Imagine an 1890s stone Romanesque church in an ethnically-diverse neighborhood. The sanctuary is located on the second floor, up a flight of steep curving steps, and the floor is a creaking wood. With the stain-glass bright behind him, the pastor, who is an Englishman or Irishman, speaks with great conviction in his booming, full-timbre kind of voice. (Of course his accent makes him seem even more intellectual.) The singing of praise songs is so joyful and people aren't inhibited in expression by raising their hands, doing a little dance and spinning around. When the people clap and groove, it seemed like the whole earth and sky were moving to praise God! The congregation prays over the high school group, going to serve in Uganda. They also pray over this week's urban ministry. Another woman will lead a trip to Thailand for a Habit for Humanity trip, building houses for the poor.

This was a Sunday service at Christ our Shepherd this past weekend. The pastor spoke on "Justice" - that is, being a just person, a just people, and understanding our God who has a heart of justice. It was realy neat to be at a church where there is both a high view of Scripture and a whole-hearted commitment to its teaching, as well as the same kind of outward-looking focus for missions and surprisingly, social justice/service!

On the wall, a large tapestry proclaims, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations - Mark 11:17."