I will preface this story with the usual disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to a person or organisation is not intended.
There will be people who are offended by some references in this story; that's their prerogative. There will be some who will say that I know nothing of church, and that too is their prerogative.
This story is not a criticism of the church as a whole, but of a singular, imaginary, church and about the values that are preached in many churches and ignored by a few such as this one, those of love and forgiveness.
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I have been going to this church for the last three years, since I was fifteen, and I like it here. My mother and I came to this church from another because she felt that the reputation and large congregation would suit her better. At first I missed my old church but was soon involved with the Youth Group who were a great bunch of kids.
My father never went to church and called those of us that did 'God botherers'. He said that they were only in it for the money and had no real interest in religion. This caused tension in their marriage and he eventually gave up trying to convince us.
Eighteen months ago Mother announced that she was leaving that church and going to a new one. I told her that I wanted to stay where I was because I had friends there. She tried to persuade me to move on with her but eventually allowed me to stay.
When I left school I enrolled in a secretarial college because I liked the idea of working in an office. To help my career I asked if I could help out in the church office and Pastor Mary Jennings, the wife of the Senior Pastor Andrew Jennings, said that they would welcome someone like me who was willing to volunteer to help out.
At first all that I did was to type up letters on the word processor and file things, but after six months I could just about run the whole office on my own and Pastor Mary came in less often.
On Sundays I would make sure that all the little things were in readiness for the meeting so that the others could concentrate on the main things like the words to the music cued for the big screens scattered around the two thousand seat auditorium, the collection baskets ready and the money bags in readiness in the Senior Pastors office so that the money could be counted and locked away ready to be taken to the bank in the morning.
Pastor Andrew stopped in on his way to the stage and told me that I was doing a great job and thanking me for my efforts. It made me feel like I was an important person in this church. I was very happy with my life.
The meeting began with the usual choruses. We were very proud of our music team and their professionalism. The driving beat and the singers belting out the upbeat music had all of us young people on our feet, jumping around and clapping to the beat. If anyone came in and saw us they would truly believe that we were being carried up in the euphoria of the moment.
Pastor Andrew was exhorting all of us to follow the true paths of righteousness and prepare ourselves for the 'End Times' that were surely upon us, after all the signs were all there, the wars and disease that was raging across the world, and the earthquakes and floods and famines that always seemed to dominate the news, these were all signs mentioned in the Bible. While he didn't know when it was going to happen he confidently predicted that it would be 'soon'.
While this was going on Matthew, Pastor Andrew's son leaned close to me, "A group of us are going to Justin's family's holiday house at the beach for a barbecue after church, I want you to come. Please say that you will."
"I'll have to rung Mum and let her know, I'm sure that it will be okay."
"Great! We look forward to it." For the rest of the meeting he was beside me. It was as if he was telling everyone that I was his girl and I felt really good about it because he was handsome, the handsomest guy there, and ever so popular.
I rang Mum, "Hi, it's me, a group of us are going to the beach this afternoon, please say that I can go."
"Who's going, how many will there be there and you don't have your swimming costume."
"I'll drive home and get Matthew to meet me there, I can pick up my swim suit and change into something more casual."
"All right Honey, have fun and don't get home too late."
"Thanks Mum, I won't."
Matthew came over. "Is it all right?"
"Yes. I've got to go home and get changed into my swim suit. Could you follow me and pick me up, we'll go down together."
"Sure thing, I'll see you in a little while."
I hurried home and quickly got out of my church clothes and slipped into my bikini. It wasn't very revealing, not like the ones that you see the models wearing in those swimwear parades, they may just as well be wearing nothing at all. I slipped into a pair of shorts and a crop top, grabbed a cap, my sunnies and a beach towel and was walking out the door just when Matthew pulled up out front in his BMW.