"Ship of Fools.com" is one of my favorite wacky websites. They do a lot of poking aT the foibles of modern church life.
One of my favorite features is their use of "mystery worshippers" who anonymously choose a church to visit and after they service they evaluate the experience using a long list of questions. The key to the effectiveness of these visits is that no one knows that a "visitor" is in their midst.
There's no way I could have been a "Mystery Visitor" this morning because in the opening announcements prior to the liturgy in Peterborough Cathedral I was welcomed by name as a guest of the preacher for the day, Bishop John Holbrook.
Besides, I think people might have noticed me because of the black clergy shirt I was wearing.
In any case, I had a wonderful worship experience and met some fine people afterwards during the coffee hour.
We were invited to lunch at the home of the Canon Precentor (the one responsible for all the many worship services at the Cathedral) and his wife, and we enjoyed the conversation there.
Tomorrow we drive to Northampton where my host is chairing an ecumenical clergy meeting. Since their conversations are private, I will bring a book to read.
Then on Tuesday I will leave this beautiful little village and the 18th century house where I am staying to head out to Norwich for the next leg of my sabbatical journey.
It was a bit strange not leading a worship service today. I wonder what it will feel like after being away twelve Sundays. I hope my friends at Hope had a good worship experience today as well.
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