Come on Baby Light my Fire...

Nothing like a little fire and flammable objects to enliven a church service! My darling son was an acolyte last weekend. However, the decorating committee didn't seem to take a few things into account. My son and the other acolyte are short. Short as in can't see the tops of the candles to know whether they've been lit or extinguished. Short as in barely taller than the altar.

The decorating committee also didn't think about the decorations they chose in context. There were 7 fat, lit pillar candles once the acolytes got some assistance lighting the candles they couldn't see. The decorations were beautiful, loopy, bundles of kindling! Yikes!!!!!! All of the sticks/vines curved up very near the flames! What were they thinking???? What were they doing???? Playing with fire????

Ok, no fire occurred during the service thankfully, but I know the four acolyte parents and the congregation members who were paying attention were on the edge of their seats during the acolyte action. The extinguishing of the flames was a bit tricky. The two acolytes were finally able to get all of them out except one whose wax had melted in such a convoluted way that the flame couldn't be seen at all. The two acolytes were still deliberating (motioning back and forth in front of the altar about who should do what and how) and trying to get that last flame out even after the pastor and assistant pastor had processed back down the aisle and the choir was finished with the benediction. Finally, (thank God), the choir director came to their rescue extinguishing the remaining flame and they were able to quickly zip down the aisle. We were so thankful our son was able to supply the congregation with such suspense! Stephen King watch out!