On sunday morning, Amma woke me up early.
“Wake up Nina, you have to go to church.”
“Which church?” I asked her. I thought to myself, oh God, please, not the Orthodox church. I don’t want to stand still for three hours.
“We are going to the Kottayam CSI (church of south India) church.”
“Is it a Jacobite(orthodox) church?”
“No it is Anglican.”
“Like the church in Penang we used to go?”
“Yes, the same type.”
I looked at the picture of Jesus praying in Gethsemene, that is hung on the wall.(sans glass!!!)
‘Not bad Lord, not bad at all, you heard my prayer. Thank you Jesus for saving me from standing for 3 long hours.’ I thanked Jesus silently.
I like the Anglican service. It is short and sweet. Unlike the Orthodox church service that goes on and on. There is no orthodox church in Penang. So we used to attend service At the St. George Church in Penang. While Appa and Amma attended the service, we would attend the sunday school. The best part of the sunday school was at the end of the lesson, Mrs Yew, my teacher would give us, shortbread cookies she baked herself. Her cookies used to melt in my mouth.
I had so many friends there. We used to play hide and seek near the mahagony tree. I wondered what happend to all my friends? Where are they now? Would I ever see them again? Would they remember me and all the promises we made? ‘Friends forever, neither tide,nor distance would ever break our friendship!’.
“Get ready fast Nina and stop dreaming.” Amma was yelling
I quickly got up from my bed to get ready.
“Do I need a scarf?”
“No, Anglican’s are not fanatic. Just because you don’t cover your head, you don’t die and go to hell.”
“Ok, Ok”. I was glad. I didn’t want to cover my head. I can never keep the scarf properly on my head. I find it very hot and my head sweat whenever I tie a scarf on my head.
“Akkachi, is the breakfast ready?” I heard Amma asking Akkachi
‘Breakfast? You are not supposed to eat breakfast before going to church. We have to take communion on an empty stomach in the orthodox church.
I rushed to kitchen
“Are we eating breakfast Amma?”
“Yeah”
“But we are not supposed to, right?”
“That was your stupid father’s stupid rules. What would happen if you eat breakfast and then go to church? You won’t die, will you?” She looked at me and asked
“No we don’t die” I wanted to ask her ‘ just because Appa isn’t here, does it mean that we should do whatever we want?’. I didn’t want to fight in the morning.
Akkachi made Appam with stew. I didn’t want to eat breakfast. I wanted to follow Appa’s rules. Nina listens to her father, she never breaks his rules.But Akkachi doesn’t make Appam everyday. I looked at the Appam on the table. One full plate of white soft, fluffy Appam with beautiful lace edge, that would soon vanish in to my sisters tummy.
“Akkachi, the Appam is very soft today. You make the best Appam in the whole wide world.” Sally spoke
” Can I have coconut milk with sugar instead of stew?” Liza asked Akkachi
“Ok, I will make the coconut milk for you.”
“Akkachi I also want coconut milk with sugar.” I couldn’t resist the temptation anymore. Anyway Appa isn’t here and he won’t know that I ate my breakfast before going to church. I will follow his rules next sunday.
At the church, Amma covered her head with the end of her saree. I looked at her trying to understand what exactly she told me earlier. I couldn’t understand her logic. I don’t have to cover my head, but she covers her head.
When the bell rang. The Choir memebers stood in a line. They looked stunning in their red Choir albs. The boys, followed by men walked first, then the girls in their white skirt and blouse followed. All the girls wore white veil. Everyone was singing and looking at the choir members while they walked to the front of the church. I watched the girls revelling in their role as the most important members of the church. I wanted to be part of that.
I waited for the service to be over to confide in my mother that I want to join the choir. As soon as the service was over I asked Amma,
“Amma can I join the choir here?”
One of the ladies sitting next to Amma, overheard me and before Amma could say anything, she spoke
“That will be a good idea, You need to see Achakuttichayan. He is the choir master. Come with me, I will introduce you to him.”
I looked at Amma and at the aunty.
“Ok” Amma agreed
I walked silently with the aunty.
“What is your name?” She asked me
“Nina.”
“Are you new here.”
“yes.”
“My name is Molly, I am the women’s club director. My daughters Anju and Manju are choir members.”
“Anju, come here.” I saw Aunty Molly calling out to a girl.
“Yes Amma”, She came running to her mother
“Did you see Achakuttichayan?”
“He was here, just a while ago Amma. I don’t know where he went.”
“This is Nina, she is joining the choir. Will you take her to Achakuttichayan?”
“Come, let us go and find him”. She held my hands and together we walked. I was scared a bit at the same time I was happy. I am going to join the choir and it really felt good.
We found Achakuttichayan standing hear the church entrance speaking to someone. He wore a white mundu(sarong) and a long white Jubba. He was bald and old. He would make a nice santa.. I thought
“Achakuttichaya” Anju called him “This is Nina, she wants to join the choir.”
He looked at me and grinned a toothless sweet smile.
“Ofcourse you can, Stay for the choir practice today.”
I ran to my mother who was busy talking to all the women.
