Huzzahs for all the contributors: Nik, Robin, ceemac, Reformed Catholic, Singing Owl, and earthchick.
All hail to two special lyricists who were not only amazingly prolific and clever but also teamed up to use the ferrets and the youth group to solve Good Pastor Wendy's Christmas crisis AND bring her true love in the New Year:
NIK and REFORMED CATHOLIC !!
~applause applause~
And now, one more time, here's the complete ballad. Grab your hanky!
GOOD PASTOR WENDY
Good Pastor Wendy won't come out
of her little study,
She is feeling very stressed
Her Christmas spirit's cruddy.
Bills stack up upon her desk,
The choir master quit her.
Church finances are a tangled mess,
Down her cheek there falls a tear.
of her little study,
She is feeling very stressed
Her Christmas spirit's cruddy.
Bills stack up upon her desk,
The choir master quit her.
Church finances are a tangled mess,
Down her cheek there falls a tear.
--Quotidian Grace
Yorkshire-ese Ahead!!
Ey oop Wendy, cheer oop lass,
Thon's bin in worser pickles;
t'snow's piled high so light a fire
let flames yon bills to tickle...
t'choir man he wore tone deaf
of very little merit
Off thee go and have a pint
and play with yonder ferrets
[translated:
Hello Wendy, cheer up,
things could be worse,
it's very snowy outside so get the fire on -
burn the bills.
the choir master wasn't particularly musical,
nothing to recommend anyway.
Go and have a beer
and play with those ferrets over there instead.]
--Nik
Pastor Wendy wiped her eyes,
On her Christmas stocking,
Wondering if it could be time,
Just to head out walking.
Could there be another spot,
One less aggravating?
Could it be that she should look,
For a job less ja-aaaa-ding?
--Singing Owl
Wendy left her office cold,
headed for the Starbucks.
"Double-espresso choc-o grande,
with a shot of milk, Chuck !!"
Out the door she strode that day,
sipping on her coffee.
After Christmas, she did say,
another job I'll be seeking.
--Reformed Catholic
Pastor Wendy went downtown
Thought she'd look for presents
Ran into the youth group there
They were planning nonsense
All dressed up like reindeer they
Pranced around the food court
Singing loudly all the day:
Hallelujah Chorus!
--Robin
From the pet store suddenly
Came the Christmas ferrets
As their cages they did flee
Absconding with some carrots.
Pastor Wendy quickly spied
The youth group chasing after
Shoppers screamed, so horrified
What a big Dis-aaa-ster!!
-- Quotidian Grace
Pastor's Wendy's thinking
'Bout her days in D-school
All those late-life students
Thought it's fine to switch the rules.
Stops at Borders for a look
Maybe a career change?
Gets herself an L-SAT book
Knows that now she is de-ranged!
--Robin
ALERT: YORKSHIRESE AHEAD...
Ey-oop lass and hasten quick
T' ferrets have escap-ed
Yonder youth group's in the nick
For their daft-like capers:
Forced 't ferrets into Mall -
They danced around the Yule tree.
Alas thon youth group's all locked up:
Charged with animal cru-el-ty.
[translation]
Oh gosh, best hurry
the ferrets have escaped.
The youth group have been put into prison:
they were really rather unkind to the wee ferrets
And made them dance around the Christmas tree in the mall.
Alas, the youth group have been locked up
because ferrets are sentient beings and really shouldn't be treated with such disrespect]
--Nik
Wendy thought about those kids
chasing after polecats.
Wish they had such energy
at Sunday evening youth camp.
I better go and bail them out,
then go call their parents.
So off to the precinct thus she went,
forgetting to buy presents.
--Reformed Catholic
So Wendy went back to the Manse,
turned on her computer.
Amazon, Sears and HSN,
online shopping's easier.
No ferrets running all about,
or shoppers wild expressions.
Christmas wrappings only 3 bucks,
Shipped directly to-oo them.
--Reformed Catholic
Pastor Wendy's debit card
Sadly was rejected.
Her account was overdrawn,
Her balance sheet neglected.
