Saturday Conversation in the Park

Sandwiched between a corn crunch vendor who was passing out free samples and a chiropractor who was giving free neck rubs, volunteers from the local Episcopal Church set up a booth at Foster City's CityFEST, formerly known as the Arts & Wine Festival. They had nothing to pass out, unless you count the free gift of eternal life. (Hey, it's a church booth.)

I was prepared to answer questions about Sunday School, choir, and charitable activities. To my surprise a man stopped and asked, "What do you believe in?"

We are Protestant Christians whose services are a lot like the Catholics--we have Mass every Sunday--but we are organized differently and don't have a Pope at the top. The non-answer tried to give a short-hand perspective on the Episcopal Church, but the man wasn't buying. "But what do you believe in? Do you think the Bible is true?"

So it was going to be that kind of conversation. Over the next half hour we talked about the Nicene Creed and the Council of Nicaea, Biblical inerrancy, the Old vs New Testaments, the history of the Anglican Church, same-sex marriage and the Anglican split, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and prophecy. We parted amicably, but I doubt he'll be visiting our congregation since he lives in the South Bay.

My booth partner, Charlene, did field questions from passersby about Sunday School and charitable activities. At CityFEST one must expect the unexpected.