Ambassadors visit St. Michael’s, Kensington

God's light filtered through the city scape as the Redeemer Ambassadors pose in front of St. Michael's, Kensington.

God's light filtered through the city scape as the Redeemer Ambassadors pose in front of St. Michael's, Kensington.

The Ambassadors made a lovely visit to St. Michael’s, Kensington this morning.

We were struck by the friendliness of the neighborhood before we walked through their doors. A member on her way to church offered to help us by taking our picture. All the traffic waited at the stop sign, allowing her time to get her bearings with our camera.

Most members stopped by our pew to say hello on their way into the sanctuary. The pastor (Rev. Marjorie Neal) was away, but the service was led by very capable lay people.

We thought they were passing the peace at the beginning of the service and so we were surprised when they seemed to be passing the peace a second time toward the end of the service. They explained, the first time is the “Welcome.”

LBW liturgy was used with numerous hymns from LBW and WOV.

The congregation uses a beautiful ground-floor chapel. The original sanctuary above is also beautiful but they told us it has not been used in a year. It is difficult to maintain. All we city churches know about that!

They had recently had a flea market and were planning for a big St. Michael’s Day celebration on the 25th to which they are inviting all the many groups who use their building.

They operate a Christian Day Care and were planning to send some of their youth on a mission trip to New Orleans. Their bulletin also mentioned a food pantry.

As one member gave us a tour of their sanctuary and building, the front doors and gate were locked. We had to walk the length of the building to the back door to get out. In doing so, we passed a group preparing for a meeting. They quipped, “That’s a change. You thought you were locked out. Now you are locked in!”

Learn more about St. Michael’s, Kensington. stmichaels1871.webs.com