Two Religious Field Trip Experiences

First Field Trip – Los Altos United Church of Christ

When first handed the assignment of visiting two religious settings in Southern California, I thought that it was going to be very hard for me to find something interesting to report on. As I am not American, and live in the dorms at Long Beach State, I do not own a car, and therefore it is very hard for me to get anywhere different and diverse. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get to any of the religious settings that had been suggested on the assignment sheet, so therefore I needed to try to find places in the immediate vicinity that I could use. Although I didn’t initially have any idea about where I could go, whilst out running one day, I noticed a small church, located probably less than 200 meters from the dormitories. Even though I have lived on campus for 3 years now, this is the first time I had actually noticed the church, and I thought that this would be perfect to use as part of this assignment. I decided to attend a Sunday morning service, and picked November 30th, the Sunday after thanksgiving, as the day to attend.
The Church itself is called Los Altos United Church of Christ, and is located on 5550 Atherton St in Long Beach. It is obviously a Christian Church which focuses its followings on the Bible and path of Christ, but when I attended and after I did a little more research, I found out that at its core are the ideas which were developed by the New England pilgrim heritage. The teachings follow the ideologies of the United Church of Christ faith which was founded in 1957, but the Church itself is primarily centered on the wishes of the local community, as the congregations believe in controlling their own decisions and direction. It is a church that is primarily considered of mainline Protestant denomination, and the United Church of Christ faith is generally thought of as a reformed movement which originated when the Evangelical Reformed Church, and the Congregational Christian Churches unified.
Before attending on that Sunday at the end of November, I presumed I would be attending a Church service just like any I had been to in the past, so therefore, I was surprised to see that there were many differences, and therefore, even though it follows mainline Protestant ideals, I actually ended up learning a great deal from my experience. When I first arrived for the 10am service on the final Sunday in November, I was welcomed at the door by the female minister, who I later found out was Terry LePage, and a young boy who was handing out pamphlets and the order of service. I attended on my own, and even though I had never been inside this community church before, I was warmly welcomed, and invited to take a seat inside. I took a place on a pew near the back, and was immediately drawn to the fact that the congregation seemed a very tightly knit community of families, couples, singles, youth, seniors, neighbors and friends. Many people seemed to know each other, and were greeting each other with hugs and kisses. I would say there were around 60-80 people in attendance, and although many were in their seats when I arrived, I definitely didn’t feel as though I stuck out in the crowd, and nobody gave the impression that I wasn’t welcome.
The service started firstly with the formal greetings, and then by an introduction, and prelude by the Minister, Rev. Terry Le Page. At this point we were then ask to be respectful and attentive throughout the service, before being asked to stand for a responsive call to worship that took place between the minister and the congregation. At first I was unsure what was happening when everybody stood and spoke back to the minister in unison, but when I looked at the order of service, I realized what was going on, and the words people were saying. I had never heard anything like this before, and in the Christian services that I have attended in the past, this has never occurred. I was initially shocked by the situation, but soon realized that the words were just being read out of the pamphlet, and therefore by the 3rd and final response, I realized what I need to do, and joined in with the rest of the people in the crowd.
The words spoken focused on asking God to help and guide us all as individuals through life, and it ended with the word Amen, just like a prayer. I was surprised at how intense some people in the congregation seemed to be, and how clearly they obviously wanted to reach to God, as they saw him as their savior and leader in life. As soon as this call to worship ended, the organ started to play, and everyone remained on their feet for the first hymn “We Hail You God Anointed.” We all turned to number 104 in our hymn books and sang together. As I used to attend church whilst growing up, I am used to the hymns that are sung, and I am always surprised at how passionately people try to sing, and that the singing always sounds so good, even though there are such a wide and diverse range of individuals taking part in this communal choir! I think that the singing highlights a time when the energy seems so positive within the church, and I think that singing the hymns always make people feel good about themselves, whether they are truly meaning the words they are saying or not.
