A Homecoming of sorts

“We may be white, but we ain’t tight”… so sounded the opening of the service’s praise music session by Pastor Stan Peterson of the Guatay Christian Fellowship who returned on Sunday to the building that houses their congregation after a nine-week absence and in defiance of a County order for them to cease-and-desist worship services there as the building was zoned for selling liquor but not for worship.

We attended services at GCF on Sunday to show our support for the congregation among flip-flops, sundresses, cowboy boots, board shorts and bolo ties and to find out the latest developments regarding the situation which we covered last week, here.

We hesitated in asking too many questions as it was apparent that the congregation was just happy to return to their “home”, though, Pastor Stan made reference to the situation several times throughout the rambling, free-form, interactive 1-1/2 hr. church service. Stan is a gregarious human being who, much to the eye-rolling and out-right laughing delight of his flock, is also the master of the malaprop and matter-of-fact speech.

“Don’t be mad at the county”, he urged, “they ain’t stupid, they just do stupid stuff, sometimes…”.

The grace, good-humor and charitable spirit exhibited by the whole of the GCF towards their situation is more than we imagine we could muster were we in the same situation.

From some of the conversations we did have and from Pastor Stan’s sermon, we gathered that free legal help was being offered from literally, around the country and as a result of this and the bad press they have received, the County appeared to be in full backpedal mode. Congressman Duncan Hunter was originally going to attend services but decided not to as he believed the press he would attract would be a distraction.

Though the order remains in effect, there is a site inspection scheduled for Tuesday to take a look at standard structural items, such as, fire detection, entrances/exits, signage, parking, etc. Perhaps, the County is looking to gracefully ease their way out of this mess they have created for themselves. Then again, who knows:

Tom Bunton, senior deputy county counsel, said it is still illegal for the church to use the building, but county officials yesterday had not decided what action they would take.

We swear it - this really shouldn't be that difficult, fellas.

We want to thank the GFC and Pastor Stan for their hospitality and friendliness. We had a great time.

Their musical selections reminded us of a quote from Robbie Robertson of the Band who said, “The South, was the only region we would play where the audience would clap on the back-beat”. With that we leave you with one of our favorite songs from one of our favorite bands… Here’s Creedance Clearwater Revival’s studio version of their country-gospel number, “Don’t Look Now”