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To
Stand or to Kneel? |
The Prayer Book is a wondrous tool.
Liturgically, it sets the rule.
But it sometimes makes it tough
When it doesn't say enough.
In the Eucharistic Prayer,
There is not enough help there.
'Cause it gives two ways to go.
Stand or kneel: who's to know?
Do I stand or do I kneel?
Is it up to how I feel?
How to tell which posture fits?
Maybe I should simply sits?
It can make me feel so dumb
To be E-pis-co-pal-i-an.
Maybe I should not be proud
And find a less aerobic crowd.
Here's a principle to heed
If you're looking for a lead:
(If you're not, ignore this cue,
And pray the way you always do.)
Rite I says to kneel or stand.
(Kneel preferred, but not commanded.)
Rite II puts that in reverse:
Stand or kneel (Note: stand is first).
Rite I: You may want to kneel,
Rite II: Standing has appeal.
But here's the deal,
it seems to me.
We don't all have to agree.
Some can only pray on knees.
Some must stand to make their pleas.
The bottom line, as I see it,
Whichever stance you choose, so be it.
The thing to stress, I would say,
Is that you've found this place to pray.
If you kneel with folded hands,
Don't worry if your neighbor stands.
If you're standing and next door,
Your neighbor has just hit the floor,
(Or if you stand but wonder who
sits behind deprived of view),
Keep right on standing.
It's okay. It was the early church's way.
Kneeling has its precedence.
It specially helps with penitence.
Relax and worship as seems best.
Some will kneel. Stand the rest.
The thing that matters most, it seems,
To the rector, is the dream
That worship can be rich and deep,
That sermons will not make you sleep,
That if you stand or kneel in place
You'll meet God here in this space.
We're like a great big family.
We differ, and that makes us see
That while this fine point we discuss,
The main thing is that God loves us.
Copyright 1998 by Jay Sidebotham for St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Visit our website at http://www.stlukesdurham.org