moving along

Religious Services

There are Shabbat services listed but they are passenger run so I assume there is no Rabbi on board though they usually bring one on board for Passover.

There is a fellow passenger who is doing the nondenominational services on Sundays. He is a sweet man in his 70s I’d guess with a nice singing voice. The band pianist plays the music for the hymns which is a nice gesture on her part. The ship sets up an altar/podium set up and wires the minister so everyone can hear.

The scripture today was the prodigal son. I had heard a priest recently talk about this same passage so the different “takes” on it were interesting. This man likened the younger (prodigal) son to the tax collectors or sinners; the older to the Pharisees and scribes. The father is God. He pointed out that we all have aspects of both sons in our selves.

I went down to passenger services for the 3 newspapers: US, Canada, Britain. And to the library for Ed’s Sudoku and my crossword puzzles (if I get around to it and have the visual patience. Then I took a look at the “sales” in the atrium. They seem always to have something out that is a little different.

Harmony choir: For several years on cruises, musicians will pull together passengers to form a choir which then gives a performance after a few weeks of sailing. Once again, it is David Crathorne on this cruise who is I think the best of themall. So today they had their 45 min. concert with familiar tunes and hits. It is amazing to me how he can get such quality out of a disparate group. The ages ran the gamut from an 18 y o to well into their 80s. We have several folks under 30  on this cruise with parents, grandparents, or in-laws.

sGetting from here to there:

I have been surprised at the number of people who are using this cruise to avoid the long flights to Australia or Hong Kong. It seems ironic on the surface that we mind the jet lag and physicality of going west but don’t mind going back by plane.

Comic

He was good last night again. His father must have been a very funny guy as well. His comedy gives you a window into your own upbringing sometimes.