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"Gosh, you look familiar! I just can't place you..."
The tall, gangly man was new, reaching out a bony hand when Jaira welcomed him warmly to Pastor Cookes' church, forgetting her family and that drama for now.
Jaira searched her memories but came up blank.
"Oh yes, that is it," Charles continued, a smile pulling at his lips, exposing gaps in his rotting teeth, "You were at the Angel Wings Mission! In the kitchen. It is so good to see you again!" His words were genuine, conveying warmth.
No one would know, looking at him in his baggy, oversized clothes and unkempt appearance that he was a war hero - a veteran who had fallen on hard times. Most choose to ignore him, others looking down their noses, not taking a moment to look beyond his exterior. None took the time to get to know him...to hear his story. In Ottawa, he was no one.
Jaira, however, had a big heart, "Why don't you come to sit with me and my family?"
Charles' eyes lit up at her drop of compassion.
He followed her to the front of the church, head lowered, shy. Eyes turned from every direction, staring. For one who had been anonymous for longer than he could remember, the scrutiny was worse than a blinding light shone directly in his eyes. He flinched.
Gavin looked over as Jaira took her seat, but said nothing.
"I'll be back after. The worship team likes to jam before the service," he excused himself to those in his pew.
Charles recognized Terrell immediately, lighting up as the two men shook hands.
Behind her back, Veronica walked over to where Pastor Cookes was standing, Gavin played the electric guitar, his buddy on the drums, bopping his spiked head in time to the beat.
Josiah leaned forward, uncertain of what to expect, but Adelaide was smiling, watching her husband play.
Guitar in hand, Gavin stood at the pulpit, beginning to lead those gathered in worship.
"Oh Hallelujah!" Gavin began. "Adonai, we thank Thee for this time together. Thank Thee for bringing us to a new day. Strengthen us for Your work. For ministry. Not to live a life of slothfulness. Oh no! Thou desirest Thy people to serve while it is yet day, so here we are, Thy people, ready and waiting. Praise You, Lord! And let the people of God say, Amen!"
Atarah raised an eyebrow at his prayer, his time in Israel seemed to have influenced his sprinkling of Adonai in his prayer.
"Amen," they chorused.
Veronica tugged on her husband's sleeve, "I'll be back."
Turning, she walked over to the worship team, grabbing a microphone.
preparing to walk to the pulpit. She only had a few minutes.
"I just heard that Jaira has been working at the Angel Wings Mission."
Where had Pastor Cookes heard that name before? Ah yes, that Trinitarian church. There wasn't time to speak with Veronica now.
A spattering of the faithful had already gathered. Pastor Cookes paced the front of the room, praying before the service.
Gavin played the electric guitar, his buddy on the drums, bopping his spiked head in time to the beat.
Josiah leaned forward, uncertain of what to expect, but Adelaide was smiling, watching her husband play.
Guitar in hand, Gavin stood at the pulpit, beginning to lead those gathered in worship.
"Oh Hallelujah!" Gavin began. "Adonai, we thank Thee for this time together. Thank Thee for bringing us to a new day. Strengthen us for Your work. For ministry. Not to live a life of slothfulness. Oh no! Thou desirest Thy people to serve while it is yet day, so here we are, Thy people, ready and waiting. Praise You, Lord! And let the people of God say, Amen!"
Atarah raised an eyebrow at his prayer, his time in Israel seemed to have influenced his sprinkling of Adonai in his prayer.
"Amen," they chorused.
Veronica tugged on her husband's sleeve, "I'll be back."
Turning, she walked over to the worship team, grabbing a microphone.
"Let's all stand and praise the Lord!" her voice squawked into the microphone, holding it too close to her lips.
She tapped the top of the microphone, the sound popping then turned to the band, snapping her fingers to get their attention and pointing to the malfunctioning microphone.
Gavin stood, letting the guitar dangle and jumped off the stage, adjusting the volume on the sound box near Veronica's feet.
Vernie tried once more, "Let's praise the Lord tonight!"
She clapped her hands while holding the microphone, the smacking echoing,
"Ooooh praise you Jesus" she closed her eyes.
Pastor Cookes walked up to the platform on cue, glancing down at the family in the first row before stepping up to the platform, clapping his hands to the rhythm.
One song led into the next, interrupted only when Veronica hopped up and down speaking in a language that sounded familiar to those on the Christian television channel. Then she continued singing until Pastor Cookes touched her shoulder. Dabbing the sweat off her forehead with a hankie, she joined her husband a few seats away.
