Church #7. Look to the Cross for Victory

O man, where do I even start…. Ok well I guess I should mention that I found this church so awesome that I almost considered quitting my mission just to stay and hang out with these guys. So the actual service isn’t actually in a church. Its in a community hall that they rent out every Sunday and just clean up  and leave after their done. Very small group, 12 people maybe, all of them in their 20-30s ish. When I arrived for what I thought would be the start of the service was actually the start of breakfast, which involved a large cereal buffet and a chance to sit-down and meet people. Just a heads up, there are defiantly some people in this church are high energy and loud and expressive, so you might want to hold on to your socks when you walk in. if i walked in there again and someone ran up to me screaming and gives me a hug that knocks both of us to the ground, I would not be surprised.

But what’s different about with place is the fact that almost every member of this church has plugs, tattoos; (the pastor has a full sleeve on his left arm.)  And all kinds of crazy haircuts. If there was such thing as a punk/alternative friendly church this would be it. I met all kinds of people that day including what I think I was a gay couple? Maybe? Don’t fully remember, but defiantly an all inclusive environment. This is the place where the people that don’t care for church can go and worship and fit in.  

Let me start with my friend Shawn (hi Shawn, and yes I know your reading this *waves. Lol) also known as the notorious “pirate pastor” he didn’t have the costume on that day but I am told he is known to dress up on occasion. This guy rocks a shaved head, full beard, piercings, tattoos and has the most wicked punk jacket I have ever seen. He is also a self-proclaimed anarchist, and has some very interesting theories on how he believes the law structure in biblical times supports the anarchist method of self governance. (Seriously, talk to the dude about it sometimes, will blow your mind.) Most of the service was him sitting cross legged on the floor of the stage singing and playing guitar and then his lovely wife pitched in to do a scripture discussion with us.

We also had some light moments of humor provided by his 2 young children and their “contributions” to the service. Lol. Such as randomly running up on the stage and hiding behind the curtains. :P

I totally wish I could remember more of the details of what happened but with the double deadly sin of laziness, I failed to take notes and don’t have much more to add. Miss you guys so much and I can’t wait to come back and visit! God bless you crazy peoples! :P

 

Church #6. All Saints Anglican Cathedral

If you ever feel like you have been thrown into the Disney movie, The Hunch back of Notre Dame, chances are you have stumbled into the All Saints Anglican Cathedral. It seriously resembles it, just shrunk down quite a bit. For an Edmonton church its quite large, very elongated and has amazing stain glass panels which are accompanied by 30 foot long quilted banners (must have taken an army of grandmas for those) and many, many rows of long benches.

            Today was a “special day” apparently as it was the “fest of St. Michael and all the Angles” cool :P We also got to learn what the name “Michael” actually means. It’s a question. It is “who is god?” which I find kind of interesting because now I know the meaning f my dad’s first and middle names. The service had a lot of notably old fashioned aspects to it with the procession of the choir up and down the aisles, (awesome voices) and there being a large variety of vested speakers and leaders ( hold on let me roll out the list…..) so this Sunday we had a Bishop, Dean, Vicar, Canon Missioner, Reverend Canon, Deacon etc. ( the list goes on, I am not sure if every single one of them was there, but there was A LOT. )

Despite all this I didn’t perceive this church to be all that stuffy or conservative at all. Right from the beginning I noticed that the church applauded after the blessing of a new table and moving it, and then once again after someone rocked an organ solo at the end of the service. I know some people who heads would blow up if they heard people applause in a church. Over to my right had side I was shocked to see a podium made from a giant gold eagle (Neo-Nazi what??????)  it looked like something I saw Hitler give a speech at in an old piece of film when i was studying WWII. I was quick to ask about it and I was told that apparently the eagle is strongly associated with St.John and that is why it’s there. Things you learn.

Speaking of “quick” I found an odd use of that word today. We were reading the Nicene Creed and you know the long where it says “and he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead.” Throw out the word “living” and replace it with “quick” that is what I saw. I discovered that “quick” can be translated from middle English to mean “living”.

The speaker I most enjoyed was Vicar who had a very good sermon with much passion and made an interesting cross reference to Celtic mythology (such metal head) lol. He is also the first speaker in a church that I have seen that can walk in and do his sermon with socks, sandals, his vestments, long hair and multiple ear piercings and everyone walks out loving him. *Hi Five!

             The population of this place was larger than anything I have yet seen 4 dozen people at this place, not counting at least another dozen plus in the choir and leaders. A lot of seniors all, look in surprisingly good health, and a handful of random people (including me), and only like 3 kids maybe?

I decided to receive Holy Communion today, solely based on the fact that it felt right to me. It’s not my first communion, but lest just say I decided not to take it at the last 5 churches (or they didn’t happen to offer it) and let’s just say it’s been a while. What surprised me with this ceremony was 2 things. #1. The wine was real, #2. and the guy that offered it to me looked like a very buff Mr.Clean with 3 very large gauge curved barbell piercings hanging on his left ear. As much as I would be afraid to pick a fight with this guy, from noticing him earlier, I can see that he has a very warm loving side and that gods light is within him.

Over all really enjoyed this church and will totally put it on my list of ones to come back to.