Jul 18, 2011

Church Pick-Up Lines

I love being married. There are myriad reasons for this not the least of which is that I'd be a lousy single priest. I know plenty of clergy who pull this off beautifully but I'd be terrible at it. I can't imagine a guy in a clerical collar gets many hits on match.com and the whole clergy dating/boundary thing would be a drag. Plus getting set up with every parishioner's granddaughter would get old.

Nonetheless church is one of the best places for singles to meet one another. I'm not equating coffee hour with a meat market at a hip club but it's a good place for people of faith to connect and critique bad liturgy. So as a public service I decided to share my top ten church pick-up lines. Use with discretion as they work, in the words of Billy Dee Williams, "every time."

I've kept these as clean as possible so if you have others to add, please do so in this spirit. In other words, please don't go there. And if you're offended by the whole concept, rather than complain to me please log onto my archnemesis Father Scott Gunn's blog which is less edgy than mine and not nearly as interesting or humorous. (Today is his first day as Executive Director of Forward Movement Publications so I thought I'd get in a cheap shot while he's not paying attention).

Here we go:

1. "Excuse me, is this pew taken?"

2. "Kneel around here often?"

3. "It's almost time for communion. Can I buy you a drink?"

4. "What do you think Paul meant when he said, 'Greet everyone with a holy kiss?'

5. "If I told you that you were wearing the world's hottest cotta would you hold it against me?"

6. "This sermon's terrible, how about we 'continue the liturgy' in the parish hall?"

7. "You might not be able to tell but I'm the best Lay Minister around."

8. "You want to stick around for the laying on of hands?"

9. "You were a thurifer at your old church? Great! How would like to join our Swinger's Guild?"

10. And if the bishop is visiting: "Is that a crozier in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

So while dating as clergy might have worked if I were the "dashing young curate" the middle-aged rector is a whole different pot of incense. Time to go hug my wife.

And finally, while we're on the topic, below is Thomas Hardy's 1835 poem "Church Romance" for your reading pleasure.

She turned in the high pew, until her sight
Swept the west gallery, and caught its row
Of music-men with viol, book, and bow
Against the sinking sad tower-window light.

She turned again; and in her pride's despite
One strenuous viol's inspirer seemed to throw
A message from his string to her below,
Which said: "I claim thee as my own forthright!"

Thus their hearts' bond began, in due time signed.
And long years thence, when Age had scared Romance,
At some old attitude of his or glance
That gallery-scene would break upon her mind,
With him as minstrel, ardent, young, and trim,
Bowing "New Sabbath" or "Mount Ephraim."

6 comments:

Bob Chapman said...

What is your assumption that a person who owns a crozier is a male?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP9k0WK4zl4

OK. I admit I was the Bishop's Chaplain in that video. But it was not my crozier. Thanks be to God.

I think this is a better way to spot bishop.

http://youtu.be/dKiHceeEdHo

Evelyn said...

Nice That Fr. Gunn is the new Exec Dir of Forward Movement. Maybe we can get a discount on our lot of brochures. And re the chronically single, of which I am an expert, this article assumes that lots of single people go to church. hah! Expert again! Lots of times it's impossible to tell if someone actually is single because lots of spouses don't go to church. So one finds onself looking at a person's left hand a lot...or in my church, the right hand. Church seems like a good idea but...

Solange said...

Hasn't worked for me yet. So far, it's been couples, gay men, single women and single men who are more than a decade out of my mid-50s age range. But I am ever hopeful.

Miss J. said...

1st] Please tell me where I can find some straight single employed educated men of the GenX variety that are not hard on the eyes within the Episcopal Church . . .

2nd] The Crozier line would only work in certain dioceses.

3rd] I watched Bob's posted video with the sound off, but just by the design of the Crozier, I'm guessing that's the Bishop of Olympia.

Meredith Gould said...

My version of Triumphalism: I'm marrying one of "your" single priests.

Bob Chapman said...

That video has the retired Bishop Suffragan of Olympia, the Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera.

This is our current Bishop Diocesan, the Rt. Rev. Gregory Rickel, with his crozier. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rrchapman/5960860279/in/photostream