I Went Back...

…To the Worthington SDA Church today… (When finished with this story, click "Worthington SDA church" on the upper left side.)

I arrived earlier than last time and got there between services. Guess what they were doing when I walked through the door?

Serving cake. Yep, chocolate cake with loads of fluffy white frosting. The kids were getting it all over their clothes and the women were ruining their lipstick.

“January birthday’s”, I was informed when I asked a young man leaning on a white pillar in the foyer eating huge bites of cake as only young men can do.

So I ruined my lipstick too.

“Eating between meals!” Grandma Mascunana would have admonished – and 50 years later her words still echo in my ears when I ‘eat between meals’.

But that was when I raided the musty mold-covered veggies left over from the stew she cooked 3 weeks ago.

This was CHURCH. (Not even potluck after church.) She would turn over in her grave.

Then, I stood to one side of the different groups of people actually listening ‘eavesdropping' to ‘Sabbath’ conversations since the room/foyer seemed to buzz with animated conversation and much of it did not really sound ‘Sabbathy’. (We used to be very careful about what subjects we discussed from Friday night sundown to 30 seconds after sundown on Saturday night – just to be sure we didn’t ‘step on the edges’.)

Of course, I’m in Columbus, Ohio and the men just had to get in a word or two about those Buckeyes and the 4th quarter. Actually, I don’t know any comments worth saying at all after the first run of the 1st quarter – but the subject was being thrown around between bites of cake and the opening hymn in the sanctuary.

Today there were lots of kids running around and I was interested not only in their seemingly delight at the service, but the clothing that looked like they were fresh from the dirty clothes hamper. No kidding. Wrinkled. Torn. Baggy. Jeans. Un-tucked. I didn’t get close enough to sniff…But, for the most part, the KIDS SEEMED HAPPY! Hugging adults, Greeting their friends. One small boy even did handstands for us. I think it was more than the cake being served.

Maybe the “New Rules” have accomplished a purpose? Get the kids to church? But why? What are we really promoting these days? Surely not the fast approaching Second Coming when everyone will be judged on Judgment Day and only 144,000 will be alive to be caught up in the clouds. (Well, that’s how I was raised to believe when that age.)

Admittedly, I didn’t immediately sign the guest book today. Mary, my sweet greeter from last visit, was going into the Ladies Room when I entered and she looked at me as if she thought she should know me, but moved on through the door and I didn’t see her again.

Another woman wearing a greeter name tag shook my hand and looked at me like she wondered if she was suppose to greet me or welcome me. An old man walked by and held out his hand and I gave him mine but he passed on by.

I confused them because I didn’t sign the guest book, I guess. But, I was eating cake so I must be a member?

Suddenly across the room I saw someone I knew. Who was that white-haired but simply lovely-looking well-dressed woman?

Why it was Lacy’s master. (Lacy, the poodle pictured earlier.)

She introduced me to her husband as, "The woman who took Lacy’s pictures”.

She asked where my husband was and my response slightly shocked her.

“He’s not an Adventist, I said.”

Jim disagrees with that comment, but I told him he has to believe in Ellen G. White if he wants to be a Seventh-day Adventist. Speaking of which, I honestly don’t think the SDA Church upholds many of her teachings anymore. I was raised memorizing the most important passages from many of her books and can quote them even today. Meaningless words as they are applied now. Maybe that’s why I’m so confused.

In the sanctuary, I sat very near the back this time. I really didn’t care if the pastor recognized me or not. I sang the songs I knew loudly and with a SMILE. Who cares? It makes me feel good inside to smile when I sing. (And, I don’t think the man sitting behind me could speak English anyway.)

Then, I left.

Nope, didn’t stay for the sermon or wait to be greeted afterwards.

As Jim commented as I kissed good-by when leaving for church, “You could preach the sermon."

I did stop by the guest book as I left, though. The foyer now empty and quiet. No one to watch me or ask who I was.

I signed simply, “Linda Meikle – Take Care on the Journey”
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Worthington SDA Church

Not too long ago, I made a first-time visit to the Worthington Seventh-day Adventist Church near Columbus, Ohio. Nervous about being alone in church for the first time in my life and worried if my simple wedding band would raise eyebrows, I hesitated before pulling open the heavy oak doors against a cold winter’s wind.

After a lifetime of leadership positions in the SDA church, I knew what to look for and what the ‘rules’ were, so I headed straight for the guest book just inside the door and looked around for the “greeter” person to welcome me in.

Sure enough, sweet old Mary rushed over to greet me and watched as I wrote my name, address and phone number in the guest book. That was about the longest minute of my entire life.

After that I was on my own.

“Please turn off all cell phones” was the first message that flashed before me on a big screen over the pulpit as I entered the sanctuary. “Modern-day church” and its big screen advertising took me by surprise! I glanced around for unobtrusive seating. I had already turned off my cell phone!

“Fruit delivery will be here at 5 p.m. Please come help unload the truck” was a message I heard repeated several times before and after the comic-turned-serious-sermon.

I’m sure a small frown crossed my brow because I was certain that sunset – the end of the Holy Sabbath Day – fell somewhere pretty close to 5 p.m. Sure enough, a quick check showed sunset at 5:07 p.m.

