The celebrant lifted up her hands and said “The Lord be with you.” The troubled man became quiet, the dog on the carpet sighed and put his head down. The woman, under the influence of alcohol, the dog’s owner, stopped her conversation. And all were fed – even the dog, although his food came from the goodies served after the Eucharist. After the blessing and dismissal, we stayed in a circle near the altar table for prayers of healing.
Trinity Chapel services are joyous celebrations whether we are the usual seven to ten souls, or even 17 people, on one occasion.
We are a mixed gathering of one or more neighbors, at least one and often more homeless, and a core of three or four committed people who volunteer at the Episcopal Church Center (ECC). For those of us who are ECC volunteers, the Sunday Eucharist makes possible our invitations to those we serve on weekdays to join us in church. Sometimes those invited do come on a Sunday morning and come back again.
For me, the service represents the Kingdom in all its variety, with all accepted into the gathering I always feel joy and often, laughter, and always, gratitude. Thanks be to God.
Come join us for a Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. at the Episcopal Church Center, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Come and see!
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