“Edie, could we have a minute,” he called up to the chamber.
“Sure.”
“Please.” The reverend motioned with his hand for them to sit in a pew, and he stood in front of them in the row ahead.
“So, this is our house of worship.” He leaned over and put his hand on a book in the rack on the back of the pew. “Here we have our hymnals and Bible. We also put both the scripture and the hymn words up on our big screens.” He turned and pointed to the front of the room. “But some people like to hold the books.”
Gini reached over and put her hand on the Bible in the rack. He took it out and laid it in her lap. Using the sides of her hands and fingertips, she opened the book and flipped large sections of pages. Robert sat with his arm around her, and the reverend had his hands crossed in front of him—both watching her.
She stopped turning the pages and put her hands flat on the book.
“The book of Proverbs,” the reverend said when he saw where her hands had stopped.
“Oh… yes.”
“‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.’ Proverbs one, seven through nine.” He said the verse from memory.
Gini closed the book and held it to her body with her left arm.
“As you heard, we have an organist, Edie. She’s been with us for years. Our early service is traditional, with a choir and the organ accompaniment. The later service is contemporary, with older children and adults singing and playing instruments. Each service is delightful; it depends on your preference.”
He moved his hand to the aisle. “Let’s go up front.”
Gini and Robert stood, and she held tight to the Bible.
Once there, he pointed out the pulpits, communion table, and the kneeling board for those taking communion. Still holding the book, Gini knelt down with Robert’s help.
“Oh, bless you, dear child,” the reverend said, putting his hand on her head.
She stood.
“Okay, Edie, we’re done,” he shouted up.
On the way to the back, Gini stopped at the pew they had sat in and indicated for Robert to put the Bible back, which he did.
Reverend Gilbert took them back through the open area, past his office and down a long hall, where he pointed out the all-purpose room and Sunday school classrooms.
“Out those doors,” he pointed to the outside from the all-purpose room, “is where we have picnics and group gatherings when the weather is nice.
“Let’s go back to my office, and I’ll ask Pastor Daniel to come in to talk to you.”
Gini looked up at Robert with her eyes open and smiled.
They sat for a few minutes until the two ministers entered from the back of his office.
“Pastor Daniel, this is Dr. and Mrs. Young. Daniel is our youth minister. He’s wonderful with children.”
“It’s very nice meeting you.” Robert and Daniel shook hands.
When he spoke, the room filled with the sound of a rich, deep voice. Gini opened her eyes and focused on him. It felt to her like the sound was down in her heart. She could see a tall, gangling man with short, nicely combed dark hair. Her lids slowly closed, interrupting the vision.
“Their daughter is three,” Reverend Gilbert said.
“Jess…eek.”
“I love that age,” Daniel said. “They are so innocent and full of life.”
“Oh… yes.”
Reverend Gilbert had told Daniel about Gini’s accident and her disabilities.
“Our three- and four-year-olds share the same class. Marla Jenkins is the teacher. A wonderful single lady. The kids love her.”
Reverend Gilbert went on to tell them all the children came into the sanctuary with their parents at the beginning of the service. After Pastor Daniel called them all up front for a children’s sermon and song, they went off to Sunday school.
“Jessica is very shy and uneasy around strangers,” Gini signed. Daniel signed back and then realized Gini’s eyes were closed.
“You also sign,” Robert said after he had spoken Gini’s and the pastor’s words.
“When I first started here, I noticed a lot of the mothers were signing to their infants. I found it most fascinating.”
His voice was like music filling Gini’s ears. He made her feel so relaxed and comfortable.
“So I took a course. It was slow going at first, but now I do pretty well and volunteer at the school for the deaf over in Roxbury once a week. Great people there.
“Would you be opposed to me and the reverend coming to your house so I can meet and visit with Jessica? It may make her first time here easier.”
All agreed that would be a good idea, and they decided to do it the following Thursday evening.
“It was very nice meeting you. I looked forward to meeting your daughter.” Daniel left the room.
Reverend Gilbert handed Robert several brochures that told more about the church, their programs, and events. “Do you have any questions?”
Gini slowly signed, “Are lesbians welcome here?”
“Gini, everyone is welcome to come through our doors and stay as long as they like. We are open to all faiths. We preach God’s word to whoever wants to listen and participate.”
Gini looked at Robert and gave a big smile. He knew Debbie wasn’t going to be happy Gini had asked the question.
This church was the first one built in the small town. Reverend Gilbert came with the new church.