Gavin slid into the seat Adelaide reserved for him.
Taking her cue, Adelaide reached for her baby nephew, then, cradling both infants in her arms, she tiptoed to the back of the church, handing the squirming newborns to their mother who slipped out the back door looking for a private spot to feed them.
"Bless you, Jesus! Bless You, Jesus!"
Pastor Cookes paced the platform, his eyes closed as the music faded.
"Oh Lord, I just want to thank You for You - for what You are doing in our midst. Thank you for opening the eyes of the blind, for being a miracle working God. You are indeed the same yesterday, today and forever and we give You Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory!' He too began to speak in tongues followed by, "Amen."
"Open your Bibles with me tonight to the book of Acts. Many of you will know where I am going with today's message."
Gavin nodded, flipping his Bible open to Acts 2:38. The Bible automatically opened to the verse he had highlighted in bright yellow, notes scribbled around his favourite verse. Adelaide slipped into the pew beside him.
Pastor Cookes spoke on the need to be baptized in the Name of Jesus in order to be saved and have your sins forgiven. He danced around the topic, arguing his beliefs from every angle, then went back to the crucifixion account. How the Jews had called for Jesus' death, declaring that His blood be upon them and their generations.
Pastor Cookes looked directly at the two brothers wearing kippas, tallits draped over their shoulders and went on to say that the curse they had called down about themselves and their descendants was why God had allowed Hitler's atrocities against the Jews - why six million Jews had been slaughtered in the Holocaust.
Shaul's jaw muscle twitched, navy blue eyes blazing.
Pastor Cookes had no way of knowing their grandparents had perished in a gas chamber.
"I digress," Pastor Cookes returned to the topic of Jesus' execution at the hands of the Jews and pointed out how the thief on the cross was the last to be allowed into Heaven without being baptized.
Jaira said "Amen!" throughout the sermon, agreeing emphatically with the minister until he turned and pointed in her direction.
"There are some in our midst who have been fraternizing with the devil. They know better. Were restored by the Grace of God and yet, day after day they seek the fellowship of those who believe in the Trinity. Are you trying the Grace of God? Are you putting the Lord to the test? The day of Grace is coming to an end. Why would a Holy God continue to forgive you when you spurn the truth?"
Jaira's "Amens" fell silent.
"Those who sit in the back row and hide from the Glory of God, when Jesus rends the Heavens, you will be among those praying for the rocks to hide you from the wrath of the Lamb!"
The pastor continued his tirade, calling out the sins of those gathered.
Atarah had returned while he was condemning those in the back row as backsliders with one foot already in hell's flames.
Rivkah reached up for her granddaughter, snuggling her close, but her features were drawn.
"I won't come back," she whispered to Atarah who nodded.
Would it be too obvious if they slipped out?
Most likely.
The sermon seemed to drag on and on when at last he invited them to stand and bow their heads.
"God is speaking to someone here today. With heads bowed and no one looking, if you know you need Jesus - if you want to be saved and have your sins forgiven, then say with me, 'What doth hinder me to be baptized?"
Veronica joined him next to the pulpit, "Take me to the water....take me to the water....take me to the water....to be baptized," she crooned.
No one budged.
Pastor Cookes motioned for Darren to join him in going over to Gavin's guests and praying over them.
Darren lowered his head.
"Sorry Dude," he apologized to Josiah and Shaul before placing his hand on Josiah's arm, beginning to pray over him in tongues.
He didn't touch Shaul, the rabbi, something deterring him. Perhaps it was the look in Shaul's eyes that kept him exactly where he was. Darren, however, had his eyes open and wasn't praying for their salvation as he beseeched Heaven.
"Give strength to Your servants, O Lord! Courage in the day of battle. It is not by might nor by power, but by Your Spirit. We claim Your promise, God!"
Gavin had joined Darren, raising his hand in prayer, "Amen! Amen!" he agreed with Darren in prayer.
Pastor Cookes laid his hand on Shaul's shoulder.
"There is one God and His name is Jesus," he began.
Shaul kept silent as the minister prayed for his salvation, then he placed his hand on Pastor Cookes' arm. Anointing dripped like oil from his fingers, causing Pastor Cookes to tremble as the glory of God met them. Tears came unbidden to the African's eyes as he met God's majesty, the atmosphere charged. Pastor Cookes was earnest if a bit misinformed. He had a heart for God and when God begins a good work, He promises to complete it.
