The Next Level and bagpipes

Hi! On Monday,we had a busy morning in the roof top area of ECHO, where there all sorts of clever uses of space and creative, resourceful thinking to grow food in unlikely places (e.g. in a tyre, on an old carpet, on top of a chicken pen etc.)

Planting in Tyres

Urban Garden: growing plants in limited space

Kim showing how to use the 'tippy tap'

How to be humble: cleaning out the chicken coop manure

We had another interesting day of churches on Sunday. We went to 'The Next Level Church' which we were slightly wary and curious about due to the name- (which sounds slightly like a computer game or a cult). We both really enjoyed it, the music was like a rock band, the preacher was very funny, and the church seemed really outward looking and had a pioneering attitude and expectancy for great things. They are running a 5 week 'serving' programme in the community, all different outreach activities which is going really well. It's been interesting going round different churches and seeing how they operate. One amusing part of 'The Next Level' was the dedicated parking for '1st, 2nd and 3rd time visitors' to the church. And the incremental value to the gifts (first week a book and pen, second week a travellers mug and then the third week a $10 voucher for Starbucks)! Man, I wish we were here longer...

One of the interns had heard about another church who were having a special Scottish advent service in the evening, and thought we might like to go along. David proudly wore his kilt and we walked in. Yep, I did, and I was defintely not the one that needed to have any shame. The pastor of the church was standing up at the pulpit wearing a kilt and jacket and a Bonnie Prince Charlie cap. He looked hilarious. A lot of the congregation were wearing plaid clothing for the occassion. The most incredible point was when a battalion of pipers (the Florida Lee County Pipe Band) stood up and holding the saltire aloft, marched out to "Scotland the Brave"! Wow, this country is crazy, but I like it! Why can't we be so proud of our own heritage?
I spoke to the pastor after the special "Hanging of the Greens" ceremony who told me that various Presbetyrian churches like to celebrate their Scottish heritage by having a Scottish theme sometime during the year. Judging by his name I guessed that he was of German ancestry and he confirmed that, so it was even more incredible that he was willing to wear a kilt.

Crazy America: German Pastor dresses up in full regalia for Scottish service

ECHO interns and me eating cookies at the Hanging of the Greens ceremony

Kilted Piper and Me eating cookies together. He had never been outside the USA

Meeting the pastor in his kilt