Observance While on Business

Bangalore, Bejing, Prague: One of my more interesting experiences during
the last few years has been a series of trips I am taking for work, setting
up mentoring relationships between some of Sun’s most capable Engineering staff
inside and outside of the USA. In 2004, I went to in Bangalore, India. Last
Spring, I went to Beijing, China. I am now in Prague, Czech Republic and
on Wednesday, I go to Hamburg, Germany. In January, I am off to St. Petersburg,
Russia and Tel Aviv, Israel.

In each location where I stay over a Sunday, I go to church. This requires
first finding an Episcopal or Anglican church in the city I am visiting.
There usually isn’t more than one. Here is what I have found so far:

• 
  St. Mark’s Church, Bangalore

• 
  Congregation of the Good Shepherd, Beijing “COGS”

• St. Clement’s Anglican Episcopal Church,
  Prague

Finding a church which is both in town and Episcopal requires research. Sometimes
I can find someone who has been to where I am going who can recommend a congregation.
I found the churches in Bangalore and Beijing that way. Sometimes, I can find
a pointer on the web. Once I have the name of a church, finding street directions
and the time for services can also be a challenge.

These churches are very well attended. The congregation in Bangalore filled every
pew plus seats out the back door. The music and liturgy are conservative, using
older forms of prayer and familiar hymns. In Beijing and Prague, several churches
joined up to support the one congregation. That is, services in Beijing were a
combination of Methodist, Lutheran, and Episcopal. The service yesterday here in
Prague served the spiritual needs of both Old Catholics and Anglicans. The congregations are a mix of tourists and long-term visitors plus locals. Most are
very friendly and welcoming even of the shortest-term visitor.

The churches are physically different and reflect the times they have passed through: St. Mark’s had brass and marble wall plaques commemorating hundreds of years of history with the older names being English but more current events all quite Indian, COGS meets in the auditorium of a city club with the altar on stage and you are warned to bring your passport in case of government inspection, and St. Clement’s was built in the 13th century and shows extensive restoration after the floods a few years ago.

It is a quiet pleasure to find a community of like minded worshipers no matter
where I go and to be able to celebrate God no matter where my work takes me.