Church #8
October 2, 2011
Finally got myself back in the pews. Today I chose a nearby “United” Church – I
think it is a yoked congregation? Of Methodists and UCC. Maybe.
The hymnals were UCC. The
disjointed sentences reflect my disjointed sense of church and
spirituality.
Today was Youth Sunday and also World Communion Sunday. The small youth group presented a slide
show/video of their recent mission trip.
This part of the worship definitely took me back to watching my own two
on all their Youth Sundays. What I kept
thinking was – it doesn’t look like such a big deal – but it is! It’s wonderful that they’re up there,
creating and in charge.
So I did not hear a “sermon” from their new minister. She did preside over communion, which was
with several different types of bread – pita, cornchips, rice cakes and then
intinction.
The church appears to have a major commitment to
environmental stewardship and what they called “external ministries,” i.e.,
outreach or mission in other church language.
Not a large church, but I got the feeling everyone has something to do
and everyone participates and supports the ministry of the church. I don’t always get that feeling.
There were at least seven Prius cars in the parking
lot. Yes, I counted.
They were extremely friendly to this visitor; I was greeted
three times before I got to my seat. One
of the greeters sat with me, but maybe that was just her usual pew!
I didn’t recognize most of the music, but they did play a
song by Susan Werner – I swear I’ve heard her before on NPR or some such
place. It was great. It’s called “help somebody.” They used it to jump start their stewardship
campaign. I loved it.
So – back to church! I
feel so peripheral to it all.
