52 Houses of Worship in 52 Weeks Across the Holy City, Charleston SC

House of Worship #8 – Grace Church Cathedral

As Keith Jackson might have said, “Welcome to Easter Sunday, the Granddaddy of them all!” Come on, I gotta have a little fun as I’m on this journey, and Keith Jackson was one of my personal faves (if you know, you know). I decided to do two services for Easter as (a) I need to catch up a bit to get to my 52 goal by December 31 and (b) given it is THE holiday for most Christians, I was eager to experience two services. The first one was Grace Church Cathedral, currently the cathedral church for the diocese of The Episcopal Church.

I arrived with what I thought were just a few minutes to spare for the 9 a.m. service; however, it started at 9:15 a.m., which gave me time to truly enjoy the sanctuary and the beautiful prelude singing as well as the organ. The organ was quite loud, and no complaints as it produced a stunning sound! When I think back to my childhood and moments when I did enjoy going to church, it was always about the music for me – the harmonies of choir members, the old school hymns and hearing an organ played in all its majesty. Something that is under appreciated in Charleston is strolling downtown with a coffee and hearing all the church bells toll. They can change your whole vibe and take you to a certain peaceful place mentally.

I learned the steeple of this cathedral was recently repaired, and it truly is spectacular as you walk up to the building. The overall wonderment inside this sanctuary takes your breath away. Memorials to past members were etched into the stained-glass windows. And WOW – let’s talk about those stained-glass windows – they are everywhere you look. This was my view from my pew – I caught myself gazing up multiple times.

View from front of the sanctuary looking back…

Once I was settled into my pew, I observed the kneeling stools. They are clearly all hand sewn with personalized touches (see pic). The Celebrant (pastor/ priest) was walking around the pews like a Delta pilot once did preflight in first class. He was greeting familiar faces and introducing himself to newbies. I very much enjoyed his Easter message. He started out making Dad jokes (I was surprised to learn he was married with children) and asked us all why Easter had become all about chocolate and bunnies. He went on to discuss how Easter is like a garden—it combines Life, Death and Rebirth to start the cycle all over again—and how your faith mirrors a garden, too, in that how you tend to it is how much it flourishes. He was an engaging speaker and gave pause during his sermon for reflection. I also really enjoyed his anecdotes.

Now this is when it got a wee bit weird. Next up was the children’s homily and it started off with the Reverend handing out chocolates. I literally laughed out loud, as I felt there was a bit of a disconnect between the sermon we just heard (how Easter has been reduced to chocolate and bunnies) and the children’s homily where they all got chocolate. Clearly, the kids didn’t need sugar as MANY (purposefully in all caps) were crying, making noise and in general being disruptive. I get it, you want to bring your child to Easter service, but if you do, please be respectful of those of us who want to hear the message and choir. If your child starts crying, whining or running their toy truck back and forth on the pew bench, take them outside.

The communion was efficiently served, with the main Reverend leading the group around the entire sanctuary to deliver the sacrament. As in past Sundays, I choose to abstain, as I was not sure of the Episcopal guidelines for partaking of communion. When I politely whispered “no thank you” when he got to me, he said some sort of prayer, and I immediately felt judged by the entire room. Oh well. Similar to my observations at the Catholic service, these service participants changed robes prior to communion. Started with black robes then moved to ornate gold and white robes. They slip into these back rooms behind the altar for the wardrobe change, almost like a Broadway show. See pic below of the final robe worn during the service outside the church.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this service. It ran a bit long at the end and there were A LOT of hymns. Would definitely come back solely to hear a new sermon from this Reverend.

House of Worship #7 – The Cathedral of St. John The Baptist

This was my first Catholic service since my college roommate’s wedding. I came away with so many thoughts and questions, and I’m excited to share my experience. I attended what was referred to as the “solemn mass” on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. This cathedral was built in the late 1800s on the foundation of the original cathedral that was destroyed by a fire in Charleston. You might be asking yourself what is the difference between a cathedral and a church as I did…this is what I found:

Answer #1 – The cathedral is a much larger place of worship than a church and is run by a bishop. A church is run by a group of clergymen or priests. The bishop usually resides on the cathedral premises.

Answer #2 – A church becomes a cathedral when a cathedra is placed within it. A cathedral holds a cathedra. A cathedra is a permanent seat/chair/throne/bench upon which a bishop sits during services.

