British Visitors

Sunday 1 Sept, Just driving by
After this morning’s service I was introduced to a couple of British visitors, who saw the Church sign and decided to stop. Yes its does happen! As a Brit, and talking the same lingo, I was happy to engage, and after the usual “where are you from” icebreaker, they lived in the shadow of the Mothership, Canterbury Cathedral, I asked what they made of the service. Now for those not familiar with church, particularly of the Anglican persuasion, Trinity Sarnia is a lively evangelical gathering with a Praise band, contemporary family centred worship and welcoming culture. Many visitors expecting a traditional service are surprised by the energy, although the liturgy (order of service) follows the rubric. In the popular (UK) press we might be scornfully regarded as the “happy clappy” crowd. “This was great” they exclaimed, “similar to our church at home. In fact this is the only style of church which is growing in England”. I was not trolling for approbation, merely curious what perfect strangers made of our church. It helped that Rev Musa preached an engaging sermon on being humble, a commodity in short supply especially amongst the political class today. They were heading over the border to Traverse City, after staying at a local Air B’nB; sometimes it pays to be curious. There was a healthy turn out for Rev Musa’s second Sunday, perhaps our visitors are prescient. ​

​Mike Tanner