I woke this morning, wondering what Saint Paul's would offer to me and my child, and with our open minds my son and I stepped out on our journey.
Saint Paul's is located in Exton, Pa. It looked like one of those churches you would find located in the middle of a field surrounded by yellow flowers and little kids playing amongst the butterflies. At a time in history I am sure it was surrounded by the green fields and the yellow flowers. I lived in Exton growing up, and remember quite frequently noticing the little church by the side of the road. I have never heard of the United Church of Christ before this, but seeing and reading about it online peaked my interest. My son was first to notice the cemetery directly behind the church. I had read that the church was formed in 1830. The church that now stands along Route 100 was erected in 1884. I could see the Gothic style type of architecture the website had mentioned. Upon entering the church it had a feel for old history. I thought to myself, "If the walls could speak." Old buildings, those over a hundred years old, always have a certain mystique for me. It always seems to make me wonder who else had walked these halls, who has prayed here and how were there prayers offered up.
We had followed others into the church, so I think we came in through the back of the church. I recognized the pastor, Jonathan, from the website. He was preparing for the service as we walked by. At the foot of the stairs we were greeted by an older gentleman. He sensed we had never been there, and asked us to sign the guest book. I wrote down my details as he explained to my son and I that during the Lord's Prayer we would be sinners, and that the following visit we would be debtors. Though I may be mistaken on my understanding of this, because I was taking everything else in around me. I walked up the stairs with the uncertainty of being a sinner. I was a little worried and apprehension seem to be creeping up within me, but I took a deep breath and knew that in every religion there is a place for me. The stairs seemed to be like a spirailaing staircase for a moment, I was curious to see what awaited us upstairs. I don't remember being in a church where I came in a door and walked upstairs. To me, this was very symbolic for a lot of reasons. We walked into what looked like a little chapel. My son marveled that even upstairs in this chapel there was another level that would hold the choir members.
The chapel is was very humble looking. The stained glass windows were beautiful, one in particular I noticed had a picture of the Bible with open pages. The service began with prayers and news that the community would like to share with one another. I liked this portion a lot. People sharing amongst their community to all their accomplishments, their prayers and their thoughts. Praying for those that are ill, or have gone on before us.
Their Gathering prayer went like this:
Bright Morning Star,
you are both guidance and mystery,
Visit our rest with disturbing dreams,
and our journeys with strange companions,
Grace us with the hospitality
to open our hearts and homes
to visitors filled with unfamiliar wisdom
bearing profound and unusual gifts.
Amen.
Then Jonathan took out his guitar and began to play Hark! the herald angels sing. It was beautiful, with us the people in the pews singing and Jonathan strumming away on his guitar. I envisioned myself sitting around a campfire at that moment. Breathing in the moment of song with those around me.
After this the plates were passed around for those to offer of themselves and their gifts. Jonathan gathered up all the little children of the Parrish. He sat amongst them, on the floor. He placed himself at their level and spoke of the past Holidays and questioned them about their adventures over the Holiday. The children opened up to him, describing their travels and expressing themselves to him, but to all of us as well. I chose this service because of it's emphasis on the children at the 9am service. I did not expect this though, and it gave me a warm and comforting feeling. As the children spoke I looked to the altar. There atop I saw the bread which was covered and the wine which was covered. I wondered to myself what would my son and I do when it came time to partake in this. I decided to not think ahead and to focus on the moment at hand.
When I was growing up and I was a member of the Catholic church I remember it was always showing the sign of peace to the other members of the congragation was my favorite part. It always reminds me of the song, "Auld Lang Syne," for each time I shook someone's hand or hugged them to offer them peace I feel that it is like a new start. At Saint Paul's you walk outside of your pew, and you begin walking and shaking each other's hand and sharing the peace. It became like a dance in only a few moments. People walking one way down the aisle and the others walking the opposite. Like a well organized line dance with no one in the middle but God. Instead of only being prviliged to shaking only those who approached me hands, I was given the oportunity to shake each and every parrishionsers hand. A moment between each and every person, silent communication and peace. This was all so different for me, but beautiful just the same.
Upon sitting down, Jonathan read the scriptures for the day:
Genesis 1:1-5
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
I listened and interpreted the readings to reflect on my day in the present, and reflected on what it must have meant to those that first wrote the book. Jonathan brought out his guitar again and we sang Beautiful Jesus. In all my journeys I had never heard this song before. I liked it and I followed along singing as best as I could, reading the notes and listening to Jonathan and the others singing.
It was time for his sermon. I listened to Jonathan as he spoke. This is what I got from his sermon. That there is always religion and politics, and that each religion will always say that they are the one and only true religion. That we should open our hearts, open our minds and share with one another. He spoke of how when Paul wrote his letter to Ephesians he was trying to help them open their minds. One excerpt from the Letter to Ephesians states, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." For me, this says that it doesn't matter what is said or done, the wisdom needs to be communicated to those in the higher realms. To make changes on perceptions, we must reach out and share of ourselves our faith and beliefs and and gain a sense of community. If we have unity and have faith, everything else sort of intercedes with one another.
After his sermon, it was time for the prayers for the people. Those that are not themselves and are in need of prayers. I looked further on the order of service and I noticed a little note stating that everyone is welcome to partake in the Lord's Supper. I began getting excited for what was to come.
I was raised Catholic, and I was never allowed to partake in the communion until I had prepared within the church for it. This took many hours of Catechism classes, and a loads hair pulled from my parents heads from offering up quarters for me to learn the Lord's prayer. My son wouldn't have this for he was blessed in a different way after he was born. He never had to learn prayers, or attend classes within a church, for our church was the world outside and the sky was a tapestry of faith in itself. My son learned of God, Jesus and the heavens from his mother who believed that all things were possible, and all faiths have their value. Prior to this service we had a discussion on eating the "Body of Christ," and though he may have been hesitant I could see his little eyes wanting to learn of it, to know of it in and in a way partake in the curiosity of it all. In this moment, he would be able to. We all stepped outside of our pews and gathered around the altar. Jonathan expressed words of the Last Supper and how Jesus told him to eat this bread and drink of this cup in remembrance of him. He went around to each and every one of those in attendance. Each person took of the bread, but they waited. I was rarely given the cup to drink from in the Catholic church, I was curious as to what was happening. Each person received a piece of bread, and then the wine (grape juice) was taken around following the bread. Each person dipped their bread into the juice and ate of it. Even the little children, one must have been a little over 2, was given a piece of bread and waited ever so patiently to dip it into the goblet of juice. This moment filled me with such love and admiration. My son turned to me after tasting of the bread and exclaimed, "That was some good bread." I know he may have only been speaking of the bread in itself, but this moment will forever be in his memory as when he ate of the blessed sacrament. I recalled a time of my great aunt's passing. I was told at the funeral that I could not partake of the sacrament, because I was no longer of that faith. I thought to myself would Jesus have been so selfish and not share at my table with him, for I would always share at my table with those in need of some bread. Isn't this what Jesus tried to teach us. That it doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, what sex you are, that you are a person and you are welcome at my table.
Well, at Saint Paul's United Church of Christ we were asked to share their bread with them, and it was good.
Things to reflect on:
Saint Paul's United Church of Christ
http://www.stpauluccexton.org/
Ephesians 3:1-12
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A1-12&version=NIV
Auld Lang Syne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acxnmaVTlZA
Beautiful Jesus
http://www.firstcongmadison.org/hymn-notes/hymn-44-beautiful-jesus
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