Yesterday I took a day off from everything, blogging as well it seems. After an easy morning I set off downtown with no plan other than to wander, watch people, drink coffee, eat food and drink some beer.

My wanderings took me into various conversations with some people. Some people sitting on the street, some people campaigning on an anti-Obama campaign, some people serving in various shops. I came across some quite interesting people who shared parts of their story, and they seemed interested in mine being from England. I spent some time wandering around Pike Place and drinking coffee here and there.I ended up paying a return visit to Kells, watched some football with a beer or two before returning (after a good Ardbeg)  via a good bus transport system to the hermitage where I live.

Today it was an early start for a Sunday as I was collected and taken to St John the Baptist Church in West Seattle, where I was invited to share what I do in Rochester and answer a number of questions. In some ways it was like crossing into another world, and it some ways not (if that makes any sense at all!?) The service was fairly familiar as some of the liturgy was similar, although I have noticed a great use of the Nicene Creed here, but a version that omits the filioque clause. It was quite odd at first to see it like this when we visited the Urban Life Church and I must admit that I added it myself this morning as it is something that I feel should be there. There’s a comment that can ignite a few centuries of argument! For me, this morning, to not say those words ‘who proceeds from the Father and The Son’ seemed to hold a sense of incompleteness.

I have noticed other differences between the CofE and the Episcopal church, some that I consider good: such as the permanent diaconate; some that I don’t like: such as the omission of the filioque clause; and some that I wonder about: such as higher stipends (I discovered last week that ordained people here have a stipend just over double that given in England) as I wonder what message this gives about how church uses money. Although… if there are ever a shortage of priests here it makes a move look attractive!

All these things are interesting to reflect upon – the differences between culture not just across the Atlantic but within the US itself. No doubt my last few days here will give more time to reflect and engage a little more before I return home.

This evening I will attend the COTA Eucharist, which will be my last service here, at least for this trip.

I had a day free until the evening yesterday and so decided to hop on a bus and go ‘downtown’. Inspired by Stephen Fry on a program I forget the name of last year and his love of Pike Place Market I was determined to make a visit there to start with. I loved it and ending up wandering for hours, taking photos, having lunch which was my first try of Clam Chowder (wonderful!!). I even managed to have a coffee in the original first ever Starbucks.

I loved the market because of its calm bustle and diversity. I ended up taking quite a lot of photos which are all posted on my Flikr site. The creativity and diversity of the market in some ways sum up what Seattle seems to be about – a city that likes to be creative and encourage creativity in others.

For me, it was exciting to see such a colourful array of stalls and wares sprawling into one another. Artist, tradespeople, sellers, buyers all interacting together in a lovely mutual respect. Young and old together supporting and encouraging each other. The atmosphere of the place is hard to describe; but there is something ‘of the spirit’ around the attitude of this place. There is something about the vibe and the decor that clearly adds to this atmosphere. There is also something about the attitude of the stall holders. They are happy and seem to accept that some people come to buy, and others come with cameras maybe to buy but primarily because it is a bit of a tourist draw. (Yesterday I went to take photos and wander, while next time I will be going to purchase gifts to take home).

That acceptance is, it strikes me, something that has been lost by some in established, or inherited, church. There is a primary reason for the market (to make money) and there is a primary reason for the church (although I am not sure what that might be) and yet people interact with both the market and the church for a variety of reasons. They come because they are drawn, but are not necessarily there for the same reasons we are, and may not be anything like the primary reason above.

That acceptance of the market needs somehow to be embraced by church. A church where all can come and go, be accepted, explore, discover, ask, challenge and interact without expectation is something I want to be involved with.