I had the opportunity in late November/early December to travel to Germany to lead a youth leader's retreat for the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. It was my first time to Europe and I got to spend 6 great days in Frankfurt. On Sunday I worshiped at Christ the King Episcopal Church, and was reminded once again what a delightfully small church family we really are.

Now remember I'm 4,000 miles away from home in a foreign country. But I'm at an Episcopal church. So the worship service was familiar and so was the music. Christ the King is a more modern architectural style than we have here. It was built from the rubble following World War II. The building is relatively compact with a series of round stained glass windows high on the walls. It is a very different feel from our English neo-gothic here in Jamestown. What was wonderfully familiar was the warmth of the congregation. The peace got passed in a variety of languages (congregations in the Convocation tend to be much more diverse than here in WNY) but with almost the same enthusiasm that we have here at home.

The really funny part was realizing that I had joined them at a very similar moment in their history as we are in ours. It was the first Sunday for their brand new interim priest. They were excited and nervous and all those things that come with a time of transition. Father Ian Gallagher had just arrived from England to begin his duties. He brought great energy to the service and a real dramatic flair to his preaching. I think the folks at Christ the King were a little shell shocked by his infectious vitality.

But here's the really funny part. 4,000 miles from home, in a country I'd never visited before I found myself just one degree of separation from my home faith family. You see Fr. Ian and I have mutual friends. And so do you! Ian is good friends with Kaitlin and Paul Dominiak. Kaitlin had

given me the heads up so I mentioned our connection to Fr. Ian. His response? "Flippin' Frogs!"

I agree completely. A small family indeed."

                                                                          Peace -

                                                                         Jay Phillippi