"CELEBRATE A TRADITIONAL BRITISH TEA"- DAVID BORDON /TOM WINTERS

                                      "CELEBRATE A TRADITIONAL BRITISH TEA"

                        " In the early 1800s, people in Great Brtitain ate only two

                            meals a day. Breakfast was served midmorning and

                        usually consisted of beef, bread and ale. Dinner was an

                            elaborate affair served late in the evening that could

                      last for hours. Anna the duchess of Bedford, wanted to relieve

                           herself of the light-headed feeling she had as she waited

                     for dinner, so she had her servants prepare a light afternoon

                            meal of finger foods accompanied by the British 

                     beverage of choice, a pot of hot tea.

                     Soon the duchess's idea caught on with the public.

                          Tea houses cropped up all over Great Britain. Here

                     women could dine with their female friends unescorted.

                          The menu of dainty crustless sandwiches, baked goods 

                    accompanied by jam and clotted cream, steaming pots of

                           tea with milk remained the same as Anna's.

                    However , the purpose of "taking tea" began to change.

                         What began as a practical way to ward off hunger

                   pains turned into a time- tested British tradition where

                         conversation with friends became the real main

                   course. Purpose to experience it yourself at least once 

                         before you go to heaven.

                  A crustless cucumber sandwich may never take the

                        place of a Reuben, but celebrating  a traditional

                  tea with close friends is a wonderful way to spend an

                       afternoon. It is also a reminder that tradition can

                 be a positive thing.  In today's society, tradition is often

                      looked down on as something that's practiced

                mindlessly or continued solely because "it's always

                      been done that way." But every tradition began 

                with a purpose.

                That holds true for tradition within the church as well.

                     Behind every tradition  is a story..... a reason for

                baptism, Communion, and treating Sunday as a "day of rest."

                     If you feel that you are simply going through the motions

                of any tradition, discover how it came about. Do a little

                     research. Perhaps over a cup of tea."

Without the presence and association of friends, we are lacking one

of the most satisfying and necessary part of our lives. Are you just going

thru the motions of some traditions?

Byrl Brockman