Welcome home

(1976 March 21)

[After a vacation in Madison] it seemed so good to be setting out [for church] with Bill Birkett - and picking up Portia - Church is at 10:30 now [with new priest[. The first thing Father Maier did on coming out was to kneel at a prayer desk, in center aisle, back to us, and say the Litany responsively. Then the first hymn etc. I was surprised to see Jean and Ward get up to the Lecturn and read the lessons. At last the announcements - pray for this bishop, that church; note so & so - - - then "And now, for the very first time to my knowledge, since I have come among you here at St. Barnabas in Richland Center, we have with us attending church this morning - Polly Kay." !!! At this point no doubt the acolyte would have pulled the bell rope had it not been outside. - Apart from this, I did receive many warm greetings of various degrees of heartiness from many people, all making it nice to be back.