"I see Your Glory!" Pastor Cookes dropped to his knees, shaking, "Send me, Lord, send me."
Shaul prayed softly in Hebrew, then turned and walked slowly to the pulpit. He held out his hand for the microphone Veronica held.
"God is moving in our midst" his voice was soft....reverent. "Our Messiah searches hearts. He knows our thoughts...Be still before the Lord of Hosts... He is purging. He is searching. Will you stand before G-d?"
Muffled sobs were heard across the room, those who were slipping out the back, now returning, walking past their seats and kneeling at the altar.
"Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord and said, 'Here am I, Lord, send me..."
Shaul motioned for his brother to lead the worship portion as he descended the pulpit stairs to minister to those at the altar.
Josiah whispered something in Azrael's ear, the child moving over to stand beside his Aunty Addie.
Adelaide looked down, squeezing his hand before closing her eyes again. Josiah reached the pulpit, accepting the microphone from his brother.
Gavin joined the band, motioning for Terrell to join them as he passed the taller man a guitar.
Terrell nodded, reaching for the shiny black instrument, finding the chords as Josiah led the worship.
Pastor Cookes returned to the pulpit, "I see an angel. Yes, an angel of the Lord is here..." He held up his finger for silence, listening to the angel he claimed he was seeing. "The angel has brought us a message from God. We are to return to the church of the book of Acts. The end has come and we must have everything in common. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on this earth. The angel is instructing us to sell what we have and pool the money together for the day of the Lord is here."
Pastor Cookes then spoke in an unknown tongue as the angel left the sanctuary.
The brothers exchanged a look but said nothing.
****
AT LAST THE SERVICE came to an end. Rivkah followed Atarah out the door and into the foyer. It was too cold outside now for the babies and she needed to wait for Josiah to unlock the car.
"Is church usually like that?" Rivkah whispered.
"This church, yes, except the sermons usually end in judgment being unleashed from the pulpit. Tonight was different..."
Atarah looked with pride at Shaul and her husband. Tonight, mercy had followed judgement.
Addy stepped out, holding Azrael's hand.
"Josiah was wondering where you disappeared to. They are trying to get out, but now people are also lining up for counselling. We need to leave," she looked up to see Debbie and Granny emerging.
"It's too loud in there for Mamma," Debbie explained, indicating the large drums and Marshall's frenzied drumming.
Atarah nodded - it was rather deafening.
Jaira pulled Terrell by the hand, joining her relatives.
"I'm heading back to the Mosely's tonight," she explained without looking at Atarah or the sleeping bundles in their mother's arms.
Josiah emerged from the sanctuary speaking with Gavin. "Thank you for your hospitality but there are far too many of us. I was hoping to follow you back to the house so you can grab what you need and begin travelling tonight."
"We are leaving tonight," Addy's eyes narrowed as she addressed Jaira.
Something was definitely off.
"Really?" Terrell's head snapped up, "I didn't realize you were leaving so soon. I'm taking Jaira, so I will follow you." He turned to Jaira, "Do you have everything packed Babe?".
Jaira looked over at her children, squeezing Terrell's hand.
"Just my suitcase and I'd love for my kids to come with us."
She turned to her children as they joined the others, the family members still in the sanctuary right behind them.
"Do you want to ride with us?"
Amber shook her head, no. She wanted to stay with Atarah and the babies.
Atarah murmured so low that only Amber could hear, "It would mean a lot to your mother..."
Amber looked wistfully at her baby cousins one last time before following her mother out to the car, Peter and Joshua joining them.
She was overwhelmed with emotion, unable to hold back tears as she bid her pastor farewell. Atarah thought it a bit strange, still not aware they were moving.
"Let's go," Terrell glanced in the rearview mirror at Jaira's children, keeping his hands to himself.
Kids talk.
****
THE PARSON'S LIVED close to the church so it didn't take long to reach home. They turned left, a moving truck already in the driveway.
Josiah exchanged a look with Atarah before he left the car to assist.
Addy came up to the back seat window. "I didn't want to tell you until now," she admitted, "I thought you'd be mad. We are moving to Victoria Island. Gavin has arranged to buy Mom and Dad's old house."
"I'm not mad," Atarah sighed, biting her tongue.
I pity you.