field ed

Yesterday was my first day of field ed -- I will worship in that church for the rest of the academic year. I like my assignment and my supervisor, so I am really looking forward to it.

Interesting things happened yesterday: first I was "hustled" (so says my husband) by a young white man on the exit ramp from the high way on my way to church. He flagged me down, said his car was stranded up on the highway and he had no cell phone or money and couldn't get out of this town (in which no one spoke English, according to him). As usual, I had no money, and told him so, and he asked for even change to make a phone call. I ended up giving him $0.35 -- all I had in a change cup. I hope that was helpful. I don't think I was hustled; why would he pick that exit ramp, in a relatively "dead" part of town, and on a Sunday morning expect to do "well" financially? I didn't see any other cars around -- and only one other pedestrian down another street... Wondered what an ordained pastor would do in my circumstance? Wonder if race had anything to do with my willingness to stop? Wonder, if his intentions were less than honorable, if it would have made a difference if I had said "I'm on my way to church"?

Then I got to the church just before 10:00 a.m., put on some dry skin lotion and mascara in the car, and made it into the prayer room (library) about 10:05. Enjoyed quieting and centering myself while praying, and meeting the prayer leader (who said I was "connected" to God -- interesting my seminarian status provided that). She and I were alone for most of the half-hour, but the pastor popped in briefly for a corporate prayer and a song. It was interesting to hear the pastor's beautiful (almost formally trained) voice, and hear songs/hymns sung acapella, some I knew, some I didn't know, some even they didn't know all the words to and we just hummed. The pastor told me later that St. Augustine said that those who sing pray twice.

Then the pastor pulled me out of prayer to collate and staple the bulletins (six 8.5x11 pages!) and the litany for the 9/11 remembrance (three pages). So it felt immediately like I was working in church. That was good. Also the pastor had only emailed me the NT scripture I was to read the night before -- because I called and asked -- pastor said she figured I would call eventually -- I like/admire the informality and laid-back-ness (is that a word? certainly not) -- could learn that lesson a bit more about letting go and knowing enough of "it" (whatever) will get done, and done right.... I was not even told to bring my bible, and one was not provided to me (of course I was concerned which translation they would wish me to read from), but I did bring mine; I guess it goes without saying that a seminary student would always have a bible with them.... There are pew bibles randomly placed throughout the sanctuary, but I didn't know that before worship.

All I did in worship was read the gospel, but I enjoyed participating. Love the multimedia approach with the praise songs on a screen -- love the glorious photos the most -- it's not really my preferred type of worship (maybe now I'm showing my age, or maybe just my history of experience), but it's done so well and with such enthusiasm, and I'm familiar with it having worshipped there probably half a dozen times before -- so I enjoyed it.

Then we gathered outside the church around the "peace pole" put in this summer at the end of VBS -- that required climbing over a wrought iron fence to get to the church lawn -- not everyone in the congregation was able or chose to do it.... We read the litany of remembrance in honor of those who died in the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Towers, Pentagon, and the plane that went down in Pennsylvania. The pastor's brother is a fire fighter from New York, and he helped solemnize (? authenticate?) the occasion. He also spoke during worship, and there was a moving video tribute to a buddy from his firehouse.

Just as the pastor was about to give the benediction, a member of the congregation interrupted and said we couldn't talk about 9/11 without talking about the war in Iraq. Somehow this man felt that calling for peace around the world was demeaning to our soldiers overseas who were giving their lives for our country, and somehow we weren't supporting the war effort. The pastor handled his interruption beautifully, said she was glad he felt comfortable enough in the assembly of congregants to speak up, and said she should clarify that issue. I was probably listening with too much emotion (indeed, I noticed another member of the congregation watching me watch that man -- I was grateful I had sunglasses on and made a mental note to put on a better poker face when confronted with issues like this with which I disagree) -- so I don't remember what all was said -- just know that the man felt justified/vindicated/heard, and the benediction was able to be said and worship ended in fine fashion.

Then I was told I could leave whenever. I stayed and talked with folks afterwards, met a few new (to me) people. I ended up spending about 3.5 hours there -- I think I am to do 10 hours of field ed each week, so some will be meeting time with the pastor (not yet scheduled; clearly one of us is more high strung about it than the other!) and preparation for each week on my own. Truly an interesting day. I look forward to discussing it more with the pastor.