{"id":376,"date":"2013-01-07T17:42:51","date_gmt":"2013-01-07T23:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/?p=376"},"modified":"2013-01-07T23:41:55","modified_gmt":"2013-01-08T05:41:55","slug":"church-services-on-the-rez-and-stuff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.messy-spirituality.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/07\/church-services-on-the-rez-and-stuff\/","title":{"rendered":"Church services on the Rez and stuff"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"St.<\/a>Yesterday we went to St. John\u00a0Episcopal\u00a0Church for a service done by the Lutheran pastor of the retreat. \u00a0This is a very small church that was going to be closed due to the low\u00a0attendance\u00a0 \u00a0When the Lutheran pastor agreed to do the services, it was allowed to remain open. \u00a0Both \u00a0the church and the meeting room are wood stove heated. \u00a0Neither have air conditioning, not that we needed it and both do have electricity in them.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0attendance\u00a0this day were four members of the church. \u00a0What made this service so nice, were the members that were in\u00a0attendance, each had conversations with us and were very friendly, not that I expected anything else. \u00a0All the regular members in attendance were elderly and I had the\u00a0occasion\u00a0to speak to an 88 year old man.\u00a0 \u00a0He had some great stories about growing up, service in the military and his take on going to church services.<\/p>\n

I was able to get some great pictures while at this service and in the area. \u00a0Oh, forgot to \"_MG_7521\"<\/a>mention, bring your own toilet paper and be prepared to use outhouses if you need to make a pit stop. \u00a0There is no running water at the church, so make sure you bring your own water as well.<\/p>\n

Later in the\u00a0evening, we also did a service at at nursing home. \u00a0It was also really nice. \u00a0We kept taking song requests for the service. \u00a0It was great to see everyone coming together in song and praise.<\/p>\n

What seems really\u00a0prevalent\u00a0here is that each event will contain food. \u00a0This was the case for the wake, the two services last night and the service the previous night. \u00a0It is in the time of food consumption that we get to be with others and speak over a meal. \u00a0There is something very bonding in sharing a meal and conversation.<\/p>\n

Let me speak to the stuff. \u00a0It never fails that when you bring many people together, there are clashes of personalities. \u00a0Especially if you bring many type A and Justice oriented people together. \u00a0I have been involved in a single project of working on the house that I mentioned in a previous post. \u00a0However, today I was asked to look at another project, of laying tile. \u00a0There have been some concerns as to the\u00a0logistics\u00a0of getting this large project done, while keeping the area open for the children that come in, people that are living in the area and all the other pieces of a tile project. \u00a0I have yet to see a wall that was “square” and therefore you always lay tile staring in the center of the area, determined by means of things like a\u00a0chalk\u00a0line. \u00a0I was asked by a couple of people to give some input for the project. \u00a0I quickly determined there was some leadership conflict styles and that I was being\u00a0triangulated. \u00a0I made it clear that I did not want to intrude on their project. \u00a0If they would like some advice, such as dealing with a clear ledge type hump running down the middle of the room, I would assist. \u00a0I could see the “self” designated leader getting upset with an outsider coming into their space. \u00a0With that I reversed direction and just gave some information and suggested if they wanted to try that it was fine or not. \u00a0Please let me know if I can help. \u00a0I refuse to allow myself to be dragged into the messy triangulation.<\/p>\n

And now the day is over, let me share some pictures with you.<\/p>\n\n\t\t