Clericus

OK.  Here I go again: things are different here. 
Even when things are the same, things are different.  I've been a priest for almost 25 years, and I've been going to clericus meetings even since before I was ordained.  (Clericus is the generic term for the group of clergy colleagues.  It also refers to the regular meeting of this colleague group.) 

On Wednesday past, I had the gift of being (for the second time since my arrival) with my colleagues in ministry.  I am the only native speaker of English (though not the only only one who speaks English -- my bishop is fully fluent in English) so following the sermon and the conversation is still a bit of a challenge for me.  Yet my colleagues are most welcoming, and very warm towards me.  I have the impression that this may be because some of my predecessors were not always involved, or maybe Christ Church in general has the reputation within the diocese for being somewhat standoffish.  Nevertheless, I'm still feeling like something of an oddity in the group, as if they can't quite figure out why this gringo would just up and come to Mexico.  That may just be my own sense of inadequacy more than a reality about the way anyone has spoken to me or treated me...

So...things are different, although what was not different was the way that clericus began.  We started with Eucharist, and since I've been celebrating and preaching in Spanish for a couple of years now, I feel fully comfortable with worship in Spanish, since I know the responses.  The Church -- Santa María Virgen -- is in a neighborhood in the South of the city.  I would describe area as working class, although when I mentioned the name of the area (Ixtapalapa) to some of the membership and staff, they responded as if I had gone to someplace a bit dangerous.  Which it didn't seem to be.  Anyway, the church building (in Spanish "templo," which I think means 'place of worship' and seems to be the same word used also for synagogue and mosque) is on a side street, in a residential area, although like most residential neighborhoods here, it's definately what would be referred to in the US as 'mixed use.'  There were taco stands and little markets and laundries and stuff all on the same street.  The building looked as if it seated about 60 -75.  It was quite plain -- concrete painted white and light blue.  There was no stained glass, but the windows were of a sort of amber colored glass. 

I really liked that there was an Easter Garden under the altar as a reminder of Easter season (An Easter garden is like a creche, or manger scene, but tells the resurrection story by means of a three-dimensional depiction of the empty tomb with a statue of a risen Christ and usually some angels).  The rector, Father Salvador whose nickname is 'Chava', presided, and the preacher was the only woman priest in attendance and one of the very few in the diocese.  Her name is Sally Sue, and she works with youth of the diocese.  I understood about half of her sermon.


After the service, we had refreshments, announcements (mostly from the Bishop) plus a Bible study.  Then the bishop opened the floor for sharing.  Although I'm still very hesitant about speaking off-the-cuff in Spanish, I decided I should say something, since if I wait until I feel ready, I mey never say anything.  As I said, it's a very warm group and they were very happy that I had spoken.  Then the biship publicly complimented me on some things I had done in worship on Easter Sunday morning, so that was gratifying. 

Anyway -- what was DIFFERENT was lunch.  (Here in Mexico lunch is rarely earlier than 2PM.)  The host church offered a sort of Mexican style barbecue.  There was a gas heater with a large circular griddle on top.  The chef (evidently a member of the parish who owns or is related to the owner of a butcher shop) cooked up ( I should say 'pan fried') chicken breast, carne asada (both beef and pork) plus bacon, onions, and chiles.  There were tortillas, salad of nopales (cactus), rice, and several different kinds of salsa ranging from hot to scorching to blistering.  But what was most different about the menu was the beverage.  There were, of course soft drinks, plus... beer, whiskey, and tequila.  When I expressed mild surprise at the choice of liquid refreshment  (although I was really stunned!) the response was basically, "Well, we're Mexican.  This is how we do things."  The lunch took up nearly 2 hours of the afternoon -- lots of conversation and laughter. 

It was different, but good.  Next month clericus is here at Christ Church.  Somehow I think that the plan that the ladies of the guild have come up with for a menu of quiche and salad will need to be adjusted....