October 09, 2005

Alabama Church Adventure Part II

So I have a new roomate. She's from Oregon. She talks a lot.

A lot of people here talk a lot, come to think of it. And most of them laugh at their own jokes. For a quiet, non-laugher of one's own jokes this has been a bit of a struggle for me. I have never wanted to get out of conversations as passionately as I do now. I find myself taking mental retreats with greater frequency...

I'm sure there's a kindred spirit out there somewhere for me. I can't possibly only get along with maritimers... can I???

Anywho, on to bigger and more entertaining things.

I went to church this morning with aforementionned new roomate. She had mentionned earlier that she didn't want to go to a Baptist church because she hadn't had much luck with them in the past. Ruth, I totally get what it must have been like to be a Presby among the Baptists, even if just for that brief moment.

We went to a place called Valley Fellowship.

I knew I was in trouble when I walked into the church and they handed us a welcome packet which predominately featured a magazine entitled, "Charisma".

It was an interdenominational, charismatic church. I thought these places only existed on TV.

Things began fairly normally, they sang some chorus I didn't know. Then they sang it again. And again. And to top it all off they sang it again. One verse, one chorus. The service lasted 2 hours and I think we covered three songs.

Then an older lady came up to the front, she ended up being the pastor. We watched a brief clip of a crusade in Uganda. Why did we watch it? Because it showed a vortex that opened up to heaven. Yes, a vortex. I thought it was a cloud... but it was indeed a vortex... a vortex to heaven.

This was followed by a time of healing. Unfortunately I didn't qualify because my hips and legs were fine. But anyone else who had leg and hip issues got to go on stage where someone knocked them down and they would start shaking.

I was giggling the whole time (it was getting kind of hard to hide that near the end, but I think they just thought I was drunk in the spirit or something).

I noticed a lady using a cane. I'm not sure if they ignored her or what, but she didn't get any of these miraculous healing the others got... But I just figured that since they were able to walk up to the front without too much effort that they were going to be just fine.

After the healing stuff the pastor yelled at us for a little while about the Holy Spirit. They seem to like him a lot more than the other two guys. I don't think they mentionned the Father and the Son more than twice.

And then the pastor started falling around a bit and acting drunk. But don't worry! It was the Holy Spirit.

I didn't ask, but I get the impression that I'm not really a Christian because I haven't spoken in tongues. It doesn't matter though, because I don't think I'm going to go back...

Somewhere out there in Huntsville, there must be something between a church with a full orchestra and whatever the heck it is I went to this morning. I really missed home this morning... It was uncomfortable. I'm all about stepping out of the box, I have no issue with going to new congregations. But this morning I just wanted something to seem familiar.

No such luck. Except for the temperature... it was nice and cool.

Don't get me wrong! I still love being here and I still love my job. But I have three days off and absolutely nothing to do. No friends to call and hang out with (most of the people I do know are at work), no money and no way to get anywhere. I can't wait to get back to work, and I'm sure that sentiment will change once I get further into this.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I don't think I'll be having a meal this year. The other Canadians are away.

Stay tuned for the next Alabama church adventure!!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ohhh Evelyn. LOL, do you ever worry that your roommates are reading these blogs??? Glad to hear that you're being highly entertained, oh, I mean that you're gaining much deeper spiritual insight down there in Alabama. Can't wait to hear about the next one!

Emily said...

Wow....that's.. crazy.... it reminds me of a show that I saw once late at night on the religious station. The guy was giving away "Miracle Holy Water" that could supposedly bring you health and wealth if you annointed yourself with it. Tempting...
If it makes you feel more at home we sang a Thanksgiving hymn that was very much akin to "Bringing in the Sheaves".......
We miss you!

Shannon Skafte said...

Ev'y - you need to relax - it's not like a lady had a holy leg - who just shook it at the congregation, and they then fell, and were over come by the Holy Spirit.

Just keep us up to date on the church seeking...

Love ya!
miss you

Rebecca Jane said...

Oh Evelyn - I think everything is an adventure with you, or at least you do a great job of making it all seem that way - I totally just laughed my BUM off (or maybe I was drunk in the spirit?) and the people walking by my room thought I was a bit psycho laughing in my room alone but anyway..
I look forward to hearing a more about the adventurous state of Alabama.
Take care,
Bec