Answer #3 – As cathedrals are the seat of a bishop, they are central church of a diocese. Only those Christian denominations that have bishops have cathedrals. Cathedrals can be found in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican as well as some Lutheran churches.

So, the gist is because the bishop and his cathedra are there, it is a cathedral.

Everything from the minute I entered this Catholic service felt regal, reverent and embodied everything I perceive as “holy.” This is the first church I’ve attended so far in Charleston that didn’t have marble memorials on the walls or mentions of previous members on the windows. Each stained-glass window was either a Saint or an Apostles/ Scripture story. The other immediate thing I noticed were the stars on the ceiling. I was enchanted with how it brought you into the service and that moment this Sunday morning. It was the first service where I was also a bit nervous as I wasn’t sure what was happening or if I would immediately be identified as a non-Catholic. Most everyone else I saw entered the sanctuary went straight up to the altar and did the sign of the cross and then came to their pew. Most of the crosses and other items at the altar were covered in a purple cloth, which I assumed had to do with Lent.

Views of various items covered in purple cloth

View of the star covered ceiling – gorgeous

The service started with lights turning up, creating an immediate energy change in the sanctuary. The procession was fascinating: many men in various colored robes, young boys as the altar boys carrying candles and then a steaming device. A quick google search tells me it is a thurible, and it is burning incense. They then pounded their chest in citing a rite of some sort . The only other time I had seen this was when Scarlett’s Mom (Miss Ellen O’Hara) in Gone with the Wind had done it at their nightly prayers. Don’t forget – the O’Haras were good Catholics.

The Catholic O’Haras from Gone With The Wind

When the priest (I might be using inaccurate terms, but the bulletin didn’t identify the participants) read the gospel, the other gentleman brought out the thurible again and all members did the sign of the cross as he read. Most of the service is in Latin, so it was harder to follow along. I also wasn’t clear if the rest of us were supposed to sing The choir sang (and it was beautiful), but I found the song selections and music harder to follow than other services. I did read that the church was offering 40 hours of prayers over the next five days (part of Lent) and five (5!!!!) times to confess.

Confessional booth open and ready for business

The members dressed casually – this surprised me. I expected “Sunday Best”; instead I saw a lot of jeans, khakis and relaxed attire in contrast to the formality of the service itself. It was the first service that conducted an offering during the hour, and they used unique baskets with long handles to reach into the pews. The communion was a significant portion of the service and taken very seriously. It is only the bread, no wine. When members go up to the priest to participate, many had their arms crossed over their chest and then meekly offer their hands out in a cupped position to receive the sacrament. After the communion was completed, the head priest did a robe swap (purple to white) and then a walk about the entire church with the full group in their robes, a cross, the incense—and all the members stayed kneeling THE WHOLE TIME. There is a majesty to a Catholic service that is nearly overwhelming.

The history fan in me can’t help but wonder why over the centuries Catholics have been so worked up when other religions formed. Did it take money from their offering plates? Is it as simple as that? Think about the wars and lives lost in Europe specifically in the 1300s-1800s over Catholics vs. _______. Was it worth it? I found myself doing a lot of questioning of the Catholic faith after reading Davinci Code and visiting Italy my first time. And yes, I know Davinci Code is a fictional book, but it does propose some interesting theories. When you’re in a Catholic cathedral in Italy and you look up at the demon faces who are looking down on you in judgement and prompting fear it makes you question the original intent. Was it to make members feel blessed in their faith, or fear the church so much they make a weekly offering and attend mass multiple times a week? I don’t know the answer but it does prompt a lot of questions for me on their ultimate goal. It is to serve God, or serve the church?

I want to do some deep dives on Saints and Catholics – the connection and history. And that, kids, we’ll cover on another day.

House of Worship #6 – 2nd Presbyterian Church of Charleston

Back-to-back Presbyterian churches. I had actually planned to visit a different church this Sunday, but because their website was not updated, I found myself searching for a new pew at 10 a.m., not long before service began. This one fit the bill, starting at 10:30 a.m. and right around the corner from my apartment. It worked out perfectly, as this congregation started as an offshoot from the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church https://ashleyadventures.blog/2021/04/01/house-of-worship-5-first-scots-presbyterian-church/ in 1809. I’ve always wondered about the “first,” “second” etc. in church names, and I think it is as simple as the obvious— first one to form, second and so forth.

