Yesterday we went to church at First Mennonite Church of San Francisco. They meet in a Jewish synagogue next to the Dolores Mission. (There are advantages in not owning your building.) Finding a parking spot is impossible so we just parked in a lane in front of the church, along with others. We arrived early to meet Brett who was using public transportation. They use the blue hymnal, shared with the Brethren, and the Mennonite hymnal supplement. We sat next to Tina, who we knew from N. Manchester, Indiana.
The music was sensational. We sang songs we sing at our church: Take, O Take Me As I Am and Mayenziwe. They obviously know how to do four part harmony, plus we sang every song, at least partially, acapella. The average age of the congregation is young. Tina said that in the time she has attended the church, the congregation has doubled in size. I had met their pastor back in October in Michigan at the Supportive Communities Network pastors' retreat. She has been "disciplined" for doing a same gender wedding. She said that she wanted to provide the same pastoral care and services for all of her members. I liked her.
After church there is always a fellowship time, with good food and announcements before people head to Sunday School classes. We stayed for the fellowship time but ducked out of Sunday School. Instead we headed for Brett's favorite pub restaurant just a few blocks away. We ate lunch and played Scrabble. I won! Then we drove past the Greenpeace office building, where Brett has a desk. Then we went to Fort Funston. I love to go there to watch the hang gliders. It was an absolutely gorgeous day but not the greatest day for hang gliding. I had to be satisfied with beauty.
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