Fire and brimstone (almost)

Sunday Martha and I went to church. First Presbyterian has been Martha's church home for many years. She has also sang in their choir for almost as many years. When we lived in Tallahassee, Vincent sang in the children's choir and the choristers (not always happily...but that's Vincent). I attended the Inquirers class with Martha for some time before switching to the Faith and Families class, which really made me feel at home. I always loved the services with the organ and the high church Scottish chants. I was looking forward to taking Martha to church since she hadn't been since her knee surgery.

We arrived at church early to give Martha time to walk at her own pace and to use the elevator. She didn't participate in choir, which I know can sometimes be difficult for her to let go of. When we arrived we noticed all the windows of the church were open and there was no air-conditioning (a mid-morning service in Florida in July necessitates air-conditioning). Was First Pres trying to be more ecologically correct? Was this a "Green" Sunday that we weren't aware off? Had the air-conditioner (old Bessy) finally died?

The story we were told was Brant, our pastor, had come to church early to practice his sermon. He turned on the air-conditioning as usual. As he read the scripture about the temple filling with smoke he thought he really could envision this, until looking around he realized the temple was filling with smoke. He rushed to turn the air-conditioning off, raise the windows to let out the smoke, and called the fire department. Needless to say, service was with the windows wide open and everyone sitting as close to a window as possible.

At church we talked to several people about another Martha at church. She had been friends of Martha's for years. She was very supportive of Vincent and I when we were at First Pres. She had had several strokes and had moved into an assisted living facility. Her daughters were hosting a birthday party for her at the assisted living facility.
After church (and lunch with Martha's friends) I took Martha to the party and had a chance to talk with several people from church. Unfortunately, the assisted living facility was a little warm also, especially at the end of the hall/reception area where the excellent carrot cake and punch were. While I talked with several people and reminisced about living in Tallahassee and attending First Pres I slowly melted. We didn't really have fire in brimstone but Tallahassee lived up to its sweltering humid reputation even though the hospitality and friendship warmly abounded.
-- Stephanie