In the Woods When First We Met

81. Sunday Morning

When something bad happens to you like assault, you start to wonder, Why do bad things happen? And if there is a God, doesn't he care about you? Stuff like that.

The next few chapters are about church, because I think that will be a good place for her to start questioning those things.

I think that a long time ago- especially in small farming communities- more people went to church, even if they weren't really very religious, church was the thing to do and it was also for socialization with friends and neighbors. 

Now here is the chapter:

On Saturday night Marilla said they'd need to leave earlier in the morning, as she and some of the other ladies were going to meet before the service to discuss the upcoming church bake sale. They'd offered to get communion ready while they talked.

"I like going to church," Anne announced as she climbed into the buggy Sunday morning.

"Good," Marilla said, giving Matthew a small smile. "That certainly makes me feel as if we're doing something right."

"I didn't expect to, because of the reverend's entirely colorless outlook of the earth. But it's awfully good entertainment."

Marilla's moment of feeling accomplishment was gone. "Church is not meant to be entertaining. It's meant to be..."

"Edifying?" Anne provided, using a new word she had learned.

"Yes, that's a good way to put it."

"Well, I don't see why it can't be both. Of course I'd prefer if the sermons weren't all doom and gloom..." she trailed off, but then she continued excitedly - "But listening to him spout off at the pulpit is better than any school recitation! Especially when he gets so impassioned that he stomps around shouting and waving his arms-"

"Anne," Marilla interrupted, her voice full of reproach. "That is quite enough. What impertinence! To think that only a moment ago I thought we were doing well with you."

Anne frowned. "There are other reasons I like church," she insisted.

"I'm almost afraid to know," Marilla commented dryly.

"I like the singing," she said.

Marilla let her breath out. "All right," she said. "That is a statement that doesn't make me weep for your future."

Marilla looked startled when Matthew chuckled.