Sundays with Me and Paul . . .

lillian

Come walk with me . . .
past busy city intersections
into Little Italy,
past salumeris and bakeries too.

Now look up . . .
at that gleaming white spire
atop the red brick edifice.
Boston’s Old North,
Paul Revere’s church.
National Historical Park Site.
Active Episcopal congregation.

So glad you’re joining us today!
Allow me to seat you inside.
Are you three today?
Yes, amazing to see . . .
all original white box pews.
And where are you from?

How about Pew #25?
Owned in 1759,
by Captain Daniel Malcom,
a Son of Liberty.
Yes, in those days,
wealthy people bought their pews.
And note the plaque inside,
December 29, 1912
Theodore Roosevelt
He did! He sat right there.

Now do look behind you . . .
four wooden angel figures
in the organ loft.
“Gifts” to the church in 1745,
from a privateer –
a legal pirate –
“taken” from a French ship!

And look here . . . .in your bulletin . . .
right after the Offertory.
See the words to the Doxology?
We sing that, and then . . .
what I love best at Old North.
The next words you see there . . .
final verse to My Country Tis of Thee.

Our fathers’ God, to thee,
Author of liberty,
To thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light.
Protect us by they might,
Great God, our King!

The organ booms it out
and everyone sings . . .
oh how we sing!
Chills down your back!

After the service,
listen . . .
oldest bells in North America,
cast in Gloucester, England in 1744,
hung in Boston in 1745,
will be pealing away!

Six bell ringers pull on ropes
in mathematical sequences
from high up in that famous spire . . .
where the lantern was waved
April 18, 1775.
You remember . . .
“one if by land, two if by sea” . . .

So there you have it!
Nice to have you join me,
on my almost-every-Sunday walk
to Old North . . .
hallowed ground
hallowed place
in American history.

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It’s Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets. Sarah is hosting and asks us to take her and our readers on a journey that is very familiar to us. Most Sundays of the year when we are in Boston, we walk to the North End (Little Italy) to Old North (actually Christ Church) and usher for the 11 AM service. Top photo was taken last Christmas; second photo was taken after the Patriots’ Day Service, the one night a year the lantern is carried again to the top of the tower/spire to shine as it did in 1775. Every Sunday, we literally have visitors from across the globe.

27 thoughts on “Sundays with Me and Paul . . .”

  1. sarahsouthwest October 23, 2018 / 3:45 pm

    Wow, Lillian, what history! I love the way the description is interspersed with your comments and emotions. You made it come alive. I felt the chills, too!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian October 30, 2018 / 8:51 am

      Thanks, Sarah! At my daughter’s doing some childcare so just catching up with these comments. Glad you enjoyed.

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      Reply
  4. Glenn Buttkus October 23, 2018 / 5:31 pm

    My wife just returned from a trip to Boston, she loved the Freedom Trail and all the Paul Revere lore and history. She did the fall foliage tour. Your sharing of the Church was wonderful!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian October 30, 2018 / 8:53 am

      Was being an active grandma these past few days so just catching up on comments here. Glad you enjoyed. Yes….this time of year as my husband and I usher at Sunday’s 11:00 service, we often welcome “leaf peepers” to our church! 🙂

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    • lillian October 30, 2018 / 8:54 am

      Lots of history in this town — in addition to the 2018 World Series Champs! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Christine Bolton October 30, 2018 / 9:35 am

        Yay! Boston deserved it. They were amazing this year 🙂👍

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  7. Frank Hubeny October 23, 2018 / 7:52 pm

    Beautiful church and well described. I like these lines: “hallowed ground
    hallowed place”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian October 30, 2018 / 8:55 am

      Thank you, Frank. Have been out of town being a grandma for a bit so just getting to these comments. Glad you enjoyed.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    • lillian October 30, 2018 / 8:58 am

      It is indeed quite special to worship there every Sunday and especially to usher and welcome so many from all over the globe. Lots and lots of history in this space.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Mary (tqhousecat) October 24, 2018 / 8:54 pm

    I’ve seen the church but never have been inside. I worked in Chinatown in the early 80s, Mass Rehab Commission. Boston has such a rich history. Lovely poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • lillian October 30, 2018 / 8:59 am

      So much history here. We keep finding more to do in the area even after living here 21 years!

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  12. lynn__ October 24, 2018 / 9:36 pm

    It’s wonderful that the historic church still has an active congregation! I appreciate the interesting details of your Sunday journey, Lillian 🙂

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