That man can tell an anecdote
Oct. 15th, 2007 03:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mysidMy hubby's church celebated its 50th Anniversary this past weekend with a dinner on Saturday night and a special service on Sunday morning. Hubby is currently a deacon (it's a three-year commitment and he's in his third year) so he wanted to/felt he should attend.
Yes, I know. What an exciting life we lead. Clubbing--church supper--almost the same, don't you know.
One of the speakers of the evening was Rev. O___. He was the pastor of the church for approximately forty of its fifty years, retiring just a few years ago. Personally, I was never part of his fan club, but I have to give credit where credit is due--that man can tell an anecdote. His reminiscences about his years with the church had everyone laughing. I found myself noticing that the anecdotes were mildly amusing in themselves, but that it was his timing and delivery that really elevated them.
Here is one of his tales: The Saga of the Green Chair
"We always gathered together for Monday morning staff meeting in a room where we had a sofa, an overstuffed upholstered chair, a wing chair, and a green upholstered chair--all mismatched, donated items. And just like each of you have a favorite pew you prefer to sit in on Sunday mornings, we each had a favorite seat. ______ and ______, the secretaries, always sat on the sofa. Roger U_____ (a long-time associate pastor) always headed straight for the overstuffed chair. I took the wing chair, and that left the green chair for the newest member of the staff.
"In 1982, Kate K____ joined our staff as our first female associate pastor. She was newly graduated from seminary school and newly married. As our newest staff member, she sat in the green chair for meetings. Not long after she started working here, she became pregnant. After a short maternity leave, she returned to us. Once again, she sat in the green chair. She became pregnant with her second child. After he was born, she accepted a position at another church.
"We then hired Sue F___ as an associate pastor. She was also newly graduated and newly married. She sat in the green chair. She became pregnant. After a maternity leave, she came back to work. She sat in the green chair. She became pregnant again. She then accepted a postion at another church, where she still is today."
[He then tells nearly identical stories about two more female associate pastors. Newly married, green chair, pregnant. Maternity leave, green chair, pregnant.]
"Our next associate pastor was MaryJane I____. She wasn't married.
"We got rid of the green chair."
.
Yes, I know. What an exciting life we lead. Clubbing--church supper--almost the same, don't you know.
One of the speakers of the evening was Rev. O___. He was the pastor of the church for approximately forty of its fifty years, retiring just a few years ago. Personally, I was never part of his fan club, but I have to give credit where credit is due--that man can tell an anecdote. His reminiscences about his years with the church had everyone laughing. I found myself noticing that the anecdotes were mildly amusing in themselves, but that it was his timing and delivery that really elevated them.
Here is one of his tales: The Saga of the Green Chair
"We always gathered together for Monday morning staff meeting in a room where we had a sofa, an overstuffed upholstered chair, a wing chair, and a green upholstered chair--all mismatched, donated items. And just like each of you have a favorite pew you prefer to sit in on Sunday mornings, we each had a favorite seat. ______ and ______, the secretaries, always sat on the sofa. Roger U_____ (a long-time associate pastor) always headed straight for the overstuffed chair. I took the wing chair, and that left the green chair for the newest member of the staff.
"In 1982, Kate K____ joined our staff as our first female associate pastor. She was newly graduated from seminary school and newly married. As our newest staff member, she sat in the green chair for meetings. Not long after she started working here, she became pregnant. After a short maternity leave, she returned to us. Once again, she sat in the green chair. She became pregnant with her second child. After he was born, she accepted a position at another church.
"We then hired Sue F___ as an associate pastor. She was also newly graduated and newly married. She sat in the green chair. She became pregnant. After a maternity leave, she came back to work. She sat in the green chair. She became pregnant again. She then accepted a postion at another church, where she still is today."
[He then tells nearly identical stories about two more female associate pastors. Newly married, green chair, pregnant. Maternity leave, green chair, pregnant.]
"Our next associate pastor was MaryJane I____. She wasn't married.
"We got rid of the green chair."
.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-15 09:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-16 02:48 am (UTC)And hey, my life is even less exciting, so. :-)