Christmas bonuses were naught
For Wendy or her staff
When she once asked about them,
Everyone did laugh.
--earthchick
Wendy sighed and went to bed,
Pastor Wendy went downtown
Thought she'd look for presents
Ran into the youth group there
They were planning nonsense
All dressed up like reindeer they
Pranced around the food court
Singing loudly all the day:
Hallelujah Chorus!
--Robin
From the pet store suddenly
Came the Christmas ferrets
As their cages they did flee
Absconding with some carrots.
Pastor Wendy quickly spied
The youth group chasing after
Shoppers screamed, so horrified
What a big Dis-aaa-ster!!
-- Quotidian Grace
Pastor's Wendy's thinking
'Bout her days in D-school
All those late-life students
Thought it's fine to switch the rules.
Stops at Borders for a look
Maybe a career change?
Gets herself an L-SAT book
Knows that now she is de-ranged!
--Robin
ALERT: YORKSHIRESE AHEAD...
Ey-oop lass and hasten quick
T' ferrets have escap-ed
Yonder youth group's in the nick
For their daft-like capers:
Forced 't ferrets into Mall -
They danced around the Yule tree.
Alas thon youth group's all locked up:
Charged with animal cru-el-ty.
[translation]
Oh gosh, best hurry
the ferrets have escaped.
The youth group have been put into prison:
they were really rather unkind to the wee ferrets
And made them dance around the Christmas tree in the mall.
Alas, the youth group have been locked up
because ferrets are sentient beings and really shouldn't be treated with such disrespect]
--Nik
Wendy thought about those kids
chasing after polecats.
Wish they had such energy
at Sunday evening youth camp.
I better go and bail them out,
then go call their parents.
So off to the precinct thus she went,
forgetting to buy presents.
--Reformed Catholic
So Wendy went back to the Manse,
turned on her computer.
Amazon, Sears and HSN,
online shopping's easier.
No ferrets running all about,
or shoppers wild expressions.
Christmas wrappings only 3 bucks,
Shipped directly to-oo them.
--Reformed Catholic
Pastor Wendy's debit card
Sadly was rejected.
Her account was overdrawn,
Her balance sheet neglected.
Christmas bonuses were naught
For Wendy or her staff
When she once asked about them,
Everyone did laugh.
--earthchick
Wendy sighed and went to bed,
"Its really time to leave now.
Stewardship is but a joke,
We're spending our reserves low.
Troubled dreams our Wendy had,
tossing all the night long.
Knowing that this Christmas Eve
May not have the he-eat on !!
--Reformed Catholic
The weeks flew by 'fore Christmas Eve,
Wendy was so busy.
Planning Advent services,
left her in a tizzy.
Still the bills piled up each day,
Wendy was so frantic.
Will there be enough to pay,
for the food bank baskets ??
--Reformed Catholic
--Reformed Catholic
Alert Again: More Yorkshirese!
Hearken lass and look'ee here
And stop wit yonder gurnin'
Pop whippet oot o' bath right smart
If wants t'make some earnin's.
Off to 't track gang you 't now
And get that whippet running
One hunnert poon's in't 3'o'clock
And ye'll not lack for fu-un-ding.
[translation:
Wendy, my sweet little mince pie pay attention
And stop pulling faces.
Go and fetch the whippet from the bath quickly
If you want to make some money.
Go to the track
And make that whippet earn its keep
I suggest you put £100 on it on the race at 3pm -
It's a 'sure thing' and you'll have all the money you need.]
--Nik
Off to 't track oor Wendy went
to place a bet on't whippet.
"'Eee by 'eck a winning run
would see t' church in credit!"
But conscience is a reet rum thing:
And childer all were looking.
Lightbulb flashed inside her head -
A charity looney dooking...
[translation:
Wendy went to the track
and was going to gamble rather wantonly.
"Gosh, if the dog wins
our church money problems will be over!"
But it's a bit of a bother when one has an over-active conscience...
And the children were looking - so a bad example.
She had an idea
She'd raise the money for the church via a sponsored jump into icy cold water on New Year's day.]
--Nik
Poor addled Wendy's looking for
A good wetsuit for the ducking
Else she freezes to the core
And frigid water sucking.
