Sunday, 05 July 2009

• Thinking about Church Family...

  I've been to the church three doors down from the town house twice now. This is a Shalom Church affiliated with Action International there are some great picts here... the room the church meets in is the lowest level of the house with blue plastic chairs for about 40-55. There are three fans: two are wall mounted and a green floor model. At the front of the "sanctuary" which is about the size of a one car garage is a 5" high Cross covered with red fabric. The stage is covered with the same. On the Stage is a Yamaha synthesizer and a music stand with two mics for the worship team of two and then later for the pastor and his notes. To the sides of the room are two amplifers giving the worship a bit of a karaoke feel. If you sit toward the front of the sanctuary shoes are removed but on the other side of the opened secondary security gate shoes are kept on. I've found it important to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated... others do as well.

  The service opens at about 9:12 with soft music "I worship You..." and then the order of service is as follows: Welcome newcomers, Bible reading, Prayer with background music, Worship team about 4 songs (some translated from English like "You're Altogether Lovely"), the Offering is next ("We Bring a Sacrifice of Praise" plays as the collection is taken up with a red bag with opalescent sequins in the shape of a cross on the side), The Message is brought by the pastor, Prayer at 10:21 a.m. to close.

  This Saturday I attended a "Love Feast" at the church... and was the food ever good... "num chak menh" it was a sort of fresh spring roll affair... if you've had Vietnamese eggroll it is similar yet different.  A turmeric spiced and very egg-y crepe is made... and instead of flipping it a filling of 2/3 cup cooked minced chicken, bean sprouts slivered onions and shred carrots is put in and steamed a bit then flipped in half like an omlette and put on a tray with others separated by a banana leaf... it is brought to the table where a colander of lettuce and a tray of three different herbs and sliced cucumber is wait... a leaf of lettuce is taken, on it is laid a cucumber slice and leaves of the herbs then a bit 1T. of the crepe/omelette/springroll and then this is dipped in a sweet and sour sop with crushed peanuts and shredded carrot... and, wow, is it tasty! I've found a recipe and pict! I hope I can learn to it for a crowd... but like crepes, or "Thin Pancakes" it's labour intesive for the cook!

  Report on the spaghetti dinner... It was a success... the only trouble was that because I thought I would be making it on my own I started way too early... 3:30 and it was ready at 5:00 rather than the 6:30 or 7 p.m. that the family usually eats at... The Pastor had some be for going of to play soccer/basketball? and The Grandfather said it was chingai nah = delicious and the Pastor's wife said it was just like a restaurant, if I understood her correctly she had craved it during her pregnancy and went to a restaurant once and made it at home once. This was her third time to have spaghetti.  I was pleased that the Patriarch liked it as I am so far removed from the expectations of a woman's life in Cambodia. 

  The family Saing is rather pioneering though, the Pastor's older sister is a Bible teacher and now returning to Singapore to continue her studies in Christian Education.  Please pray for her and her two brothers who are Pastors. These people are truly mindful of the role a church can have in providing a social safety-net for the most vulnerable... there is truly much being done for widows and orphans but the churches here.  In this place without the social safety nets we enjoy in Canada this seems to be a good thing, a very good thing.

  Here are a few more picts of Princess S on the swings at school:

  Currently Pride and Prejudice (Penguin Classics) By Jane Austen see related

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