Free Community Church's X'mas Service

I was invited to attend a X'mas service cum buffet by my close friend yesterday evening. Though I am not a Christian, I decided to attend.

My friend told me that the church he is attending is an all inclusive Church. It's doors are open to gays, lesbians, transgenders, Bi, migrant workers, divorcees, etc. I was wondering what kind of Church it would be like? It used to be called Safe Heaven before being renamed to Free Community Church. I went with an open mind.

Reached the church late as I was held up with some last minute work. We picked up a friend who was from another Church and made our way to the church. By then, the service had started. We were ushered to our seats at the back. The Church is housed inside a warehouse building which is very near to Aljunied MRT. The Hall is on the 2nd floor. It is not a very big hall but it was seated with up to about 100 over people. Though small, there was a small platform at the front which could accommodate a live band and the organ was on the side. Two projectors hung overhead showing videos and lyrics to hymns on both ends of the hall. The high roof was adorned with rows of light as it shone down towards the platform during services. Some rooms were at the sides and pantry and wash rooms at the back. The hall was draped with curtains to block the lights from outside.

The event had choir singing, communion, etc. Most noticeable was a play written by a church member which told the story of 2 women during the time when Jesus was born. How they were madly in love and their struggles to be accepted. It was well acted by the lead actresses. Next, Gary delivered a rather interesting sermon on 4 words; "God is with you". The old pastor ended the service with a blessing. All in all the service was pretty much like services I attended eons ago; only that the majority of the congregation was gay.

A nice Gmen looking guy did caught my attention. Haha..too bad I did not get to chat with him. Anyway, we later proceed to the buffet and it was serving western food. There was pasta, German Wieners, salad, onion rings and chips, etc. Food was ok. It is nice to have some western food.

Met and chatted with a couple of guys whom I knew and some whom I knew but had never had the opportunity to get to know. Overall, the experience was nice and it think it is good that one can go and attend a Church service who don't condemn you for being gay and gays don't have to try to behave like straight just to attend a Church service.

Generally, the congregation consist of mostly young people between 20s - 30s. Some very geeky, some you can tell it is very obviously gay, some butch lesbians who dressed like men, some straight looking couples, a few GWM, a few chubs, 1 Gmen, a few gym bods types and lots of very hard working volunteers that put in time and effort to make the event a success.

It would be nice to go to the Church if I were Christian. Even though I am not, I dun mind going there to listen to the service and sing, although I do get uncomfortable somewhat when they were saying grace and singing praises because I simply don't have faith in a religion which is so misinterpreted. But I can see that many there does have the faith.

For those of you reading this blog, why not drop by FCC for it's services if you have nothing to do?

Free Community Church @ http://www.freecomchurch.org/