"Suffer the little children to come unto me"
Last night I went to church. It was on the Catholic side. It was in a really old building. There were probably over 100 people in attendance. And I didn't understand a word. Not even when the music leader greeted me after the service.
Several weeks ago, I was invited by my colleague Krzysztof to come visit his church. (EDIT: And I didn't make it until this week.) It is apparently the only Polish mass in Edinburgh. The music was led by two chaps playing guitar and singing, with the lyrics put up for all to see using an overhead projector. Within a three-pew radius, there were at least 5 toddlers, and there were more smiles to be seen upon the grown folks' faces in response to their antics (during eucharist, say) than any other emotion in the collection of mostly young couples.
I miss being around small people. It's one of the few things I think Universities need more of.
Given that I only recognised a handful of words (including "Jezus") in the service, paired with the fact that my faith has never really had a Catholic bent, I do not think I will be making regular visits to this family. But it is one more link in the chain of my understanding of British and International Christianity.
Several weeks ago, I was invited by my colleague Krzysztof to come visit his church. (EDIT: And I didn't make it until this week.) It is apparently the only Polish mass in Edinburgh. The music was led by two chaps playing guitar and singing, with the lyrics put up for all to see using an overhead projector. Within a three-pew radius, there were at least 5 toddlers, and there were more smiles to be seen upon the grown folks' faces in response to their antics (during eucharist, say) than any other emotion in the collection of mostly young couples.
I miss being around small people. It's one of the few things I think Universities need more of.
Given that I only recognised a handful of words (including "Jezus") in the service, paired with the fact that my faith has never really had a Catholic bent, I do not think I will be making regular visits to this family. But it is one more link in the chain of my understanding of British and International Christianity.