This blog is moving to: http://imaginationlane.net/blog

Please update your bookmarks now.

No, this isn’t a political statement, it is a practical Churchgoing statement. Ever since I can remember, I’ve always sat in about the same place in Church when given a choice. My mother always sat in the first or second row, which I prefer not to do. Personally I always sit a bit forward of halfway back and in the right of the far left pew. Whenever I sat somewhere else I felt vaguely uncomfortable and couldn’t quite explain why. The question was answered when I was over in Oxford.

Here I am in C.S. Lewis’ church sitting where I usually would. Catch? That’s exactly the spot where Warnie Lewis & his brother Jack were. *pause for moment of Twilight Zone music*

Yes, whenever I wasn’t sitting there I felt odd and didn’t know why. I felt as if I aught to be sitting there, and it turns out that is precisely where the very person to whom I owe being a Christian used to sit. When I was in my teens I started hugely questioning my faith and that’s when C.S. Lewis came in. What is particularly intriguing, however, is that I am usually in Warnie’s seat. Why is that odd? Because his writings are the reason I began my discernment process to begin with! *insert more Twilight Zone music*.

Now I know why I sit where I do, and I thought the story behind it was interesting enough to share. If you have any reasons why you are in a particular place in church feel free to comment and share why. I’ve noticed that people tend to head to the same general place, no matter what Church they happen to enter.

Today was Pentecost, or as I like to call it “the annual reminder I don’t own anything red”. I did manage to dig out a burgundy ensemble which is as close as I can come! (We wear red to remember the flames of the Holy Spirit that came upon the Disciples at Pentecost, you can read about it in Acts). Many of the flowers had a red/orange theme, especially the ones around Mary (no picture of her sorry!) but I didn’t find the main banners until I was leaving and happened to look up so here they are in the picture above!

That is what is directly to the left of where I tend to sit. I’ve been going to St. James over a month but basically went to sit where I always sit. I think I’ll do a post about why next since it is rather a long tale.

That is what is directly in front of where I am. It subtly changes every week I noticed. There is a fabulous relief sculpture of Bethlehem with incredible detail as a backdrop to the figures. Today we had Father Nzomo, who is my personal favourite. He is always enthusiastic and has great stories from his time in Africa.

This isn’t a very flattering one, but it really is quite impressive up by the altar. I did a sort of hit and run picture here, because I was going out to breakfast with a group of people from the 9am Mass. That was a lot of fun– we headed for the nearby Peets and had a long conversation. I also finally got the official tour– it is a larger area than St. Vincent’s and there are absolutely no signs anywhere. When an event is listed at, say “Parish Centre” you can wander all over the property without finding it. Not to mention the extensive gardens. By garden I mean that literally– raised beds of veggies and flowers that is taken care of by Parishioners, particularly those in apartments that don’t have one of their own. The general idea is that it is hard for poorer families to afford fresh produce, and this is one way they can get some for free. Most food bank type places don’t deal with fruits/veggies since they go bad so quickly.