So I traveled 10 hours by plane to escape having to lead worship this morning, only to show up at St. George’s Episcopal Cathedral and be asked to assist in worship. But it seemed like today had a theme of “chipping in.”

We showed up at St. George’s and the rector immediately introduced himself to us and then lead us into the side chapel where we would worship. As he was preparing for worship, another tour guide comes in to tell him that he has a group of 35 Episcopalians from the Philippines coming to worship. The rector then informs us that we will need to move worship to the main sanctuary, asks a couple of us to be readers and then recruits a couple of ushers from our group to pass our the books.

During the lovely service, of their own volition, two of the young Filipino attendees got…