A VISIT TO OUR CHURCH
Rev. David Takahashi Morris
January 14, 2007
DAVID: Maybe you’ve known about it for years, or maybe you were web-surfing this morning and it looked interesting. Maybe you’ve been looking forward to this, or maybe you’re feeling nervous and a little wary. Maybe you’re doing it for the kids; maybe your own deep hunger brought you to it.
However it
happened, this is the moment: You’ve
come to visit the
BOB: You drive right past the church once, looking for the parking lot. Going by the second time gives you a chance to really notice the banner with the rainbow that says, “This Church Supports Marriage Rights.”
[SPEAKERS IN ITALICS ARE HEARD, BUT NOT VISIBLE]
ANNE/JOSIE: I
heard about that. . . I wonder if they really mean it. It would be nice if for once I didn’t have to
worry about someone telling the kids Susan and I can’t both be their moms.
LESLIE/JEAN: Now there’s a church that’s willing to take a stand.
LOUISA/NICK: What’s that? Seems awfully political.
. .would I have to promise to believe that if I came here? I’m not sure what I think about that.
DAVID: You
come into the side door where everyone else seems to be going. There’s a sign just inside telling you where
children’s classes are. Further in, you
come to a foyer with little brass letters neatly placed high on the walls, and
a big bust of Thomas Jefferson. You
realize the words are quotes and the two chests by the stairs hold
LESLIE/JOSIE: Look at that, did he say that? I wonder if
ANNE/NICK: Oh
man, what is this? Is he the saint of
this church? What about slavery? Are they going to want me to pretend he’s
some kind of hero? Well, Charles said I
should check them out, and he’s been part of that D.C. church for years. I’ll hang for a little bit.
BOB: There’s a table in the foyer with a “Welcome Visitors” sign on it, and a friendly person who looks up as you approach and says hello. You take a folder and a bright nametag, and they tell you where the Sanctuary and classrooms are.
LOUISA/JEAN: Do they just expect me to go with these
other kids? I don’t know any of
them. Can’t I just sit in church with
Mom and Dad like at our old place?
LESLIE/JOSIE: Well, there was a ramp so I could get in the building, and it looks like I can roll into the sanctuary all right. I don’t know how I’m supposed to get my chair up those steps to the Social Hall later, though.
DAVID: You come into the Sanctuary and take the Order of Service an usher hands you. You look around the room, taking it all in and finding your way to a seat; you notice that most people are greeting each other, talking and laughing; you see a few nice dresses and jackets and ties, but no one is really formal and a lot of people are very casual. You see a few youth and older children; one barefoot teenager walks by.
LOUISA/NICK: There’s not a cross anywhere. Are there any Christians here? Would I have to give up Jesus if I wanted to
be here?
ANNE/JOSIE: Yep,
they’re UUs all right. Good to be back with my kind of people.
LESLIE/JEAN: Am I the only person who isn’t white
here? I don’t know if I want to
integrate their church for them.
BOB: In the few moments that remain before the service starts you study your Order of Service and thumb through the hymnal from the pew rack in front of you.
ANNE/JOSIE: “Earth
Mother”. . . “Out of the stars we have come”. . . Funny, it looks like a
regular church hymnal, but it doesn’t read like one.
LOUISA/NICK: Hymns, readings, prayers, even a
sermon. I don’t know; this seems a lot
like that church where I was a kid.
We’ll see what the minister says.
DAVID: A bell rings and it grows quiet; the Worship Associate approaches the pulpit and the service has begun. When it ends, there’s a flow of people to the Social Hall and you follow them.
LESLIE/JEAN: Wow, it’s busy in here. I’ll just stand over here with my coffee. . .
Maybe someone will talk to me.
LOUISA/NICK: Well, the minister talked about
justice a lot. Where are the social
activist types? I wonder what work
they’re doing here and how I can find out about it.
ANNE/JOSIE: I
can’t see my Mom. . . there she is. Those kids were pretty nice, but I don’t know
what they meant by “Spirit of Life.” Is
that like God? I think I’ll have another
cookie. . .
BOB: And then it’s over. . . You find your way back to your car and head for home. What did you find here? How did you enjoy it? Do you think these might be your people?
DAVID: Will you be back next week?