This church had the most welcoming members so far – inviting and friendly without being invasive. There was a young violinist who was a guest soloist before the service started. She was outstanding. I feel like I am repeating this observation, but it is true week after week that the size and beauty of these churches are magnificent. The design detail on the columns as well as the altar were gorgeous. After a few searches, I have learned the sanctuary is considered a Classic Revival style. It is stuccoed brick with two tiers of windows, a square tower with an octagonal belfry, and a tetra Tuscan portico. The size of the sanctuary presented a problem because it strained the voices of the ministers. Therefore, in 1833 the floor was raised three feet, the ceiling lowered sixteen feet, and the rear wall of the nave moved to enlarge the vestibule. Lastly, the pews again were low , and as a woman on the taller side, I find these uncomfortable.

Some of the detail and of course, marble memorials

The service started with an open call from the Pastor to ask him questions. I found this intriguing and very sincere. We then went into a confession similar to the other services that included a read-aloud group confession then silent time for your own. The pastor assured us on the other side of the read confession that our “slate was clean,” so I felt good. Ready to sin again! 😎

I appreciated that their bulletin included an overview of the Apostles Creed explaining why they say “descended into hell” and why the C in Catholic has been in lower case potentially in the Anglican services from earlier (https://ashleyadventures.blog/2021/03/03/house-of-worship-2-saint-michels-church/) . From their bulletin:

* ”hell” refers to the Hebrew word “Sheol,” a place of the dead, rather than the Hell of the final judgment.

** “catholic” is Latin for “universal,” implying the Christian unity that exists beyond all denominations.

The sermon this day was about if you knew the world was ending what would you do? It was centered upon Jesus’s last week and how his various disciples acted—or didn’t. I liked Pastor Darwin’s message, but interestingly, felt it ended too soon. I was expecting more of rally cry for the week. They served communion and again, I chose not to partake out of respect for the church’s different beliefs if a non-member can participate. I know Methodists welcome all Christians (I am a baptized Christian) yet not sure with each new denomination so decided to abstain.

Their service ended with an applause benediction. The sports fan in me liked this – like a “Go Team!”

Me outside the church on a sunny Charleston day

Graves / memorial of the first pastor and third pastors of the Church. Both died prior to 1830

House of Worship #5 – First (Scots) Presbyterian Church

First (Scots) Presbyterian Church is a beautiful building. As I entered, I was taken aback with the stained-glass windows that surrounded the first and second floors of the sanctuary. With each of these weekly church visits, I am filled with curiosity about the people who have sat in these pews before me. When you enter the sanctuary and take time to read the marble plaques, it tells you a quick synopsis of the early members of the church, a dedication of why this window was earmarked for them and lastly—as a member shared with me—most are buried out back in a cemetery adjacent to the church. It makes you pause and think: is there room for today’s church members? At what point will we transition to honoring or celebrating members of our current day instead of the founding fathers of our past?

This particular Presbyterian Church was founded in 1731, when a few of the Scottish members left the Independent Church of Charles Towne to form this congregation. The Scottish influence is still felt today, as a member wearing a Scottish kilt brought the bible (or a book of some sort; I actually don’t know what it was) up to the altar during the opening processional. The acoustics of this sanctuary were also stunning. The traditional church service fan in me enjoyed having the hymns printed with the accompanying music in our bulletins and hearing the congregation sing along with the hymns. It’s hard with the masks – let’s just face it – but despite the masks, this was the loudest group I’ve heard so far.

The history found on these marble slabs is fascinating to me

Scroll in to read the detail of this person’s life. Also the sculptor is from Edinburgh Scotland. Scottish Church…

Prior to converting to United Methodist as a youth, my sister and I were raised Presbyterian, and the fundamentals of the service were as I remember them so many years ago. The little holes for the communion cups – I had many a fun time tossing wadded pieces of bulletin paper in those as a kid (kind of wanted to do that today but I resisted – ha!); the flow of the service and for the most part, the readings, baptism and children’s sermon were similar. The exception to this was the Call for the Confession. I don’t recall this at all growing up in Methodist or Presbyterian churches. I’ve noticed this is a big deal in most of the churches I’ve been too so far on this Charleston journey. There is a silent call for confessions and then a group reading aloud where we verbally say we’ve “failed to serve God faithfully.”

Communion Cup holders – or a hoop for bulletin baskets

The guilt aspect expected from so many religions I just don’t get. I subscribe to the belief that we’re all humans, we make mistakes, we can apologize and forgive and move on. I guess this is a form of confession, but the ritual and public shaming aspect just feels forced to me.

