In which I provide many definitions for those not familiar with the extensive vocabulary that comes with being Mormon (it can be confusing).
Our ward is changing boundaries next week--3 wards are turning into 4. For the uninitiated, LDS congregations, or wards, are divided geographically. Sometimes the geographic boundaries change, as when a ward becomes too small, or in our case, wards become too big. Because ours is a pretty social culture with a plethora of meetings, this can be a big deal if you have been in a ward for several years. (which we have not--only 3 years--but I still think it's a big deal.)
We are finding out details this coming Sunday but we learned about it last Sunday. An announcement like that is basically an invitation to speculate all week long. I love this kind of gossip because it doesn't hurt anyone's feelings (at least, I hope not) but it is still interesting. Where will we be? When will it happen? Matt says I am rumor-mongering...I suppose I am. I kind of want to start making up "facts" and spreading them around just to make things even more interesting. I kind of have already, actually, because I am almost convinced that my family will be placed in a totally different stake and I have mentioned that to a few people. This is the kind of rumor that Matt accuses me of mongering. Alas, the mongering goes on.
I am actually happy about the notion of making new friends, since many things will remain the same--joy school, the unofficial Relief Society listserv, play dates, running in to people at the grocery store or library; really not a ton will change anyway since I have gotten used to never talking to anyone at church outside of the Primary. I do feel slightly guilty about skipping our last quarterly Enrichment meeting. Theo will probably be confused about nursery at first, and sad if his favorite friends are missing.
But there's one really potentially sad thing--I wouldn't have believed it at the beginning of the summer when I was scared out of my wits at my new calling, but I am totally sad at the prospect of not being the Primary music leader anymore. Who would have thought? But it's a sad prospect. Especially after the kids were absolutely adorable in the Primary program 2 days ago. They did great. I LOVE our ward's Primary kids. I can't tell you how much they make me laugh and/or tear up. Even if I were still the music leader in whatever ward, I would miss whatever kids are missing.
Although I will miss some friends or many friends, since I am almost positive I will be split up from some or many of them--geographically we are at the very edge of the ward--I am not too worried about being completely left out--as in, all of my friends being in one ward and me being in another with a set of women who are already friends with each other. I figure (hope) that we will make friends wherever we are. Maybe that is bold of me, but it seems to have held true so far.
The number one thing, I have decided, that I am dreading: 1:00 church. What if the ward I am in meets at 11:00 for 2009, meaning it's assigned to 1:00 church for 2010? This would mean three years in a row of afternoon church (since 4 wards will be meeting in one building, as I understand it, the 4th ward will be meeting at 2:30). If we are assigned to a 1:00 ward for next year, I hope I can find the positives in that schedule. Because at the moment I can't really think of any.
I actually would love 3:00 church though...I mean compared to 1:00. Then little kids could still nap. I'm sure they took my opinion into consideration when drawing up new boundaries. Why wouldn't they?
Whatever, I'll be happy with whatever. I just wanted to talk about it some more...clearly I have nothing better to do.
12 comments:
Ooh, big changes. I dread those kind of changes. I like to stay stagnant. I don't think that word should have such a negative connotation.
But, I can tell you from experience, 1:00 church bite the big one. It never fails that right after sacrament, Gretta is ready for a nap, and will not sleep anywhere but her bed, so Sean has to bring her home so she can nap. This causes lots of questions from the Elders, of course, but what else can we do? He would just end up wrestling her for 2 hours, and I can't take her, because I too am the music leader.
My prayer is that next years 9:00 schedule makes us all happy campers because then I can get a nap in, too!
Best of luck! Let us know what happens.
ummm this sort of reads like a madlib.
There is nothing quite like speculating about changes in the wards. When I was 12, they divided our ward - and I raised my hand against it!! (It didn't make any difference though!) But the friends who went to the other ward - well, I don't think I ever saw them again - back then the boundaries were quite far-reaching.
And as for 1:00 church - well, I've done it in the past - like when I was nursery leader, pregnant with Hannah - it was not pretty!! So I will wish for 9:00 for you for next year!!
And I was wondering how your Primary program went - ours is not until November 22nd.
I'm with you Eliza. I keep trying to figure out how it will all work out.
By the way, great job on the primary program. You did such a great job with the kids.
We did this back in January and there was tons of speculating. We ended up in the same ward, but with weird boundaries that took away some of the people who lived closer to us than the people who were put into the ward. It was a little strange. And it is still an adjustment for alot of the people whose ward changed. (and for some of us who stayed and lost friends) It will be an interesting sunday for you, that's for sure.
I have a question about your Mormon lingo. If you are adding a ward to your church in the same building how come that would push you into another stake? Isn't a stake for the whole city area? Just wondering.
Pretty much the only thing that I want to be doing at 1pm on a Sunday is taking a nap so hopefully you can go at 9am and that will make your Mondays easier.
I heard about this! I'm all excited to find out the juicy details, even though we now live 3000 miles away. I hope you will share the results when you find out!
We had a ward split and another ward form before we moved out there to Virginia. We were part of the new ward. I kept my calling in Primary (oddly enough - NOT the music leader), but we lost 2 of our counselors. It was just the president and me - the secretary.
I heard the program was fabulous! It really is a great primary to work with - such good kids. I hope you are able to continue to enjoy your calling, but if not - I'm sure the Lord will get you back in there one day. Once someone in a new ward finds out you've done it, you're bound to end up there again!
Dan says we are moving if we get 1:00 church again. We have gone to 1:00 for a majority if not all of the last 4 years. It is an insane time...especially for the little ones. Hopefully we switch to the 9:00 time then next year it is 11. That would be best case scenario. Except since we most likely won't be in the same ward....it will be a toss up to see who wins the coveted time, right? Best of the luck to you and I cross my fingers for the same thing! :)
We were lucky enough to move into our ward right AFTER they had a big combining. It was great for us since everyone was a stranger and we knew nothing about the previous wards. I do know that it can be a struggle for others, but so many benefits come from changing things up.
I am really sorry about 1 pm church. We have had 10 am (not to keep rubbing it in) for the last 3 years and it is unlikely to change since we only share the building with the singles ward. That is motivation enough for me to never, ever leave this area!
We've been speculating all week as well. It's good, clean, gossip...the best kind!! Maybe they'll send me back to your ward. I know 1:00 church is rough. Here's what I remember doing when the boys were younger: Feed them a good breakfast, then put them in church clothes for morning nap (11:00), then wisk them straight out of bed and into the car. I would prepare a lunch (chicken nuggets & cheese sticks) before hand and then after Sacrament itself was over we would go into the kitchen and eat our lunch. I don't seem to remember too many meltdowns because they got a good nap before church. Good luck! See you Sunday...maybe!
I love the gossip too, but not as much as Brady! I agree that the worst part of it would be getting stuck with 1:00 church again. Can't wait til Sunday.
I hope I'm not sinning when I say that church wasn't made for mothers. The time seems to always be wrong.
And rumor-mongering is a lot of fun when it's harmless. Our wards got switched around last year and I accidentally spread some false information because I thought it was true. Then I had to call and apologize because I had acted like I knew everything when I actually knew nothing.
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