The night is full of sounds as we relax on the porch of a rectory in Georgetown, Guyana. Crickets chirp, car horns honk, donkeys bray, horses clip-clop and dogs bark. The rooster who struts during the day is quiet, but he will begin his unwelcome wake-up call about 3 a.m.
A phone call disturbs our evening reading. The priest at a nearby church has been called away. Would I preside at the service the next morning?
Church services in the West Indies begin early. Clinton Duke, a retired policeman, calls for us at 6:30 a. m. He laughs when I climb into the right seat of his car and discover the steering wheel facing me. We banter about driving on the wrong side of the road while waiting for cattle to move out of the way. People in Guyana have a different view of herd law than Prairie ranchers.
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St. Aloysius is literally a church without walls. The parish began when a parsonage was built on stilts to protect against flooding in a city located below sea level. Then a temporary arrangement to hold church services in the open space under the residence became permanent. As I prepared for worship, I noticed that people came into the church from every direction. They did not need to find the door. There is no door. Some people sat on pews. Others stood on the edges. Some people remained in the street.
I reflected that it would be easy to slip in and out of a church like that. If you were curious, you could stand on the edge and observe. I sometimes think it must take courage to enter a church for the first time in our part of the world. What is on the other side of the door? Will I need to walk down a long aisle with peering eyes on both sides? The sign may say All Welcome but will that be my experience if I dare to enter?
On the way home I read about a devastating fire which destroyed a historic and much loved church in Whitby, Ont. The fire was apparently caused by arson. News reports mentioned the baptisms, weddings and funerals that had taken place in the church since 1866, but focused on the way church members serve the community. Twice a week the church offers food to needy people, and 90 Christmas hampers were stored in the church basement, slated for delivery the morning of the fire.
The residents of Whitby responded quickly. A nearby high school became a donation centre to replace goods for the lost hampers. The Salvation Army accepted telephone pledges. Christine Elliott, the area s member of provincial parliament, opened her constituency office as a drop-off station for food, toys and clothing.
The GLOBE AND MAIL reported, Others are doing what they can, regardless of any connection to the church. A cab company offered to send their cabs at no charge to pick up hamper donations. The company owner put up $300 as a challenge to other businesses to assist.
One of the clergy at the church, Beverley Williams, was quoted as saying This doesn t stop the church. The church has been happening right here in the parking lot, and we continue.
I reflected that walls can be stone or they can be open air. Churches that make a difference welcome people inside their walls and they reach out beyond their walls, demonstrating what they believe with action.
Suggested Scripture: Zechariah 2:1-5, Ephesians 2:13-22
