2008-09-27 - 9:48 a.m.
It's been quite a good week! It all started last Sunday, when I found a cool group of Anglicans my age. A guy in some of my classes, Robert, told me about them, and took me along. They were having some kind of open house at the church (St. Mary, Kerrisdale) which meant supper was included. It was good fun, right up until the end. The leader announced that they usually have a prayer time (no problems there) and then pass the peace. However, since this was a special occasion, they wanted all the youngest people there to stand in the middle of the room, and every one would gather around, laying hands on each other.
Now, I'm a guy who likes his personal space. A lot. I mean, I understand that other people like personal human contact, and all that, but really, I'm happiest if everyone stays about two feet from me. Of course, I'm the new guy, so I can't exactly refuse to participate. And, since this was an Anglican gig, you'd better believe that I was one of the youngest. So there I was huddled into my self in the middle of the room, surrounded by strangers touching me. Finally the prayer was over, and it was time for the peace. Good old shaking hands? You don't know this group! It was hugs. Hugs all around. Some of the little old ladies who were there shook my hand - they understood. Everyone else, hugs. My favorite was the guy who was coming at me - I stuck out my hand for him to shake - he took it, and hugged me anyway. Sigh. Anyway, touching aside, they seem pretty nice, so I think I will go back. Maybe I can train them not to touch me so much.
The week continued to be a good one when I found out that I'm getting a bursary for half my tuition for the fall term. Apparently the school has quite a bit of money in the bursary fund, and they are committed to using it to make school as affordable as possible for as many students as possible. I was very pleased to hear this, and glad that I was accepted.
I'm supposed to be writing a paper on the Anglican Eucharist - history, theology, all that sort of stuff, neatly wrapped up with some conclusions in five to seven pages. This is the first big paper that I will have to write, and I'm a bit nervous. It has been a while since I did this sort of thing. I got the books out from the library yesterday - they have one by Thomas Cranmer (who wrote most of the BCP) so I figured that'd be a good place to start. I've done a little reading, but it is pretty easy to be distracted in my room. Maybe I should do all my reading at Starbucks!