The sermon today was “Wisdom of God.” It didn’t leave a positive or negative impression on me. The gist was you are saved by the grace of faith not necessarily by “doing.” People expect God to act a certain way, yet his acts are never going to be logical. We, as a modern society, tend to think and see things through logic and that challenges our faith and the “wisdom of God.”

Communion was handled via plastic cups at the beginning of the service. I did not participate, so I didn’t see how they handed the bread/body, and I didn’t see anyone else with any bread.

The only other note I’ll mention is that I felt the service had an awkward “Passing of the Peace” open at the beginning of the service. Multiple people wanted to know why I was there and if I was visiting Charleston. The pews were open, so in this moment of sharing, I missed the security of my locked pew box. Maybe next Sunday.

Fun Facts:

Congregation formed 1731

Building built in 1813 with the Scottish seal over the entryway

Damaged in the 1886 earthquake

Original Church Bells were donated to the Confederate Army, replaced in 1999 with bells made in the 1800s from a church in England.

House of Worship #4 – Huguenot Church

In full disclosure, I was running late heading in to church this morning. I cursed both God and Jesus due to the rain, lack of parking spot and the idiot who parked too close to my spot, so I had to shimmy out of my car. They were taking temperatures at the door (again, COVID-19 measures) and once inside, open seating. Back to my safe pew box, starting to really like these!

Once I sat down, I was immediately calmed from the hurried beginning to my morning and my parking fiasco. The Huguenot Church has an intimate atmosphere along with the historic beauty of some of the previous churches I’ve visited so far on this journey. As a newbie to their service, I appreciated the Liturgy book in the pew that allowed me to follow along with the readings and the bulletin. This particular Liturgy was first published in 1713 – and if you reference the picture, you’ll see it was translated from the Liturgies of Neufchatel and Vallangin (after a quick Google search, I discovered the original work from Neufchatel is described as “This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.” Truly love the history of it all. And to bring us right back to 2021 – fans of the Bravo show “Southern Charm” will enjoy seeing my particular liturgy was donated by The Ravenel Family. 

The choir is behind the organ and the acoustics in this church are magnificent. Not sure how many members they have, but they create a mighty roar. The organ—both audio and visually— was gorgeous. The church is dimly lit with a beautiful, yet modest chandelier hanging down from the center. Early in the service, I was taken aback as we said the ten commandants out loud prior to confession. I hadn’t read those in a minute. If you need a refresher – they are also posted in a marble slab at the front of the church (see pic).

Today’s sermon was about baptism and the different times in a person’s life one gets baptized, and asking the question, does God “require” it? The sermon came from the Assistant Pastor, Reverend Chaplain Baldwin, and if I understood correctly, he previously served in the Air Force. He shared two poignant stories about military members who found Christ during deployment, and he baptized them in the moment. He also told the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch from the book of Acts. Now I didn’t know the story of a Eunuch so I linked to this story I found – fascinating members of the palace, specifically in this case, the court of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia. The Eunuch had traveled to Gaza to pray and on the way back, Philip was summoned to him. They prayed together, and ultimately Philip told him he could be baptized because he simply believed. Evidently, the Eunuch had inquired in Gaza about being Baptized in Judaism and he wasn’t allowed… I’m a bit hazy on this part honestly. https://www.gotquestions.org/Ethiopian-eunuch.html

What I found way more interesting was the misspelling of King Louis XIV on the marble memorial for Elias Horry. Fun fact – Louis XIV was known as the Sun King and built the iconic palace, Versailles. Horry was born in France in the late 1600s when the Edict of Nantes was passed by King Henry IV. Essentially, the Edict of Nantes brought civility to France and ended the French Wars of Religion. Henry’s grandson, King Louis XIV brought forth the Edict of Fontainbleau (1685) which drove the exodus of Protestants from France. Hence, the Horrys came to South Carolina. King Louis is referred to as Lewis multiple times on the memorial – have to wonder if it is a slight. America was the land of religious freedom – no matter your choice, America was a safe haven. If you’re a history buff like me, you know how much blood was shed in Europe specifically in the 1400s/ 1500s/1600s between Catholics and Protestants and what made America so appealing in the 1600s/ 1700s. Why couldn’t have they have just let each have their beliefs and move on? What is it about religion that makes people want to kill if you don’t believe the same they do? It seems to go against the teaching of Jesus, yet how many people have been killed in his name, by supposedly other people who also follow him.

