week in review

So- officially in Oxford a week now.  This morning I woke Mom and Dad up with a 5am wake up call.  It was fun.  :)  We ran around Oxford like usual.  Kristen and I decided to go to Evensong, not knowing that today was the Sung Eucharist.  She being Catholic originally, and me being so very Protestant, I successfully screwed up in my foreign Lord's Supper experience.  At home, we pass some trays around and have our own servings- so I was a little thrown off.  It isn't entirely Catholic here, obviously being a bit Anglican, but it was Catholic enough to throw me off a bit.  I almost turned over the alter thing in front of us getting up from kneeling several times, and I didn't know how to receive the body and blood correctly, and I stepped forward at the wrong time and some dude in a white robe had to chase me down and pull me back.  (Sorry, Dad.)   But the service was certainly beautiful, especially the prayers.  The thing is, I just get the feeling in that place that everyone is going through the motions- there is little feeling or passion- it is too much of a routine.  My God is constant, but our relationship is ever-changing, growing and evolving.  I enjoy worshipping in a new way, but this congregation saddens me.
 
Tonight we went to a club that where one of fthe guys who works at the university would be playing.  This club was crazy.  The band was sort of techno-hip hop-jazz, with decent saxophone players, and a very Dido-sounding lead vocalist.  The club was actually an old sanctuary, and I found myself on a pew feeling somewhat sacrilegious.  I had to get up and go sit at a table.  It was a good move because I had a better view of the dancing, which was quite unlike what I am used to at home.  It was a pretty cool night, and now it is 2am and I have a field trip first thing in the morning.  Goodnight all.