Chapter 7: Calvin

"This is so embarrassing. How did I talk myself into coming here? What can these people possibly know that will help Steve and I? I'll never fit in here, and he certainly won't. I can't imagine Steve going through this," Jenny thought to herself.

She was experiencing one of the difficulties inherent in being "new" to a church family in a small church. No matter how nice, how friendly people were, it was obvious that Jenny was a visitor, someone who wasn't normally there. Nancy and her husband Tim provided a familiar point of reference for both the congregation and for Jenny, but Jenny still felt disoriented. She had a crazy impulse to pretend that she had accidentally wandered into the wrong church and, having just realized it, get up and leave. But Nancy knew otherwise, so she'd just have to grin and bear it.

Looking around, she knew she was being silly. Nothing she saw was particularly threatening. The church was fairly simple inside, similar in fact to the buildings she'd grown up with. There were several indications of poor maintenance, though, from the thick weeds in the yard to the water stains on the high wooden ceiling. She'd never been in a ward with such a poorly maintained structure, and it made her curious about the commitment of these people to their church, to what they must surely see as God's work here on earth. She knew it would turn off Steve's interest. Smiling, she imagined Mr. Yuppie Mitsunami sniffing at the building and thus missing the lesson she intended him to learn. Maybe the sheer otherness of the experience would open his mind a bit if she handled it properly. At least he wouldn't be able to write off the church as "plastically perfect".

As she looked around she began noticing the people. They seemed to represent quite a cross section of ages, from babies to ancient matrons. Small boys squirmed between parents, and a cluster of young girls whispered and giggled a few pews ahead of her. Such scenes were familiar from her own childhood. There seemed to be a few people her own age here, people she didn't know. A very old woman, healthy and spry, came down the center aisle and took a seat next to her. After exchanging greetings with Jenny and her hosts, she began asking about Jenny's background and family. Jenny enjoyed talking with her, and felt more at home.

They were interrupted by pastor Andersen, who began the service with a series of announcements. The church appeared to have an active high school and junior high youth program, there were opportunities to sign up for something called "friendship dinners" and small group bible studies, and the talent show was upcoming. A missionary report from Calvin's missionaries was scheduled for Sunday evening, with dessert and child care provided. Calvin's missionaries? This piqued Jenny's curiosity, since she wasn't aware of any Protestant church other than the Latter Day Saints (which she considered a Christian church) that sent missionaries from the congregation. Normally they just sent money. She'd have to ask about that.

But Rev Mark was finished announcing and there was organ music playing. Another smile, as Jenny reflected that the only place she ever heard organ music was at baseball or church. Odd combination.

The service began, and Jenny took cues from the lay worship leader on when to stand, when to sing, when to speak, when to pray. For many, the liturgy would have simply been a ritual, mechanically enacted merely for the sake of social convention. But Jenny was paying attention, listening closely to what said and sung. The first hymn was traditional, the second set more contemporary. The styles clashed, and the congregation seemed confused by it. Why the clash, the mumbling? No one else seemed particularly surprised by it, so it must have been a common occurrence. She thought it represented an aural dissonance in the church, but also a willingness on the part of the church body to tolerate differences on less important aspects of the faith. The message carried by the hymns was not diverse, all of them praising the Lord of the Universe and exalting His purposes over those of men. A unifying theme, plainly presented, and held by those in attendance to be more important than a matter of style. The mere fact that this church could apparently distinguish between style and substance was a good sign, given what she was looking for. The congregational prayer affirmed this message.

Listening to the prayers of the people, she heard about the life of this group from a different direction. There were apparently many in the church with various infirmities, some children with noxious childhood diseases, a middle aged boomer with a bad back, and a couple elderly saints suffering from the wear and tear that comes in time to all. There seemed to be concern for the direction of society reflected in some of the prayers, a spiritual unease, and prayers for an outpouring of God's love on one and all. How that would take care of pollution, crime, a corrupt president, illegitimacy and world hunger wasn't immediately obvious.

After a recitation of the Lord's prayer and a brief anthem, the offering plate was passed around. What followed made Jenny laugh out loud, which caused her some embarrassment even though she quickly stifled it. The Doxology began playing, and everyone in the congregation, without prompting, leapt to their feet in the most devoted manner. To the strains of "Praise God from whom all blessings flow .... the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" the entire congregation respectfully watched the offering being brought up and laid on the altar. Apparently the Puritan respect for money hadn't died away completely yet.

