Field Trip: Holy Faith Anglican Church, National City

Where two or three are gathered...
http://holyfaithanglicanchurch.org/

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of doing something I'd never done before--I said "The Peace of the Lord" to every last person in the service, including the priest! Have you ever done that before? Holy Faith Anglican is, similar to this very Web site, only a couple months old and starting from the ground up. Indeed, I was only 1 of 6 in attendance that evening, making up 25% of the total congregation, but the warmth and sense of family was immediate and genuine. They are off to a good start, and I'm sure they will grow by a factor of 10 in the year ahead. I've certainly heard more diminished singing in congregations 4 or 5 times larger than HFA's ASA. When both the priest and music director are within arm's reach of you, you'd better sing!

Worship at Holy Faith Anglican reminded me somewhat of familiar flavors at Anglican Church of the Resurrection, San Marcos and Grace Episcopal, San Marcos. Kairos and Cursillo inspired music and forms lent a familiarity for me, which I had begun to grow accustomed to at ACR and Grace prior to our transfer to Holy Trinity, Ocean Beach, where the forms are more traditional.

It is in very small and very large churches where I am most appreciative for the gift of common worship. In large congregations, I'm always awed to be reciting the same liturgy with so many of the saints--a real picture of heaven. In small churches like Holy Faith, however, which felt more like a home Bible study really, the liturgy is there to quickly bond the few loose particles of Christ's body together "right here, right now." The very real feeling Saturday night was, "I don't know you people and you don't know me, but we do share this love for Christ and enjoy expressing that love in a common language." What a joy.

One lady had just returned to church following medical trouble, and another was just back from a missions conference. The priest teared up a bit during the sermon, and coffee hour lasted an entire hour. Taken together, these are the kinds of signs you want to see of a small but thriving church. I left blessed and intend to visit again soon.