What is it about Church of the Beloved?
What I liked about the Church is its sense
Of tradition. Here God's first and providence
Next. From these two, all the details came.
The music, for one, can claim
To be traditional. The hearty beat
Hymns are chosen to form a suite
That illustrates the lesson of the day.
Further they arise from the music of today
Just as the hymns of years ago
Were then the current chants to know.
Then there's the short clip
Of a relevant flick.
The tradition here is to use today's orthodox means and odd
To illustrate the word of God.
The bread, real bread, wholesome and nourishing,
Is a true Eucharistic symbol, seemly and fitting.
In the best of traditions, the exhortations
Illustrate, explore, and apply the day's lesson.
They persuade me to do God's will despite my fear,
And let me know God as the Holy Spirit is near.
What's more the clergy, (male and female), aren't afraid of the
congregation.
They even sponsored the Newcomers' Orientation.
Speaking of newcomers, all are welcome, and urged to find their own
level.
And children participate in the service. Those that don't revel
In their joy of God. Just as the adults can
With the knowledge that such a celebration won't unman
Or unwoman them. All this helps me overcome my own lacks;
Keeps, week by week, drawing me back.
And there's something about putting the Church together, and taking it
apart,
That has, for drawing people together, no counterpart.
Outreach in many forms, is not neglected.
Even that of bearing cookies to the misdirected.
Lastly, the service, by being paper free,
Shows that ecological care blends with Christianity.
Rose-Ann Jobin
