THE MCJ

Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible. - Søren Kierkegaard

ANDREW SMITH, STOPPING BY A CHURCH ON A SNOWY EVENING

Whose church this is I surely know.
They think their bishop’s Rwandan though;
They will not see me stopping here
To change their locks before I go.

My limo driver thinks it queer
To strip the place sans warrant near.
My chancellor is very calm
He knows who judges here revere.

He gives an inventory list
And asks if there is something missed.
The only other sound’s the shout
Of reactionaries, all quite pissed.

Selling this land will earn a heap.
But I have a promise to Kate to keep,
And churches to seize before I sleep,
And churches to seize before I sleep.

Posted on 3/8/2008 4:50:41 AM , 16 comments

Submitted by Ken at 3/7/2008 2:56:32 PM

Oh! That's really good. Now, if we can only find the Randall Thompson setting of the original, I think an adaptation would make a nice podcast. Do you sing, Christopher?
Submitted by Robb at 3/7/2008 3:29:03 PM

You go too far sir. To parady the great Bobby Frost. Good tho.
Submitted by The Little Myrmidon_ at 3/7/2008 6:18:56 PM

Beverage alert! Beverage alert!
Submitted by robroy at 3/7/2008 6:50:35 PM

The good Dr. Witt will have a chuckle and a cry over this one.
Submitted by dwstroudmd at 3/7/2008 6:52:35 PM

Ah, if ECUSA/TEC/GCC could just affirm that good fences make good neighbors! -like they affirm seizing.
Submitted by Jeffersonian at 3/7/2008 7:31:13 PM

I laughed so I didn't cry.
Submitted by The Little Myrmidon at 3/7/2008 7:37:01 PM

I've just been over to Captain Yips' and his Bertie Wooster series is excellent. Christopher has a recurring rôle. Good stuff.
Submitted by BabyBlue at 3/7/2008 9:51:28 PM

Hyfrydol works pretty well. bb
Submitted by Ken at 3/7/2008 10:40:07 PM

Ok, if you want to do hymns, anything in the long meter (88.88) will work. Old 100th is fun, as is the Tallis Canon. I like Duke Street, too.

But Randall Thompson remains a sentimental favorite, for those of a certain age.

Submitted by BabyBlue at 3/8/2008 10:54:25 AM

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry - but I just couldn't resist. bb Or click on BabyBlue.
Submitted by Smurf Breath at 3/8/2008 11:18:30 AM

I prefer my version of the original:

"I think I know whose woods these are
His house is in the village thar."

Otherwise it sounds like it was written by Yoda.
Submitted by William Witt at 3/8/2008 12:45:25 PM

Thank you, Christopher and Babyblue, for an uncomfortable smile on a snowy gray Ambridge March day.
Submitted by Christopher Hathaway at 3/8/2008 3:06:07 PM

For Ozymadias' church.

I met a Christian of the ancient creed He said: A church once sound and orthodox Stands in the city, decked with dust and weed, Its windows dark and doors fixed with padlocks And placard whose authority decreed That parishes can never TEC depart, And 'piscopal this church will always stay. The narrow minds must chose to walk apart, For those who stay must pay obedience due. This Church will always make its point to say To all of reasoned faith “We Welcome You”. And silence reigned inside as in a grave As pointless pulpit faced an empty pew. Why come to churches if they will not save?

Submitted by Christopher Hathaway at 3/8/2008 3:14:10 PM

hmmmn.

the formatting didn't translate. It's clearer .

Submitted by Christopher Hathaway at 3/8/2008 3:16:47 PM

I meant here
Submitted by st. anonymous at 3/9/2008 10:47:36 AM

All Your Church Are Belong To Us!!
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