Lange Nacht der Kirchen

It's my last night in Vienna, a night which happily coincides withe Lange Nacht der Kirchen - the Long Night of the Churches - which means that around 190 churches in Vienna alone are open until 1am tonight, offering ecumenical services, concerts of all kinds, and more. Before using up the last of the internet time I purchased earlier this week, I spent a few hours in Stephansdom, Vienna's great gothic cathedral, listening to a beautiful liturgical service followed by a full orchestra and choir performing a Haydn mass.

The church was packed, both with those searching for a spiritual experience and those simply wandering in to see what was happening. The wonder of sitting in a 500 year old church, surrounded by people of all walks of life, listening to the music reverberate through the cathedral, knowing that this was just one of many such gatherings throughout the city, was awe-inspiring. Europe is famed for its amazing, yet empty, churches, and this was a reminder that the church is not a building, but rather people. I don't know how many of the people out tonight come with any regularity to a church of any kind, but I hoped that everyone would walk away from tonight's experience with a feeling of peace and unity.

When I stepped outside Stephansdom, the streets were bustling. It's Friday night, and both young and old are out for dinner, drinks, or just a nighttime stroll. Across from the internet cafe, I could hear a rock band performing along the Danube Canal below. It's a different experience, but if I close my eyes I still find myself back in the cathedral while a man and woman sing a simple prayer to the accompaniment of a single guitar.

You've Got to Know When to Hold 'Em

Roulette is a game of chance I was sure I would never try. Tonight, however, I hardly batted an eye when Michael informed me he decided to bet all his chips - left from the $10,000 worth he had started with - on black and lost it all. Instead, I let him convince me to dole out some of my chips on three card poker, and it turns out we have much better luck with that game. Michael even got a straight flush on one hand - odds 40 to 1! - and that's as good as it gets for three card poker.

In the end we turned in our winnings for almost 50 raffle tickets, although we still didn't end up walking away with any raffle prizes.

Obviously, this was no ordinary casino. Considering it was in a church basement, I'm sure that would hardly be legal, let alone ethical. But, for the second year in a row, our congregation, with the help of neighboring University Christian Church, who lent us use of their basement, hosted a casino night fundraiser. The funds raised went to support Elizabeth Gregory Home, the women's shelter we began a few years ago. To keep the congregation involved and drum up support, we now have the unique opportunity to see staid Lutherans gathered around little game tables, puzzling over how to place bets, and what exactly is craps anyway, and do I really want to bet all my chips even when no real money is involved? These are perplexing questions, and the average Lutheran will put more time into pondering these questions thoughtfully than actually placing any free bets. Maybe if the booze was free (as I hear it is in Vegas), people might get a little bit crazier, but I'm guessing that would also be a church basement no-no.

Still, once you loosen up a bit, it's actually pretty fun. And I'm sure I'd never run into so many people I know at any real casino even if I closed out every Saturday night with hand at poker. Tonight I spent most of my time chatting, snacking, and discussing what was up for silent auction. I even came home with a lovely original watercolor painting after my bid (the only bid, I must admit - there were so many auction items and not so many bidders) won.

And if I ever were to put down money in a real casino? You can bet I'd pick three card poker over roulette!

Spam! It's Pink and it's Oval!

This morning I had the pleasure for, well, for probably the first time in my life of walking to church. And it was only ten minute walk! Of course, if my church really was only ten minute walk from my house I'd walk there every week, but this was a different occasion and a different church. My friend Leena is working as a youth and family minister at a Presbyterian Church in my neighborhood, so invited me there for Luau Sunday.

Now, I'm not too family with other denominations, but in the liturgical year of the Lutheran Church, where I have been a lifelong member, we don't have anything called a "Luau Sunday". Now I feel left out! The service was immediately followed by a luau luncheon, complete with mac salad and Spam.

"Oh, they're out of Spam," a woman noted a bit sadly when we got to the end of the buffet table.

I knew Spam is a staple of the modern Hawaiian diet, but I had no idea it was so popular in north Seattle. Sure enough, two gleaming white plates with a few bits of crushed canned pineapple where all that was to be seen where only a short time ago glistening slices of mystery meat product had lain in wait. But I saw one woman ahead of us who had two - not one, but two - slices of Spam on her plate, so it would seem that some people may not have been taking the Spam needs of the entire congregation into account.

But even without the Spam it was a nice time. I may have to walk to church more often.

(You may be asking why the picture of the adorable puppy. She may not have anything to do with this story, but she is definitely a luau dog and you know she would eat a whole plate of Spam in a heartbeat.)