Before Marina, Jason and I went to Saint Paul's Church, one of the
Union American Methodist Episcopal Churches in New Haven，I thought it was a sincerely quiet
activity to pray in church. But a public worship service I observed in this
church on a Sunday morning changed my opinion.
Unlike other
services I observed in the past，the worship
service here is just like a concert，with
occasionally some prays made by the Minister. There are more black
disciples in the church, which is another interesting phenomenon, and they seem
to be very outgoing and excited. The choir of the church does a great job, and
we are all moved by their performance. Many people including us three keep
clapping and rocking，some people
singing along with the choir in the whole service. Some go to the front,
hugging the clergy, walking around and greeting with each other. An old lady is
so thrilled that she even sobs when the pastor is preaching. In the whole
morning, the church is full of cheerful melodies and chants.
Since we are the
only three easterners in the church, we capture a lot of attention and a great
deal of concern. Noticing that we are not familiar with the procedure and
unable to follow the pastor sometimes, a black gentleman kindly helps us
occasionally. At the end of the service, the pastor comes up and chats with us
for a while, saying that he would be glad to say us again. I wish I had more
time at Yale so that I could find more time to appreciate the "church
concerts".
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