Okay so look….I’ve NEVER been to an Episcopal church, a Catholic church, or even a Lutheran church. I think the farthest away from my own denomination I’ve traveled has been Methodist. Today knocked my socks off.

Our worship team at Way of Life had the rare but awesome opportunity to go be a part of an ordination of a priest at St Martins in the Field Episcopal Church. How did we get this “gig?” A friend of ours actually works there, and the priest being ordained had requested a modern praise and worship band to come in.

What an experience! I even find it hard to come up with words to describe what happened today, but it was the oddest pair you’d ever put together, but the greatest time of worship! My first and only experience of Episcopalians was that of a people of reverence and tradition. I felt kind of in awe as I sat in the pew and listened as the massive pipe organ sounded out across the sanctuary and the choir sang in perfect unison. One of the men had a long pole that must have been 12-15 feet long with all these streamers and ribbons of red on it. As the people sang the hymns, he waved the pole over the crowd and all these ribbons swished and waved all over the people. It was AMAZING….the red ribbons represented the spirit of God sweeping over the people.

Everyone there was dressed in red, which red was symbolic of the spirit…..we all even had red on!

As we went through the program, each denomination sang songs from their genre, and it was amazing to see the response of worship. I have to say I would have never expected to have modern worship in an Episcopal ordination, but the people really seemed to enjoy it and responded. God was definitely there….which shows He knows no denomination boundaries!! I saw many people with tears on their faces and they felt God in that place.

I know sometimes we just think we are the ones with all the answers and we are the ones who know how it’s to be done, what a wrong attitude. I learned many things today from my Episcopal brothers and sisters….a family atmosphere where everyone knew everyone, and were VERY accepting even of others who were very different from them (us!!). Also these people are desperate for the presence of God as well as are we. These people had such a reverence for the word of God in how they recite it, and even sing it. The symbolism is quite interesting to as everything has significant meaning and is done with such thoughtfulness.

I love it when people don’t even see the differences that may go between them, as vast and big as it may seem….but we are focused on the things that we have that are the SAME - our love for God and our desire to live for Him and have His presence in our lives.

I am changed after today