Gaudete Sunday--in a cappella

Today's weather here this morning was icy on the trees, but the streets were passable, so we went to church as usual.

When we got in church we realized that there was no electricity. That meant no organ. We quickly chose alternative chant-like hymns in place of the ones that were rather organ-dependent that we thought we were going to sing.

Father comes to church, lights candles and we sing the Mass. It wasn't as obviously "upbeat" as one might expect for Gaudete Sunday, but, after all, it *is* still Advent. It was quietly joyful, like Our Lady must have been in anticipating the Birth of her Savior.

I thought it was wonderful, frankly. Even my husband, the organist, admits that "we should do this on purpose every once in a while."