Compliments at Church

[thescot]

On Sunday I wore my kilt as per usual but with a different flair. Rather than the dress shirt and waist coat I was a little more "punk" as my wife would say and wore steel toe 8" black boots, my album's logo t-shirt, and a cool black belt with a gothic cross on the buckle. I got a lot of nice compliments on the kilt. One guy who hadn't been in in a while asked what the special occasion was and I replied, "I wear it every Sunday". One of the youth group asked if I was Irish and I told him about my Scottish grandmother. He just said, "cool". and many of the young ladies in the teen youth group have said they like it. Even the older folks have complimented me on my attire (when wearing my argyle jacket). This church has been pretty wonderful about things like that. Appearances are not as important as what's inside a person and they love even the "weirdos" like me like family. In central Pennsylvania being welcomed with open arms by the older crowd in spite of being "different" seems rare but this is a wonderful congregation.

Just thought I'd share something positive,
Hugh

Glad to hear that you were well received.

[piperdbh]

That's assuming you care what the old geezers think. (I, for one, believe you should, but I am not in charge. . . . I probably should be in charge, but, oh, never mind.)

Maybe you could put in for a transfer with your Bishop.

[J_Mimbs]

Church is a good place to find acceptance up to a point, so why not make it easy on yourself, and maybe even your dad. I suspect your point is not to make a point, but to wear the kilt, so--again, for what it's worth coming from an old geezer--why not be conservative to start. You can always dress down later.

Thank you for your wisdom. Yes I do care what the "geezers" think; not only was that how I was raised, but they pay my father's salary and helped put me through college. And you're right, I'm not trying to make a statement. My long hair does that by itself, although again I keep it neat and pulled back. No one had complained in a while. Once I get something nicer than my SWK Economy I'd love to pair it with a nice tweed jacket and wear that to a church function.

[Jack Daw]

When I was a kid in the mid-1960s, even the children had to dress in suits and dresses. I'm glad that has relaxed (at least for many denominations) to regular street clothes so that no one feels unwelcome or uncomfortable just b/c of the way they are dressed.

[FatherWilliam57]

And you're right, I'm not trying to make a statement. My long hair does that by itself, although again I keep it neat and pulled back.

I made the same statement (ponytail) for about 8 years...and I AM the pastor! (But I understand your caution...I always worry about my three kids being in the congregational "fishbowl.")

[J_Mimbs]

I made the same statement (ponytail) for about 8 years...and I AM the pastor! (But I understand your caution...I always worry about my three kids being in the congregational "fishbowl.")

I have long hair mostly because my father wore his long for a while. And we talk about living in a fishbowl as well. I grew a beard while away at school one semester, and when I returned for Christmas several older members of the congregation remarked that I must be too poor to afford a razor; I smiled politely and reminded them that my father wears a full beard as well. I can only imagine what a stir a kilt might cause if I wasn't careful!

[Bugbear]

When I was a teenager, I went to a Methodist church for a few years, and a group of Tongan folks, if I remember correctly, would sometimes visit services, coming over from their church down the road. The men, when going to their church, would wear some sort of unbifurcated garment that I think was knee-length, but not at the visit to the Methodist church. I just remember it being discussed after services once, but not the details; it was over a couple of decades back at this point.

* Did a Google, and it was probably a "tupenu." CDNSushi's post brought the memory up to the surface. Like I said they wore that to their church, but not to the Methodist church when visiting.

[FatherWilliam57]

I have long hair mostly because my father wore his long for a while. And we talk about living in a fishbowl as well. I grew a beard while away at school one semester, and when I returned for Christmas several older members of the congregation remarked that I must be too poor to afford a razor; I smiled politely and reminded them that my father wears a full beard as well. I can only imagine what a stir a kilt might cause if I wasn't careful!

I hear ya. At the time I had an older gentleman after worship ask me "What's with the ponytail?" I asked him if the length of my hair would keep me out of the Kingdom. He said no. I asked if the length of my hair would keep him out of the Kingdom. He said no. So I asked him, "Then why are we standing here talking about the length of my hair? My wife has lunch waiting for me." His response was "Humpfff!" (I obviously just didn't understand his point...but no one in that congregation ever raised the issue of the pastor having a ponytail again.) Come to think of it, Jesus had long hair...and a beard...and wore unbifurcated garments...hmmm.... Hang in there!

[J_Mimbs]

Come to think of it, Jesus had long hair...and a beard...and wore unbifurcated garments...hmmm.... Hang in there!

Indeed! My father wears his beard long; he could pass for Amish if he wanted to. Sometimes little old ladies have expressed some displeasure and he's dealt with them in a similar way. He says, "My wife likes it and I go home to her, not to you." Or something like that. Probably nicer than I'd say it anyway.

[FatherWilliam57]

In my first year of seminary, at my training parish, I had grown a beard. One of the older gentlemen voiced his displeasure at the door following worship one day. The widow of the previous pastor in that place, who was well-loved and respected, piped up: "Kissing a man without a beard is like eggs without salt!" No one fussed at me anymore, bless her heart! (I still have no idea where that saying comes from or even what it means...but it worked! Anyone else ever hear of it?)