I attended two services of the Metropolitan Community Church in San Jose. Consequentially, the two I attended happened to be the last two of this particular location. Due to economic reasons and unmanageable differences with their host church, Grace Baptist Church, the MCC had to make the understandable decision to close shop.

During the first service I attended, the general attendance was minimal. About twenty people were praying when I entered. Due to the familiarity and informal exchanges between the multiple reverends and the attendees, I assumed that these churchgoers were regulars. After a session of community prayers, many for those who were sick or in the hospital, the entire gathering rose for the “sharing of the peace.” All shook hands, giving each other blessings, wishing each other peace, saying “peace be with you”. The interaction seemed to strengthen the bonds between one member and another, not just the relationship between the congregation and the pastor, or even the congregation and God. The main sermon of the service was delivered by Reverend Rebecca Anderson, on the subject of transfiguration. She mentioned the necessity to accept change because the world we live in is an ever-changing one. I believe she chose this particular subject due to the nature of the closing church. Following her sermon was the open communion, which continuing to emphasize the openness and acceptance of this particular church.

During the second service I attended, which was also the final worship of the church, the increase in attendance was outstanding. And aside from the usual sermon, communion, and singing of hymns from the previous week, the pastors also organized several interesting accompaniments, which I believed were unusual for any church service. At the end of the service, Reverend Marjorie Pearson asked everyone to pick up a rock from a bucket at the front of the hall. As everyone settled down, Rev. Pearson asked everyone to hold their rock as hard as they could in their hand and think about all the things that were pressuring them: it could be personal, it could be work-related, and it could be spiritual. She encouraged everyone to place all their burdens into the small stone in their hands. Finally, she welcomed everyone to drop the rock into a tub of water at the front of the room while singing a hymn, representing the strength of their faith overcoming any troubles they could have.