I went to church Sunday. Not mine, I mean, I went to mine later that day but Sunday Morning, I went to church. I haven't been going on the pretense that No matter where I went to church here in Western Oklahoma, it was going to be painful with sermons full of intolerant views of the Bible and God. But my boss (my mom) has been asking about it. I thought it was my mom asking so I was ignoring her but I realised last week it was really my boss asking and I could feel her making notes to ask me at my next Board of Ordained Ministry interview. I will be eligible to be ordained next year, if I pass my interview.
And I have been a little depressed about the church thing. I miss going to good church. Actually I have been depressed about being in Western Oklahoma and about being essentially alone doing this job. I miss teamwork.
I went to a Indian Baptist church in Elk City. The president of the JOM parent program goes there and she told me they sing Cheyenne hymns. I have to teach my kids so Cheyenne before June so I went to go check them out. I was pleasantly astonished at what I found.
First it was a tiny tiny church. There were more kids (about 20) ranging from a newborn to teenagers than adults(about 10). They started church with breakfast for the kids. The Pastor told me a story similar to the story at Clinton. There are always more kids than adults and the kids are hungry. So they feed the kids and include the kids in everything they do. Cooking, cleaning, church service.
It was quite nice to hear him talk about his church's ideas on kids seeing how most people ask me how I am using the kids at Clinton to get adults in church. Despite me telling them that the programs for kids is my primary concern - job- reason for being there.
The church service didn't start until noon. I hadn't planned to be there that long so I left at noon but before I left, the pastor had his congregation pray for me.
He had everyone surround me and put their hands on me. I typically hate this kind of thing, holding hands or being touched by random strangers, but the folks there were so friendly and open that it wasn't freaky. Even the little kids came and prayed for me.
The prayer was led by one of the elder women in the church and it all felt good. I'll go back so I can learn those Cheyenne song and because they were really nice people. But this week I have to mow the church lawn, get rid of an armadillo under the parsonage and mow the grass there, Cut done a 45 minute talk about me and the community center to 5 minutes for GBGM's Board of Directors in Stamford, CT on April 28, plan a sermon for a church in Pryor on April 26 and a sermon + displays for a church in Denton, TX on May 3, along with other stuff. How the heck do you get rid of an armadillo?