“Amma, I have to stay back today and attend the choir practice. You can go home on your own. I will come back home on my own.”
“Ok”
I was glad that Amma won’t be around and I will get new friends. It was a new start for me.
Now you are taking me back to my 9 years in the convent school
Churches play a huge part in bringign up a child. Hope this chrch had a good impact on u.
I have fond memories of church choir..and when Christmas came, it was all the more joyous. Carolling was pure delight for me. There was just magic in the air – something that mere words could not explain. And we sang like nobody’s business all over KL ! LOL
Hope you too have fond memories with this experience.
tho I am a hindu, I used to be part of a choir at church. My friends were mostly christians and my parents did not mind at all as long as I was doing something constructive….brings back memories
wow, u have so vivid memories of your childhood.
is this blog about your childhood ?
do you miss something now or do you love to rejoice in the old past ?
i am a little intruged by your posts, so am asking
-ATG
nice post, took me back also when I was in the choir and went to church.I am glad amma let u join the choir.
Tahts nice time to be there!.. its fun!… good..
I attended my friends wedding in a Jacobite chruch. It was excruciatingly long 🙂
Carolling was fun and I have had my stint as a choir girl.
I hv always hated going to a church.. The only thing I liked abt it was to sing in the choir..
I used to hate going to our Jacobite church. Luckily my parents were very considerate and never imposed it on me. Only during our twice annual trips to the native place did we have to go to the church. (It made the grandparents happy.) Back in Trivandrum, I used to go to Sunday school in a Mar Thoma church. So I was really jealous of them because we had to stand the whole time. Also could never understand why parts of the Service in our churches had to be in Suriyani.
Hello,
I just found out your blog through Rose’s. I skimmed through your previous posts and man, you’re one great writer! Many times, I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I feel terribly sorry for your past and I can imagine how painful it must have been. I’m glad that you’re able to pull it through with so much optimism. Love your writing! Keep it up and stay strong 🙂
wow!wish someone would take me in a choir right now too,though i can only croak!i have always had this burning desire to learn how to sing but I just don’t know how to
🙁
this sounds exciting and would love to here some choir stories.
Nice-cool-calm post !! feel a bit nostalgic.
Anyway your post triggered my latest post. “Food for -scarf- thoughts”
http://yasj.blogspot.com/2006/07/food-for-scarf-thoughts.html
This is neither reply to your post nor offend you.
Appam, coconut milk and sugar…OMG!! That was my favorite, yummy!!!!
I think that you don’t need to cover your head because you are just 11 years.
Thank you Jesus for saving me from standing for 3 long hours!!
Lol!!!
I remember a funny incident during catechism class when a guy asked whether Jesus used Fevicol to stick the ear!!(He was teaching the betrayal part of the new testament)..These 10 year old kids were getting weird imaginations!!
On a serious note..
Lovely post…nostalgic..
me having a love hate relationship with god!!!
karthaave, paavam pallikkaar! 🙂
Chandu: That for sure was the good old days eh?
Thanu:It did..It was a good church
Cynthia: ofcourse..Caroll sessions with cakes and other goodies was the reason I went through the practise sessions
Shankari: Although I am a Christian I was always never turned away in any temples in India/Malaysia.. I wish people just understand the fact that we all could ‘live and let live’
Anil: I actually wrote my grandmother’s story.. which was also my story.. as we had so much in common.. Between the age of 11 till 16 I never once saw her although she was just 30 mints by bus from where I stayed. right now i am blogging that period.
I don’t miss my childhood..but there is a need to remember those periods and write it down.. Don’t know why I feel that way.
Starrynights: Many of us would have good memories of the church
Sujit: it was super fun.. singing the choir during the wedding..during christmas…
Silverine: agree 100%.. jacobite service is long and never ending..It was nothing but torture..
Rose: I hated the jacobite service, loved the anglican service..( ini ippam yacoba karu enne kollan varum!)
Mathew: Same same.. Ammachi insisted on us attending the service every time we were in Chengannur.. I too don’t understand why we have to cling to syriac version still!!!!
Writers creek: thank you for visiting my blog…
Maya: If i can sing… u can too..( BTW.. Whenever the choir master came near me.. I only lipped the song..cause i didn’t want to go for a voice training!!)
YSAJ: Thanks.. Saw the link.. Cool
Jac: God is merciful and kind… you think he is bothered if you cover your head or not??
Mathew: That is a good thought eh.. Fevicol ano upyogichathu.. Pavam teacher
Lg: adi kollum.. pavam Nina nnu parayunnathinu pakaram.. pallikkare pavam vecho??
ive always found church choirs create absolutely wonderful talent – n carol singing oh wow – just beautiful
Aaiyyo! Aaiyyo! Odikkooo.. :))
Me belong to Marthoma church.. Dats similar to Jacobite service i gues.. Never been to an Anglican service.. Me not very religious you see.. Its ironical esp since I used to be a main figure in the church choir and even used to teach at Sunday school.. But it stemmed out of my luv for music and children rather than religion..
~grin~
Makes me laugh when i think of it now..
:)))
..Me
You said God is dead.