After the song ended, there was the main portion of the service seemed to officially begin, and the first issue discussed the notion of Advent. As it was the final weekend in November and 4th weekend before Christmas it was the day on which to light the first Advent Candle. At this point, there was much discussion from the minister about the lead up to Christmas, and what Christmas itself represents within the Christian faith. Great focus was placed on the works of Jesus during his life, and Rev. Le Page stressed how this was a time for sharing and giving. At this point she also made it clear that everyone should be cared for at this time, and she made it very clear that society should be acceptant of all, and we should all make a conscious effort to extend our hand to anyone in need at this time. Following the ministers talk, a story was read about the birth of Jesus, titled “Who’s Coming” and this was read by a member of the congregation, Heather Lytwynec. The next period of the service, was devoted to a time of prayer. It started with a spiritual reflection taken from one of the Psalms, and then went into a time for the audience to silently pray, before ending with a communal reading of the Lord’s Prayer. Obviously as I was brought up attending a Baptist church, I know the words off by heart to this prayer, and it therefore shows an example of a religious similarity that is obviously practiced all over the world.
Shortly after I started to feel more at home, and started to think that the service resembled something similar to what I had been to before, I was again introduced to an entirely new concept. There was a mass call to offer gifts from the minister, and this was followed by a short hymn which I now know is a Doxology. It was simply a short 4 liner praising God, and it was written in the order of service more like a poem than a song. During this time, a number of individuals did go to the front of the church and place down gifts, and I think these included both monetary donations to help with the running of the church, as well as a number of wrapped gifts that were to be taken to a local charity. Although I know that many churches rely on monetary donations to ensure their smooth running, this was the first time that I had seen it take place during the service, and I was surprised that a certain period of time was so openly and obviously dedicated for this purpose.
Once the doxology was sung, the congregation once more stood up and there was a unison prayer, again rejoicing God. I was shocked at how involved many people in the audience seemed, and some even looked as though they were almost in another world. I think that some people believe so strongly about religion that they almost enter a subconscious state when within religious environments, and I think this was what I witnessed that Sunday morning. After the prayer, the minister informed us that we were going to ‘hear the word,’ and she read a scripture from the book Isaiah, before a more modern day reading was read. This was called the Heavenly Council, and was almost more like a miniature play than a reading. Four individuals acted out a modern day situation, and they showed how the word of God plays out and can help others in the world that we live in today. It had obviously been well rehearsed, and the readers did a good job of making the situation very dramatic, and like a situation that can occur in everyday life. As two of the readers were children, I think that it was probably recited in this way to target the younger members of the congregation, and I therefore think that it was an excellent method to try and get children to see how religion can play a role in their daily lives.
Once this was completed, a final hymn was sang called “Angels We have Heard on High,” and as we finally got to the end of the song, I thought it was the end of the service. However, one final surprise was in store for me as the congregation stayed on their feet and once again engaged in a mass responsive chant. According to the order of service this is called a responsive Benediction, and it is obviously the method that the United Church of Christ faith uses to close any Sunday morning service. It focuses on the ways individuals will now go forward to share and promote God’s message, and the people end with the line “God is faithful and will supply everything we need. Amen.” Obviously this shows how individuals personally feel that they are the direct messengers of God, and I think it probably shows the regular at tenders that they now have a duty to live up to as they go on in their daily business. As this benediction came to a close, the liturgist walked up the main isle and out through the door of the Church carrying a huge candle that had been lit throughout the service. Apparently this is supposed to act as and resemble the symbol of Christ’s light moving out into the world, and it determines the end of any Sunday service here. At the point that the doors were opened, the service was ended, and I slowly started to file out of the church, and made my way home.
In terms of my overall experience, looking back I am surprised that it did vary in so many ways from the church services I have attended in the past. This allowed me to see however, that there are many different ideologies/followings/beliefs within any given faith, and that no single religion can relay the exact same message to each one of its followers. From this, it is obviously easy to see why religious diversity exists so profoundly across America, and this was the one thing that was made so blatant during my experience at the Los Altos service that day. In conclusion, I was intrigued and fascinated by my experience, but overall it did little to alter my feelings pertaining to the concept of faith. I am still not convinced in the overall theories behind religion, and therefore as a result of this, I don’t think I am likely to be going back to another service at any point in the near future. As I like to continually question ideas and make sure I have firm evidence before I believe something, I am very skeptical of the entire notion of religion, and therefore, see myself as an atheist. Even though I grew up attending church, trying to reach out to a God is not something I see as logical, and therefore I personally don’t find it beneficial to me. Overall, however, I do not disapprove of the practices that took place, and I think that if individuals feel that their lives are better if they are religious in nature, then churches like Los Altos are obviously providing some benefit in society. Consequently, they should continue to be successful for many years into the future, and I don’t think that anyone should criticize or judge the practices that take place there.