In truth, the obvious incongruity of the act seemed to be lost on everyone in the building except Jenny. Maybe they thought they were standing due to the holiness of the Doxology itself? Puzzling. It would be interesting to see if Steve noticed anything odd.

Following a "request" to be seated the children were invited forward for a message, then sent off to somewhere which would keep them from squirming during the culmination of the service, the pastor's sermon. Actually, the children's sermon was both sweet and instructional in its own way, a slim middle aged woman enthralling the 20 odd youngsters with her tales of earthworms struggling to cross hot pavement on their own. Even the little boys settled down to listen, not wanting to miss out on the life and death story. The point that we all need guidance to avoid being flattened by life in a wicked world was made in a way which would probably stick with the kids for a few years anyway, and maybe a few of the adults who weren't already dozing.

After the energy level in the aisle died away with the receding gaggle of children, the congregation noticeably settled back to receive instruction from the shepherd of their souls. Glancing around, she tried to determine how many members of this flock were actually open to what he had to say. Most faces were impassive and carefully unemotional, but they seemed to be aware and listening. Occasionally there was a face which seemed to show unbridled enthusiasm. Jenny noticed that most of those faces belonged to mothers of young children, and suspected that they were looking forward to being able to concentrate on something intellectually stimulating for a few minutes. A good sign.

Pastor Andersen saw those same faces with that same closed yet open expression every Sunday as he stepped up to the pulpit to begin his Sermon. Scanning the crowd, he also noticed an attractive young woman with Tim and Nancy who he hadn't seen before. She had that same expression on her face. He shook his head slightly and looked down at the Bible on the pulpit, preparing to read today's text. "Just once," he thought to himself, "just once I'd like to see them openly excited by the prospect of hearing me speak." But he smiled at his own hubris.

"Shall we pray?" He lead the congregation through a prayer asking for God's blessing on what was to be said, that it might be spoken and interpreted as the Truth He intended for all to have.

"A reading from the New Testament, 1st Timothy Chapter 4, verses 1-10 and verse 16."

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this [end] we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

"And in verse 16 St. Paul goes on to say 'Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.'"

Using this text as a basis, he launched into his sermon.

Jenny was deeply impressed. The words cut directly to the heart of her problem, and were delivered with a conviction she hadn't heard since early childhood. This man, and by extension these people, really believed that Truth lay in the words of this Bible, a book she'd never read, and hadn't heard from in a very long time. "Seducing spirits indeed!" she thought to herself. "This book was written an eon ago, and it described Michelle to a T. Hah! Steve should be here to hear this. Actually, I suppose Michelle should be here to hear this, but... naw." Jenny still had some things to learn.

The Reverend Andersen's sermon continued, and Jenny began listening again.

"So, St. Paul here states that the world will become corrupt. Big deal, right? Safe bet, right? What kind of prophecy is this? Well, it wasn't made as a prophecy, it was written as a statement of obvious fact to a very young leader in a very wild and woolly part of the early church's mission field. The important thing to note here is how Paul exhorts Timothy to stick to what is true, to recognize the lying spirit for what it is, and to oppose it."

"As Christians it is important that we share God's love with those around us and in the world at large. We can't do this if we don't talk to these people, if we aren't with them, if we refuse to soil ourselves with the presence of sin next to our lives. It's a dirty world folks, and we've got to get some of it on us. But never mistake being in the world for being of the world, discussion of sin for acceptance of sin. For if we go to the world with love in our hearts, we must also go with Truth in our head and on our tongues. Life, abundant and fulfilling, springs from the love and Truth of God, and from no where else."

Jenny had found what she was seeking. Steve had to listen, to listen and choose life rather than the death dealt by a seducing spirit. Somehow she would revive his conscience, maybe with the help of this church, but certainly with the help of God. It dawned on her that she already knew she couldn't do it alone.

Jenny wept. Nancy squeezed her hand and then dabbed her own eyes. Tim glanced at them both, and thought to himself how strange women were. How could this sermon make anyone cry?

Pastor Andersen faltered for a second when he noticed Nancy and Jenny's faces. "Now what did I say?" he wondered to himself. He mentally shrugged and went on, finishing his sermon with an amusing anecdote.

He was clueless.