Congratulations !
You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !
- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: General Interest
- Published: 09/06/2020
The Sermon
Chitra Paranjape
Martín closed the front door behind him and ran down the stairs skipping two steps at a time. Then dashed to his car parked in the driveway and quickly opened the door. He looked at his watch before getting in the car. It was quarter past nine. He had to be at the church on Stanley Drive at ten to conduct the service and he was running late. His handsome face had a worried look. He was returning to work after a leave of absence of two and half years and a lot had happened since then.
As he pulled off the driveway he could hear Tim’s loud wailing. Every time his nanny came he knew Martin was leaving and would kick up a fuss. Martin found it hard to look after his toddler son lately. Alex spent long hours in the university doing medical research leaving Tim in his sole custody. He was at an age when little boys run around, get into things and throw tantrums when they don’t get their way. This morning was no exception. Martin tried to feed him his favourite cereal but he started kicking and screaming, refusing to eat either because he was not hungry or he wanted something else. Every time Martin shoved a spoonful in his mouth he spewed it all over him. The apron he had on his priest’s uniform saved him from all the mess.
He wished Alex could spend more time with the child, now that he was returning as an officiating priest.
As Martin turned left to come on Stanley drive where the church was located he felt a wave of anxiety taking over him. He didn’t know what kind of congregation was waiting for him. How they are going to like him. He parked in the almost empty parking lot of the church and walked toward the church building. For a moment he thought he was at a wrong place. The long match box like brick building with a weathered, shingled roof and the protruding green lower roof in the front, looked anything but a church! On the centre of the roof was a green sign with a cross and the name of the church. But for this sign the building could have been taken as a small warehouse. The greenery in the front was a redeeming factor for the overall appearance of the church. The deep red burning bushes interspersed with green cedars reminded him of Christmas decorations. He thought about Christmas approaching soon and with a warm heart entered the place of worship.
He opened the heavy wood doors of the building and entered the hallway. On the left side was the office and the library and on the right a kitchen and a tea room. He made straight to the heavy, stained glass doors and entered the church. A little distance away from where he was, the pews started in a semicircular fashion in three sections. Only a few people were inside as there was still some time before the service began. The walls on the left had three long stained glass windows depicting the scenes from the bible. These windows were an odd fit with the rest of the modern interior. In the huge alcove ahead of the pews was a shiny wooden rectangular altar. In front of the altar on a stand stood a huge bouquet of flowers. The mild fragrance of the flowers pervaded the church which made Martin relax a little. Two tall white candles were placed on either side of the altar between which stood a dark wood stand holding an opened bible. Behind the altar on the white wall hung an enormous wooden cross. Martin walked slowly with bent head to the altar.
After making the sign of the cross, he faced the congregation for the common prayers and the Eucharist (Holy communion). Then it was time to read passages from th bible. He had chosen a theme for his sermon today- the family values! As he walked to the podium on the left to read the sermon, anxiety came over him again. His hand shook as he opened the page displaying the verse he was going to elaborate on- Hebrews 10:24-25. The verse stated the importance of family staying together for love and support.
He looked up from the podium and saw that all the pews were full now. The congregation had people of all ages- grandparents, young parents with small children, older women and some teenagers. In the very front row he could see a young family. Two young children with their parents on each side. Behind them sat three older women. Martin reached for his pocket, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped drops of perspiration from his forehead. “I am going to read a verse which tells about the importance of a family unit. The concept of traditional family has changed so much in recent years but values remain the same. It tells us about the duties of parents toward children and vice versa.” He said to the children,” You Should listen to your parents and follow the rules they have for you. Parents always have your best interest in their heart. They want you to grow up as good, responsible adults.” He said to the parents, “ Along with other things you should teach children to love God for he loves them and He would guide them on the right path. It is your responsibility to provide them a safe and loving place which will protect them from the bad influences from outside.” As he went on, he realized that he was no longer nervous. He noticed that people listened to him with interest and nodded their heads once in a while. Even children listened when he addressed them and seemed to understand what he was saying. When he was finished he looked relaxed and was satisfied with himself.
Tea was served after the service as a gesture of welcoming him at the Parish. People gathered around him in groups to tell him how much they liked his sermon. They told him they were pleased that even children listened to him attentively. The senior priest was happy that the congregation had liked the new priest. It assured him of the regular attendance of people which would make the Parish forefront in the service of God.
The senior priest congratulated him on his skill at explaining the verses from the bible so well. Martin felt happy. He was thinking about his own family. He was now talking to a group of elderly ladies who asked him,
“Reverend, tell us about your family. Looks like they couldn’t come today!”
Martin hesitated a little and said,
“ My partner, Alexander is a medical researcher and we have a two-year old son, Tim.”
There was a stunned silence around him. The women stared at him in disbelief and didn’t know what to say. Martin couldn’t lie to the congregation. He drove home very worried thinking about the consequences.
After he got home he checked the messages on the answering machine. One of which was from the church. “ We are sorry to inform you that your services are no longer needed at the church.”