Second Field Trip – Open Sesame Mediterranean Grill in Belmont Shore
As I attended an official religious establishment and actual church service for my first field trip, I decided to do something entirely different for my second one. I thought it would be interesting to see how religions may play a role in the daily lives of individuals here in America, and therefore I decided to go to a restaurant that was culturally different, to see how different ethnicities and beliefs may inadvertently play a role in our lives here in the US. The restaurant I chose to attend was Open Sesame Mediterranean Grill which is located on Second Street in Belmont Shore. It is a Lebanese restaurant which is family owned, and has served authentic Lebanese cuisine since its opening in 1999. This was the first time I had visited the restaurant and as I had never eaten cuisine like this before I had no idea what it was going to be like, so was therefore intrigued as to how my experience would play out. Since I arrived in Long Beach I have heard many good reviews about the restaurant, so took this opportunity to give it a go.
Growing up in England I was used to attending restaurants that serve foods from different cultures, and as I love the different tastes of Indian, Chinese, Thai and Mexican, I wasn’t hesitant of trying anything on the menu at this restaurant either. As I have already mentioned, I like to experience new cultures, and therefore I was intrigued to see how the restaurant would be laid out, and what Lebanese influences and looks would be present. On first appearance the restaurant from the outside looks modern and large, but when we entered I was shocked at how small and dainty it was. There are not that many tables, and the set up is very compact, but as soon as I walked through the door I was met with an entirely different feeling and ambience. Inside, the décor was very rustic, and the open kitchen made it warm and almost homely. The colors were soft and inviting, and the deep purples and low lighting instantly made me think of the orient, and also made me consider it similar to African nations such as Morocco. As I have never been to Lebanon, or eaten Lebanese food in the past, I do not know how closely the restaurant depicts its culture, but I think that it probably captures its feel very closely.
Although the majority of the tables were laid out for 2 to 4 persons, and located down the left hand wall, I was immediately drawn to the back of the restaurant where there was a larger table that was raised in height, and was filled with cushions and very soft, comfy seating. It was clearly the focal point of the room, and as it was coved in by the back wall, it looked back out onto the restaurant. Above this seating on the back wall, there was a huge, colorful and patterned item of clothing almost like an Indian sari, and this is obviously a traditional item that has come from Lebanon itself. It created the centerpiece of the entire restaurant, and throughout my meal I couldn’t stop looking at how extravagant and detailed it clearly was. As I was just with my mum, we were taken to a small table along the left hand wall, and immediately given the menu, and asked about drinks. They obviously serve wines and spirits from the local culture, as well as many soft drinks such as Jalab which is rose water infused with grape syrup, and Tamarind which is a beverage made with date. Therefore, there were many options in which to choose from but, neither my mum nor I decided to try any of these traditional drinks, and instead opted for the more commonly renowned Diet Coke!
Once the waitress left to go and get our drinks, we were both left with the menus, and the first thing I was immediately drawn to was that on the front page, it made it very clear that the restaurant itself was entirely Halal. This was something that I hadn’t known before coming, but it immediately made me consider the restaurant within the aspect of faith and a variety of religious principles. As Halal practices are associated alongside Muslim beliefs and laws, which state that meat must be killed, cooked and consumed is set ways, I instantly presumed that the Lebanese nation itself must therefore be Islamic and that the founders of the restaurant were also likely to be Muslim. As I have attended many Indian restaurants in England, I am used to the Halal dietary laws that are used in many of the restaurants, but this is the first restaurant I have been to where this has been followed in America. As a result of this, I also knew that I wasn’t going to find any pork on the menu, and I also knew that Lebanon must be an Arabic speaking nation, as they are the countries which use the term halal, rather than just ‘Muslim Dietary Laws.’ Therefore, I knew right from the get go that my eating experience was going to be different to any one I have had before here in America, and was excited and intrigued by the prospect. As I opened my menu, and before the foods were listed, there was a front page that was dedicated to talk about the restaurant itself, and there was a couple of paragraphs written by the founder about how the restaurant came about, and what was so special about the Lebanese nation and cuisine. Obviously for, me this page was extremely useful, as it allowed me to learn about the culture of the Lebanon itself, and I was able to learn a number of things which allowed me to gain a more informed experience. It was at this point I realized I had been wrong by considering the country as purely Muslim, and I learnt that religiously the country is actually a very diverse mix encompassing the faiths of both Christianity and Islam together. The information in this section of the menu also described the extreme cultural diversity within the nation of Lebanon, and it highlighted the fact that the country has been engulfed by great tension over recent years. It stated how this is primarily as a result of religious influences in the region, and therefore stated how it has now become an area of great diversity where the people continually influence and alter the overall culture that resides. Once I had finished studying the information, I did eventually turn to the food and what I wanted to eat! I had no idea about what to have, and as my mum and I both wanted to try everything, we decided to order a number of things to share and split. Therefore, when our waitress came back with the drinks, we ordered the Open Sesame Combo, which was a combination of different skewers of meat, as well as rice, salad, and a side portion of hummus. We knew this mixture would give us a taste of the different meats, whilst also have things within it that we would be sure to like.
