What religion are you again?

Well, it has been a strange week by means of church. Last Sunday I decided to get up and drive around to find a church to attend. I left the house about 10:20 and headed toward Finaghy where Grainne's sister Joanne lives. I drove past a few protestant churches, but they all looked quiet... either the services were over or had yet to begin.. so I decided to keep driving. I figured it was a good idea for me to get out and drive around anyway. I am actually starting to figure out where roads will lead, and I am collecting landmarks so when I get lost, I can find my way back home. I finally landed at a little protestant church not far from Sonia's parents house. There were people walking in, so I figured I had a good shot at a service, and the church was a lovely old stone building. I followed several people in, and found that the service started at 11:00... this was probably the only time in my life that I have been 15 minutes EARLY for a service. So I went in and sat down. People started coming in, and it was like they were on some kind of track,... clearly heading to their usual seat... I started to feel a little awkward like I might be sitting in someone's seat. At 10 til I decided that I would use the restroom and waste a few of the awkward moments... and so I got up and found the restroom. When I came back... not to any surprise a little old lady was sitting in the seat that I had first chosen, so I found another seat across the way. As I was looking around the church, the wooden engravements had apples neatly placed in them... I thought this was a little strange, and wondered if I had happened upon a fire and brimstone church that was continually beating the message of the fall of man...thankfully I found out later it was harvest Sunday...whew... that could have been really uncomfortable. Soon, another little old lady came and asked if I could move down... so I did... clearly I was in her seat too. She started chatting, asking me where I was from, and as soon as I said the states... she had to introduce me to her family and all of her little old lady friends. They were all very nice. After the service one of the little old ladies insisted that she introduce me to the minister. So I went through the receiving line and met the minister who was also extremely nice. He then wanted to get me his card so that if I needed anything I could call upon him. So we went back to his office, I met his wife, and then he introduced me to the other minister of the church who was probably the closest in age to me in the entire church. He insisted that I come to the little luncheon that they were having next door, and so I did. I sat and talk to the young minister and the only other person even remotely in my age group Tony, and a small group of 40 something men. We had interesting conversation, and little old ladies kept coming up to me and introducing themselves to me. It was a little awkward however, because each person would ask me where I was living, and I would answer, and they would say....oh, with a confused look on their face. The minister leaned over and jokingly said we don't get many people here from A-town. Finally this lady came over and started chatting, saying oh I know the person with whom you are sharing your flat and making all of these connections to me, and the young minister quickly interrupted and said,...no no (smiling)... this is a person from America, you are going to get me in trouble. The little old lady had mistakenly thought that I was the minister's girlfriend. Another odd situation. All in all it was very nice. I don't think that it is the church for me, but the people were really lovely.
I also attended mass for the first time this year. I will have to go several more times, but probably by the end I will know whether to sit, kneel, stand... all of the little things that make me feel like an outsider. It was quite funny though. I was sitting with the P5 class as an extra hand because P2 don't go to mass, they go home early. And the kids around me were asking me what to do... clearly I was NOT the person to ask. It was also a bit uncomfortable when everyone in all the rows around me got up to take communion and I didn't. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to go up and get a blessing. I didn't know if every church did the same thing, so I just sat and waited, and hoped that none of the kids asked me too much about it. Mass was actually quite nice. The children's singing was really beautiful, and the message from the priest was great for the kids. The teachers didn't harass me too much about being a protestant, just enough that I know it doesn't matter. I am trying to see different churches, and I hope that I can find one where I feel comfortable. I'll keep you posted.