The Sermon(Chitra)
The Sermon
Chitra Paranjape
Martín closed the front door behind him and ran down the stairs skipping two steps at a time. Then dashed to his car parked in the driveway and quickly opened the door. He looked at his watch before getting in the car. It was quarter past nine. He had to be at the church on Stanley Drive at ten to conduct the service and he was running late. His handsome face had a worried look. He was returning to work after a leave of absence of two and half years and a lot had happened since then.
As he pulled off the driveway he could hear Tim’s loud wailing. Every time his nanny came he knew Martin was leaving and would kick up a fuss. Martin found it hard to look after his toddler son lately. Alex spent long hours in the university doing medical research leaving Tim in his sole custody. He was at an age when little boys run around, get into things and throw tantrums when they don’t get their way. This morning was no exception. Martin tried to feed him his favourite cereal but he started kicking and screaming, refusing to eat either because he was not hungry or he wanted something else. Every time Martin shoved a spoonful in his mouth he spewed it all over him. The apron he had on his priest’s uniform saved him from all the mess.
He wished Alex could spend more time with the child, now that he was returning as an officiating priest.
As Martin turned left to come on Stanley drive where the church was located he felt a wave of anxiety taking over him. He didn’t know what kind of congregation was waiting for him. How they are going to like him. He parked in the almost empty parking lot of the church and walked toward the church building. For a moment he thought he was at a wrong place. The long match box like brick building with a weathered, shingled roof and the protruding green lower roof in the front, looked anything but a church! On the centre of the roof was a green sign with a cross and the name of the church. But for this sign the building could have been taken as a small warehouse. The greenery in the front was a redeeming factor for the overall appearance of the church. The deep red burning bushes interspersed with green cedars reminded him of Christmas decorations. He thought about Christmas approaching soon and with a warm heart entered the place of worship.
He opened the heavy wood doors of the building and entered the hallway. On the left side was the office and the library and on the right a kitchen and a tea room. He made straight to the heavy, stained glass doors and entered the church. A little distance away from where he was, the pews started in a semicircular fashion in three sections. Only a few people were inside as there was still some time before the service began. The walls on the left had three long stained glass windows depicting the scenes from the bible. These windows were an odd fit with the rest of the modern interior. In the huge alcove ahead of the pews was a shiny wooden rectangular altar. In front of the altar on a stand stood a huge bouquet of flowers. The mild fragrance of the flowers pervaded the church which made Martin relax a little. Two tall white candles were placed on either side of the altar between which stood a dark wood stand holding an opened bible. Behind the altar on the white wall hung an enormous wooden cross. Martin walked slowly with bent head to the altar.
After making the sign of the cross, he faced the congregation for the common prayers and the Eucharist (Holy communion). Then it was time to read passages from th bible. He had chosen a theme for his sermon today- the family values! As he walked to the podium on the left to read the sermon, anxiety came over him again. His hand shook as he opened the page displaying the verse he was going to elaborate on- Hebrews 10:24-25. The verse stated the importance of family staying together for love and support.
He looked up from the podium and saw that all the pews were full now. The congregation had people of all ages- grandparents, young parents with small children, older women and some teenagers. In the very front row he could see a young family. Two young children with their parents on each side. Behind them sat three older women. Martin reached for his pocket, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped drops of perspiration from his forehead. “I am going to read a verse which tells about the importance of a family unit. The concept of traditional family has changed so much in recent years but values remain the same. It tells us about the duties of parents toward children and vice versa.” He said to the children,” You Should listen to your parents and follow the rules they have for you. Parents always have your best interest in their heart. They want you to grow up as good, responsible adults.” He said to the parents, “ Along with other things you should teach children to love God for he loves them and He would guide them on the right path. It is your responsibility to provide them a safe and loving place which will protect them from the bad influences from outside.” As he went on, he realized that he was no longer nervous. He noticed that people listened to him with interest and nodded their heads once in a while. Even children listened when he addressed them and seemed to understand what he was saying. When he was finished he looked relaxed and was satisfied with himself.
Tea was served after the service as a gesture of welcoming him at the Parish. People gathered around him in groups to tell him how much they liked his sermon. They told him they were pleased that even children listened to him attentively. The senior priest was happy that the congregation had liked the new priest. It assured him of the regular attendance of people which would make the Parish forefront in the service of God.
The senior priest congratulated him on his skill at explaining the verses from the bible so well. Martin felt happy. He was thinking about his own family. He was now talking to a group of elderly ladies who asked him,
“Reverend, tell us about your family. Looks like they couldn’t come today!”
Martin hesitated a little and said,
“ My partner, Alexander is a medical researcher and we have a two-year old son, Tim.”
There was a stunned silence around him. The women stared at him in disbelief and didn’t know what to say. Martin couldn’t lie to the congregation. He drove home very worried thinking about the consequences.
After he got home he checked the messages on the answering machine. One of which was from the church. “ We are sorry to inform you that your services are no longer needed at the church.”
- Share this story on
- 1
COMMENTS (0)