Feeling Free

At 8:00 nearly the whole congregation can fit at the altar rail.

When I don't have to usher or read the lesson at 10 o'clock, I like to attend the early service. It's quieter because there's no street noise at 8 a.m. The service is over in less than an hour due to the music portion being abbreviated, and fewer people are in attendance (the communion line is shorter).

Being done by nine makes the whole of Sunday feel free---to go on a day trip, to watch two NFL games instead of one, or meet someone for brunch. The disadvantage of going to early service is that one can't sleep late, but due to the biological changes wrought by age that rarely happens anyway.