Where is Santa and his sleigh
With a miracle to save her?
Throw all the kiddies' toys away
Shower her with filthy lu-u-cre!
--Quotidian Grace
4th Sunday in Advent comes round,
Wendy is there preaching.
The usual members sit in back,
at least they're not there sleeping.
Old Josh sits in his same seat,
Never misses a Sunday.
Notices that Wendy's not,
preaching in the same way.
--Reformed Catholic
YOU GUESSED IT! MORE YORKSHIRESE!!
From 't pulpit Wendy spied
Josh gowkin' at her queer-like;
Saw his eyes bulge further wide
at entrance of the youth tykes.
Christmas ferrets all rushed in -
Oor Wendy saw Josh sof'nin'
as tykes 'n ferrets pranced aboot
gathrin in t'off'ring.
Advent weeks flew by reet quick,
Grand crowds they'd all been gath'rin' -
Drawn in by't ferrets wondrous tricks
In't services in't evenin's.
Collection plates were fillin' fast -
So thon'on's passed round flat caps.
't ferrets proved a cunning wheeze
For building up a ti-dy stash.
[translation:
From her pulpit, Wendy noticed
Josh looking at her somewhat oddly.
His eyes then grew the size of dinner plates
as the youth group entered the church.
The Christmas ferrets then rushed in
And Josh's heart was strangely warmed
as he looked upon the charming scene of ferrets and youths working in wonderful harmony,
collecting the offering.
As is usual, Advent flew by ridiculously fast;
The church was packed with huge crowds,
desirous of seeing the wonderful performing ferrets
in the evening services.
The offerings were so multidunious they filled up the plates to optimum capacity;
to ensure all had the opportunity to give, the ferrets and youths passed around stereotyipical Yorkhire headgear amongst the gathered crowd.
Truly, the idea of using the ferrets was an ingenious one
And it appeared the church cash crisis might possibly be averted]
Josh gowkin' at her queer-like;
Saw his eyes bulge further wide
at entrance of the youth tykes.
Christmas ferrets all rushed in -
Oor Wendy saw Josh sof'nin'
as tykes 'n ferrets pranced aboot
gathrin in t'off'ring.
Advent weeks flew by reet quick,
Grand crowds they'd all been gath'rin' -
Drawn in by't ferrets wondrous tricks
In't services in't evenin's.
Collection plates were fillin' fast -
So thon'on's passed round flat caps.
't ferrets proved a cunning wheeze
For building up a ti-dy stash.
[translation:
From her pulpit, Wendy noticed
Josh looking at her somewhat oddly.
His eyes then grew the size of dinner plates
as the youth group entered the church.
The Christmas ferrets then rushed in
And Josh's heart was strangely warmed
as he looked upon the charming scene of ferrets and youths working in wonderful harmony,
collecting the offering.
As is usual, Advent flew by ridiculously fast;
The church was packed with huge crowds,
desirous of seeing the wonderful performing ferrets
in the evening services.
The offerings were so multidunious they filled up the plates to optimum capacity;
to ensure all had the opportunity to give, the ferrets and youths passed around stereotyipical Yorkhire headgear amongst the gathered crowd.
Truly, the idea of using the ferrets was an ingenious one
And it appeared the church cash crisis might possibly be averted]
--NIK
Wendy was on top of the world,
-- pastoring's no chore now.
Chuck's attending Worship now,
they're meeting after at Starbucks.
Walking together, hand in hand.
Wendy wasn't dreaming.
Advent's ending turned out to be,
better than its begin-in-ng.
--Reformed Catholic
-- pastoring's no chore now.
Chuck's attending Worship now,
they're meeting after at Starbucks.
Walking together, hand in hand.
Wendy wasn't dreaming.
Advent's ending turned out to be,
better than its begin-in-ng.
--Reformed Catholic
The Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve,
echoed with joyous singing.
Frozen Chosen no longer they --
the candles lit the ceiling.
Wendy stayed another year,
married Chuck soon after.
So this story tries to end
with happily ever after.
--Reformed Catholic