This post is a bit longer, as this service was the one I most wanted to do the most research on afterward. Lots of history with the Huguenots that I personally find very fascinating. And the best part of the Huguenot service? It started at 10:30 a.m., and we were out at 11:07. Short and sweet!

House of Worship #3 – St. Philip’s Church

Part of the reason I have embarked on this 52 houses of worship in 52 weeks’ journey is to explore many of the beautiful churches our Holy City has to offer, and St. Philip’s Church did not disappoint in terms of beauty. As I walked up Church Street (yes, for you non-locals, many of our historical churches reside on Church street – ha!), I was overwhelmed by the sounds of the bells ringing. It’s such a gorgeous sound, especially early in the morning.

Charleston church bells on a Sunday morning…

I was nervous when I walked up, as they had a list of attendees and I had not pre-registered (COVID-19 measures). The ushers were gracious and immediately assured me I could go in. Similar to St. Michael’s, St. Philip’s has the pew boxes. These crack me up, and the lack of space makes it challenging for all the kneeling, standing and sitting. Tight quarters. This service had several prayers leading up to the sermon, and it does help to bring you into the moment.

The sermon at St. Philip’s was my favorite so far on this journey. Reverend Miller is a masterful speaker, and his storytelling ability was superb. The day’s sermon was on discipleship and the cost of it. It prompted a lot of questions and head nodding from me, as it hits on a key topic for me: are Christians today ready to “give up everything to follow Christ? Or do they have a weakened faith?” His message (and I won’t do it justice) discussed how to be a disciple you need to be (1) obedient (2) repentant and (3) have perseverance. He mentioned Christians today want the benefits of “Common Law” faith relationship without all the responsibilities, kind of like living with someone without getting married. He spoke about living your daily life as a Christian and how you are a disciple in your entire life, not just at the end of your life when you might have regrets. Again— and I may not sum this up exactly right— my takeaway was being a Christian is hard work. You need to buy into it all and be willing to give up certain aspects of your previous life. Similar to the story in the book of Mark when a few fishermen left their boat and nets to follow Jesus, it was an act of faith and discipleship. Pure obedience.

Kneeling stool, hymnals and Bible – all handy in your own pew box

I thought about this a lot as I went to brunch after church. My issue with many churchgoers over the years is they are disciples on Sundays, yet not Monday-Saturday. Are these common-law relationships with the Christian faith? Maybe. Does it work for those people? That’s for them to answer, but I did really appreciate how Rev. Miller called it out. Are you willing to pay the cost of discipleship?

And because I like the random nuggets, I’ll share this: I experienced a first in all of my years of saying the Apostles Creed. I’m reading along and then boom “…He descended into hell.” Wait What? Wow – who says that? Going to do some research on it and share later because I was taken aback by this alternate version of the reading. Oh, and Anglicans rolling with the lower case “c” again when referencing the Catholic Church. It’s kinda cracking me up.

Fun Facts:

Congregation organized 1680; current building rebuilt 1838
Domination: Anglican (Christian)
American Flag – yes

Outside St Philips – stunning church and message.

House of Worship #2 – Saint Michael’s Church

I was excited to attend service on January 10 at St. Michael’s Church (Anglican). St. Michael’s is the oldest edifice in Charleston. The current structure sits at the corner of Broad and Meeting, and it is said by locals this corner represents the four corners of law: local, state, federal and God’s. As we were still in the thick of battling COVID-19 at the time of my visit, the church required that you provide your name and contact information for contact tracing, in addition to taking your temperature upon entering (as I learned during the service, the Rector had tested positive the week prior, so these strict precautions made sense).

This was my first Anglican Church service experience. Prior to this, I only knew the Anglican Church (or the Church of England) as the church formed when Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife and marry his mistress Anne Boleyn. The good folks in Rome told him no, he could not divorce his Catholic wife Catherine, and as a good King does he said fine, I’ll start my own church – thus, the Church of England.

A couple of observations as I entered:

The bulletin was detailed and informative, and as a new attendee I appreciated it.
When you are taken to your pew, you are locked in. Well, not technically, but each pew has a latch that is secured shut after you sit down. A locked “Box Pew” to yourself was both confining and comforting at the same time.

