As often happens in marriage, compromises occur. Such a compromise has landed me in a church denomination in which I was not raised. I have grown to love my church, and it is one of my favorite places to be. My husband agrees it is a perfect fit that accommodates both our backgrounds.

In the South, it is very important where you go to church. Tradition is crucial to us, and we want our children learning the same Bible stories, making the same toilet paper tube crafts and singing the B-I-B-L-E song just like we did when we were little. It’s vital for them to not only know the words to the collegiate fight song, but the Doxology as well.

We know that church isn’t a museum for saints — it’s a hospital for sinners. That’s why Southerners feel so obligated to pack the pews. Ever notice how crowded the parking lots of local churches are right after Mardi Gras or just before a big bowl game? Here in the Bible Belt, folks are known to both pray and party hearty.

Because I’ve been attending church since – forever, I happen to know quite a few hymns by heart. I only have to pop my reading glasses on for the unfamiliar third stanza, because the church I grew up in usually (always) skipped it. Those of you who were submerged along with me know exactly what I mean — “stand as we sing the first, second and last stanzas.”

But the past few years, I’ve been thrown a curve ball on Easter morning, and this time, it’s right smack in the middle of the first verse. The paramount and most celebrated Easter hymn, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” is now showing up with new words. Since we only sing it once a year, it’s taken me a while to figure out what was going on.

The way I learned it was:

“Christ the Lord has risen today. 
Alleluia. Sons of men and angels say,
Alleluia.”

Somewhere along the way, people have decided that Charles Wesley didn’t know what he was talking about, and the oppressive, sexist, “sons of men” has been changed to a variety of things like, “child of God and angels say” or, “Christians haste your vows to pay.” I’m not even sure what that one means.

At the last conference of churches, there’s a rumor that one pastor, who shall remain nameless, even proposed, “All for Crimson Tide say yea!” Although it was a split vote, that didn’t even go over here in Dixie.

I think my church comes down on the side of “Earth and Heaven in chorus say,” which is yet another way to avoid the whole “men dominating the world” thing.

Personally, I am woman enough to understand that “men” or “mankind” refers to us all. I’m not offended, nor do I feel slighted in any way. I’m confident that God loves me, a woman, as much as the men in this world. I would venture to say, sometimes more.

What I don’t like is having to “blah, blah, blah” it through what I thought was a familiar hymn or put on my ugly reading glasses (thereby spoiling the entire Easter outfit) to know what I should be singing on Easter Sunday morning.

So this year, while I’m fixin’ the deviled eggs (funny thing to serve on Easter), ironing the tablecloth and seasoning the ham, I’ll be practicing “Earth and Heaven in chorus say – Earth and Heaven in chorus say."

I think I finally have it down. It’s only once a year. Surely, they won’t change it again, will they?

Peace be with y’all.

Leslie Anne Harrison also writes the blog “Fairhope Supply Co” at FairhopeSupply.com.