Monday, April 10, 2006

The Un-Church

I've never regularly attended any church, but that is certainly not to say that I don't have a religion. Anyway, there is a church, or rather, a Center for Life Enrichment, that I have performed at during their Sunday services every now and then for the last couple of years.

This past Sunday, they had their last Sunday service. I sang "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs. And the fact that I could play that song during a Sunday service, and then be applauded for it sort of sums up what this "non-church" was all about.

During part of the service, they took time for people to get to say what the Center has done, or has meant to them. It was really sweet, very light-hearted, and just the coolest thing. Since I don't regularly go, and because of my aversion to any type of public speaking, I didn't say what it meant to me...but I will here, now.

Like I said, I wasn't a regular attendee, I guess I just showed up when they called me to play there, but it actually REALLY meant a lot to me. Every person I've ever met there was so nice. I always felt welcomed and appreciated. And I felt like I was really a part of things. I got to sing whatever songs I brought in...songs I had written, and songs like "Imagine". Yeah, that's right- "Imagine"... I never had to be someone I wasn't. And isn't that really just the greatest thing?

So, I will miss this church that wasn't really a church. Definely it was named correctly, The Center for Life Enrichment. It DID enrich my life in so many ways...Through what was said, and more than anything from the friends I met along the way.

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