A Good Time and a Brief Beef

Today was my church's Fiftieth Anniversary, and we had a fantastic celebration. The day began with a Ceremonious High Mass (i.e. really fancy church service), using the same liturgy and Bible readings that were used for the first Sunday service 50 years ago. A parishoner even wrote a whole new set of service music for the occasion! Then, in the afternoon was a carnival for the kids, as well as singing, dancing, and karate demonstrations (our pastor wrote his own Christian karate curriculum - woah, alliteration - so karate is v. important). Then, in the evening we had a spaghetti dinner, a silent auction, and a live auction.
I guess there's nothing particularly remarkable in the events - typical church-picnic-style activities. But, as with anything else, it is the People and their faithfulness that made today wonderful. And, I have to say this for the people of my church, they have Joy. - I think that was something that was very often missing from my church growing up. Oh, we were faithful, allright, faithful, and dutiful, and rigid, and almost dead. There was rarely joy or life in our giving. - But today, the wine flowed, and the babies cooed, and everyone laughed as our (slightly tipsy?) auctioneer/parishoner and his wife paraded around the auction items, giving their all to make today a success. I love the spontaneous laughter, the hilarious comments, the warm embrace of Community that I recieve when I'm there.
Happy Birthday, Blessed Sacrament!

(ok, now the beef:
So, there's this couple that's newly engaged at church. Oh how nice for them! We're all very happy, I'm sure. However, oh dear God, can you please STOP KISSING EACH OTHER IN CHURCH???? Ok, granted, I might just be a prude. But this ain't no peck on the cheek, people. This is a long, drawn out, smuckering smooch two feet from my face. ummm, ick. Because, seriously, can we not get creative? Can we not employ the strategies that other young couples have discovered throughout the millenia? - The touch on the cheek, the caress of the hair, the air kiss, or even holding hands! (Ok, here's where I might be a prude: holding hands in front of me in public kind of makes me uncomfortable too. Like, not some people walking down the street or anything, but if we're trying to have a conversation and you're holding hands and making eyes at your significant other - no thanks!) For gosh sakes, go make out in the car if you have to, but don't make out at the table with all of us sitting around, while the speaker is talking! Because that's just wrong. - Please, oh, please, may they get married soon, so that hopefully this will be taken care of in the bedroom, and Not in the pew.)