Al Fresco Worship

Today was our last Sunday at Wesley for more than a month. Our church will be closed for the month of July. We did the same thing last year. I spent the month visiting other churches here in Mimico. This year, I think I’ll explore a bit further afield. I want to visit a church in Oakville I’ve heard about. And I’d love to attend a service at Metropolitan United, Toronto’s huge downtown United church. Or St. Michael’s, the rich downtown Catholic church and the principle Church of the Archdiocese of Toronto. Maybe I’ll go to church with my neighbours, the Moltos. They attend St. Leo’s Catholic church here in Mimico. That’s where I went for World Day of Prayer back in March, Ms J. Remember? They were very nice there. And no, Ms Journal, I’m not thinking of converting to Catholicism.

It’s a bonny day today and 20C. Perfect for our annual outdoor service. I rehearsed a few songs with the choir last Thursday and I joined them on the front lawn of the church this morning. Accompanied by three guitars, two clarinets and a fid ... er, a violin, we sang under the great, leafy branches of a matronly Maple tree. I think the congregation enjoyed the informal service. And when Wesley reopens in August, I’ll be donning a robe and joining them in the choir loft. I’m not much of a singer, really. But I like all the people in the choir and I do enjoy music. And you know I love to perform for an audience!

Some of the songs they do are really difficult ones, Ms J, and I'll admit to being more a fan of Hank Williams than of J.S. Bach, but our choir is small in number. They really need more male voices. I told Emile, the music director, that when I'm rehearsing a play, I may not be available for choir practices. He understood completely.

"Just come on out when you can, Dale," he said in his delightful South African accent. "We'll be glad to see you."

You know, Ms Journal, I attend Wesley Mimico United Church for a number of reasons, but among the most compelling is the sense I have of belonging there. I feel welcome there. I've always felt that way. And don't we all long to feel a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves?

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