NEW EYES

A good holiday is all about new experiences and today, Terry and I did something totally different.

After attending Mass last night in one of the most impressive churches I’ve ever seen, St. Elizabeth Seaton in Carlsbad, we attended the North Coast United Methodist Church for Sunday services.

Our holiday hosts are members of this Carlsbad community of believers and we were delighted to share in the fellowship of their service. Bill Clinton teased that we’d have to confess our mutinous behaviour with our parish priest upon our return home in two weeks.

Unlike the Catholic Church we attended the night before, the Methodist Church was a simple rectangular hall about the size of two classrooms. The small congregation of no more than fifty people was led by a female pastor, a warm and engaging middle aged woman.

Terry and I were taken by the simplicity of the service and by the active participation of the entire congregation.

The service began with a brief talk by an elderly parishioner about the rewards of tithing, followed by prayers for the recently deceased led by the Lay Leader. I included Jacques Carron’s name in the prayer basket under his Jake Cairn pseudonym…not many French folks in these parts. An interactive Bible lesson for the assembled children was followed by a homily by the pastor and a communion service.

The talk to the children focused on temptation and Pastor Arntson told a wonderful story to illustrate the concept. As best I can remember it, here is the story.

“There once was a dog who loved his master very much. One day, the master put a juicy piece of meat in front of the dog and told the dog not to eat it until he gave the word. The dog kept his eyes on the master, not on the food , to avoid the temptation of eating the delicious food.

Children, sometimes we are tempted to do things we know we shouldn’t. When this happens, we should act the way the dog behaved. We should look to our master. We should turn to Jesus to help us avoid temptation.”

Though directed at the children, the story spoke to the hearts of all.

It was a very meaningful service and I marveled at how this small community supported each other as well as their brothers and sisters on the tornado ravaged East Coast and those serving overseas in the military.

No, I don’t think I’ll join the Methodists anytime soon. I don’t think I’m up to all that singing and the responsibility that is demanded of each person to keep such a community strong.

But the experience was remarkable and has given me new eyes on what is means to be a Christian.