Episcopalian, the music has everyone singing and clapping. Some of us jitter-bug our way down the aisle when it is time to leave.
The service is at 9:00 AM and is followed by a delicious home cooked breakfast. We always feel most welcome when we trip across the pond for this Sunday treat.