If I was concerned about sabbath-keepers breaking the edges of the Sabbath – that was only the beginning of the “New Rules” that I discovered exist for the usually very strict SDA religion I observed for my entire life!

See, I had to take care of a little technicality related to my book, “Dusty Angels and Old Diaries.’ I needed to get my church membership transferred from Berrien Springs, Michigan to somewhere in the Columbia Union SDA Conference (like Worthington, Ohio) so the Visitor Magazine could proceed with publishing an article about the book in the January 2007 issue. I don’t know if this will be a 1x1 inch ad or an entire story, but I did promise the good folks there that I do attend an SDA church in the Columbia Union and, better yet, get my membership transferred once and for all.

I hope the Visitor Magazine nor the church members of the Worthington SDA Church will take offence at my public concern for what I perceived as pretty poor angelic representation at the SDA Church in my city.

Where were all the children? Only two? Oh, they have there own church service now. I counted about 150 people there, but saw no young people except those who played special music, and they filed right out the back door as soon as they were done.

What is that? Can it be? The minister is wearing a flashy gold wedding band? In Michigan, a couple can't get married in the SDA church if they plan to include rings in the service. I couldn’t take my eyes off his hand as he gestured while almost begging for help to unload that fruit truck at 5 p.m.

I was also interested in the organist and the pianist because I’ve played both instruments for church services over the years. I missed the Doxology as the prayerful ministers entered to start the serious church service. In fact, there was no formal entrance of the minister at all. They were seated somewhere on the front row. The program started with some announcements that included (again) help to unload the fruit truck at 5 p.m. and a very long prayer for the offering. There was a missed cue for the special music during the offering collection, and the musician sat back down.

Later, the special music WAS majestic as a woman played the harp and her partner played the violin in a duet. I was mesmerized by the music but intrigued as the woman's fingers sparkled with several rings and diamonds glittered in her ears. Well, I guess no one will complain about my wedding rings. But applause after the duo finished their piece was confusing for me. Were they entertaining us? Then the couple stood and took a bow. This is supposed to be worship to God! Not intertainment for us! I I realize that applause in church is accepted now, but I’ll never get used to it.

I must confess that I got up and moved toward the front of the church so the preacher would not miss me - a visitor. I sat near the isle on a nearly empty pew (3 of us on the pew) about 6 rows back and tried to look him straight in the eye during the entire sermon. I even shook my head in dismay at his funny prelude to the sermon with a comic story of Jesus's birth surrounded by twelve geese alayin, golden rings and dancing women! But, he never noticed me. I know because he didn't recognize me when I shook his hand after the sermon.

One thing that has not changed in the SDA church is the potluck dinner right after church. I noticed the announcement in the program.

(During the announcements, visitors were not welcomed and the potluck was not mentioned. Guess that money-making fruit truck really distracted them.)

But during the sermon, my mouth watered for good old SDA vegetarian food. I figured I could meet some church people and maybe even take a plate of food home to Jim. But I wasn’t invited to the potluck! I hung around the entry area. I looked for the room. I sniffed the air for the aroma of a warm meal, but I got cold feet and left the church before I got the nerve to ask or invite myself.

Going back to the angelic welcome that should be the greatest asset of any church. The only person who welcomed me was sweet old Mary. I got more friendly welcomes at the LeTip meetings in town than at church.

After the sermon that did NOT end in a formal prayer, Mary pulled me toward the pastor for an introduction. He was greeting his parishioners as they left the sanctuary. Well more than greeting. It was a social event that was causing a backup down the sanctuary isle. Three times Mary almost had my hand in his, but three times left his place in line to run after another church member to discuss this or that. (And, where was the pastor's wife? She used to stand next to her husband greeting the members and guests after the sermon, but I guess that went out a loooooong time ago...)

Finally, Mary almost forced her way between the pastor and me.

“I want to introduce… (she couldn’t pronounce my last name)

“Hi. My name is Linda Meikle and I’ve requested a membership transfer to this church.”

“Oh did you fill out the paperwork.”

“Yes, I’ve already spoken to your secretary and I left you a voice message on your answering machine.”

“Well, with almost 800 members, I can’t remember everybody.”

At that Mary pulled me away and said she really hoped I’d come back soon.

I gave her a hug and thanked her for welcoming me to her church.

Getting into my car, I pulled to the edge of the parking lot to observe the standard church attire. Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs is very strict about dress, makeup and jewerly. My family and I always dressed very nice for church. The boys wore suits even when it almost killed them to do so. We bought nice suits for BC when we couldn’t afford it! They were all pressed and laid out every Friday before sundown. It is respect for God that we did that. Or so I always thought.

Today, I had noticed one of the deacons who took up the offering didn’t wear a tie. Only the older men wore suits. Most of the women had nice outfits albeit some wore pantsuits - and that used to be a no-no. Most every woman wore wedding rings and some bracelets, but no necklaces. Only a few wore light lipstick and I didn’t see any real makeup except a few younger women. Short skirts, high heels, jeans, tennis shoes and back packs…

“Maybe”, I mused to Jim on my cell phone as I drove home…”Maybe I could join several churches and be a member of all the churches in town and no one would ever know the difference.” No matter the church, I would always make sure the visitors got a warm welcome and lots of angel hugs.

Take Care on the Journey - and remember to ...Love Your Neighbor...

~Linda

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