As the food was subsequently made, I took time to fully take in the culture of the restaurant, and try to think about the ethnic diversities that were present. I looked at the restaurant in comparison to a traditional American eatery, and through this lens, I could see that it did try to closely capture the traditional ambience of the Lebanese culture, with local music playing in the background, and old pictures and ornaments taken directly from the nation spread out across all of the walls. Alongside this, as the restaurants founder grew up in Lebanon until the age of nineteen, he obviously had knowledge of how to capture the ambience, and therefore the restaurant managed to move away from the Americanized feel, that so many places I have been to in the past, fail to do. This highlights the different aura that was so obvious, and with this the various aromas also gave off a very diverse feel to them. I would associate these smells alongside ethnicities and cultures very different to the ones that are typically associated with America, and the constant scents of oils and spices, again gave me the sense that I was in a different world. Throughout my time, I could continually sense aromas of garlic, mint and lime in the atmosphere, and as the cooking was taking place on the appliances that were visible to the customers, these scents were constantly changing and developing.
When it arrived at our table, the food itself not only looked great, but the tastes were also fantastic. It was obvious right from the first mouthful that all of the food had been traditionally cooked in authentic spices, and that fresh produce had been used to create the dishes themselves. Fresh pita bread was served to the table alongside the hummus, and fresh, flavorful food was laid out in a simple, yet creative fashion. It all looked very healthy, and although we order a variety of skewers such as kafta, chicken tawook and beef kabob, there was just a good amount, and it had all been perfectly cooked in a way which maximized the flavors. Although I thought it may be spicy, this wasn’t the case at all, and instead the flavors of herbs eluded from the various meats. The salad was very basic, being comprised primarily of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green onion, radish, bell pepper, but the fact that it also had parsley and fresh mint, along with a very basic dressing of oil and lemon, allowed all the flavors to be individually tasted. The simplicity of it all allowed the flavors of the different foods to be all tasted separately, and sometimes this is what I feel lacks in the American kitchen which is surrounded with fats, sweet enhancers and many other additives.
On simply just the food alone I will definitely return to this restaurant, and would recommend it to anybody who wants a new and different taste. Obviously I’m sure that the menu has been somewhat adapted to satisfy the American palette, but the fact that it remains so fresh and healthy allows it to stay different yet delicious. The experience I had was very different to an eating experience I have had in America before, and although I am used to trying foods from different cultures and ethnicities, I now would love to visit other independent restaurants that capture the mood of the diverse areas within the world. In short however, I think that this particular restaurant does a good job of capturing a different feel both culturally and ethically, and I think that because of this, it has its own unique sense of distinction. I found my overall trip there very interesting, and I’m glad that I managed to experience something so different from what I am primarily used to.
I see the American nation now more willing to integrate and accept cultures that are different from our own, and I think that it is in restaurants like these that we see this most prominently existing. I also see that as restaurants like this have continually sprung up and become so successful over the last few years, we have also seen how much more the American nation is becoming open to diversity, and therefore I think that it is through this area that we are now being influenced by others, rather than us being the ones to project our American culture on top of others. I believe that religion also has a huge role to play within this however, and I think that we can see how all these avenues have interacted, changed and developed in the past, and will continue to do so well into the future. As a result of this our acceptances have been shifted, and our social and ethical norms are going to continue to be altered well on into the future.