Morioka church

So...  Winding up our third reason to go to Morioka.

Tetsu and I are members of this little church up north.  We had switched our membership a couple of years back choosing to return to the small church where Tetsu had been baptized more than 35 years ago.  And as mentioned yesterday, our family grave is located in the church's section of the Christian cemetery and thus it seemed a logical choice to want to support the church more with membership and offerings.  Although we only get to the Morioka church once a year, we do worship regularly at a local church...  But the two churches are VERY different!

The church in our town is loud and joyful and crowded with people.  There are lots of foreigners as there is English and Chinese interpretation going on.  There are 5 weekly services and Tetsu and I choose to attend the guitar and drums and keyboard gospel service.  It reminds me a bit of the contemporary service at my California church.  There are lots of young people and young families.  Tetsu and I add to the older generation at this service.  People listen to the sermon while drinking from their coffee cups or water bottles, the seating arrangements are folding chairs that we drag to the sides of the room after each service.  NOT TRADITIONAL!

 On the other hand, the Morioka church, where Tetsu was baptized is a beautiful, somber sanctuary with stained glass windows and wooden pews. 

The pastor wears a flowing black robe weekly.  The music is provided by an electric organ.  The weekly congregation attendance is less then 30 people and the average age of the members these days is probably in the 70s.  Even when we attended this church nearly 40 years ago, the congregation was much the same in age and make-up...  thus these days we really don't know many people at the church.  So many have passed on and the "younger" generation are all retired or have moved away to live with their children.  The church attendees are all pleasant and quiet and they cherish the holy atmosphere of the worship services. 

A member was arranging flowers from her garden for this Sunday's altar.

In all honesty I prefer the celebration of our local church but Tetsu finds comfort in the old hymns and solemn rites of the Morioka church where he first learned of God and Jesus.  Isn't it nice that there are so many ways, all right, to worship our God!

We left Morioka immediately after the Sunday morning service only stopping to take a photo of the majestic Mt. Iwate which overlooks the city.  It was a good weekend and we arrived in Nikko in the early evening.  All cats fine, Choco happy, message from Takumi that they were enjoying themselves, a tired Tetsu from all the driving!