My locked door – I will learn this is a trend here in Charleston churches

Everyone at the church was welcoming, and I was intrigued with the message of the day “Transforming Our City.” It felt timely and relevant given all the unrest both in Charleston, and across the country in the last year. The Rector was well spoken and engaging, and he gave illustrated examples of where the bible calls on us to serve our community, noting that 2021 is the year to transform the city. Where he completely lost me was when the message strayed from transforming the city to stating from the pulpit the primary goal is to “erase the word abortion from our vocabulary.” Given all that is happening in the world, I simply do not agree that this one of our top priorities, nor is it the most needed transformation in Charleston. So at that point, I tuned out. I appreciated the passion for the point, yet I fundamentally disagree with the belief.

St. Michael’s is worth attending if only for the architecture and aesthetics of the sanctuary. The stained glass at the front of the church is the only place in Charleston (per the Rector) where Satan is shown inside [SRS1] . (see pic). The columns both inside and outside are gorgeous and the altar surrounded by marble memorials is somewhere you could get lost for a few hours. As I sat locked in my box, I thought about the members of this congregation who sat here on Sunday mornings past: ones who decided to rise up against England, ones who decided to commit treason and rise up against America, ones who had committed adultery and so many other things. What did they feel when they read aloud the confession of Sin and Absolution? Were they square with God?

There is Satan in the bottom of the stained-glass

Two other quick nuggets: First, be in GOOD shape before you attend Anglican church – you are going to be standing, kneeling and sitting A LOT. Solid work out. And second, each time they reference the Catholic Church, the word Catholic was lower case. Typo? Maybe. Intentional slight from Henry’s era, probably.

Fun Facts:

Congregation organized 1761
Domination: Anglican – Church of England
American Flag – yes

As a student of history – I find these fascinating in all churches, not just Saint Michael’s.

House of Worship #1 – Bethel UMC

Welcome! Thank you for checking out my blog. As a newbie (almost three years in) to Charleston, SC, I decided to take on a 2021 challenge in my adopted hometown known as the “Holy City.” With more than 400 churches, it’s a well-earned moniker. My challenge? Visit 52 houses of worship in 52 weeks. Part of this is a personal mission to explore my own faith; part of this is an endeavor to educate myself on various religions; and finally , it’s a journey I think will be fun! PLEASE NOTE as you read about my visits – I am not a historian nor a religious expert, also not a reporter or student of divinity. I am a woman who grew up in the church, and has maintained a conflicted relationship with religion ever since. These are my experiences, observations, and opinions. Enjoy!

First stop – the Bethel United Methodist Church on Pitt Street. I attended on January 3 for the 10 a.m. service, the start of a new year. You can almost feel the energy of a new year in the air every where, and I felt it at this church service. The first thing I noticed were the gorgeous floor- to- ceiling stained-glass windows. When the sun hits them, as it did on this Sunday morning, it was stunning – you could feel the warmth despite the chilliness outside. A Methodist service felt comfortable to me. I was raised United Methodist from around age 11 through college, so the service and flow were easy to follow. The sounds of the organ as the service started immediately brought me back to childhood and revived not-so-positive memories of sitting for hours on those hard pews. Side note (but important because details will be key) – the pews in Bethel are super low! I almost fell trying to sit down.

One thing I noticed about the choir entering – it was solemn and serious. This seemed odd, given we were still in Advent season, and I would expect joy and celebration. The service opened up with a message about the transition to “getting here…to being here” so you are prepared to hear the message and worship. That resonating with me – it is true of so many things in life these days, that we aren’t present. We often do not pause and take in the moment to enjoy the now. In all of these services so far, I have tried my best to be present and in the moment.

The sermon this Sunday was about “Being Wrong by Nine Miles” – ultimately it connected back to the Magi (Wise Men/ Wise Kings) as they came to pay respect to Jesus. In summary, it was written in Old Testament by Isiash that when the new King came, men from the East would bestow upon him gifts, so when a bright star appeared in the sky – the Magi headed that way… except (stay with me) they went to Jerusalem, which was nine miles away from Bethlehem. I didn’t really get the pastor’s message, and she attempted to connect the Magi to a homeless man of today and she lost me.

I really enjoyed the comfort of a traditional Methodist service. I knew what was coming, and when. Next stop – St. Michael’s.

52 Houses of Worship in 52 Weeks

PLEASE NOTE as you read about my visits – I am not a historian nor a religious expert, also not a reporter or student of divinity. I am a woman who grew up in the church, and has maintained a conflicted relationship with religion ever since. These are my experiences, observations, and opinions. Enjoy!