NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: I forgot to start the thread earlier, so anyone that wishes to attend, just walk into the Church and don't bother with anything else.

IC:In mid-November, it was clear that the giant Imperial Cathedral in New Geneva would not be constructed in time for the Christmas Services. At that juncture, the Imperial Government re-issued the invitations to read that the service would take place, for the last time, in the Free Presbyterian Church of Reichsburg, a giant and sufficiently attractive Church. The normal preacher, Dr. Paisley, was ill and as such asked the Chaplain of the Imperial Guard, a Free Presbyterian Minister by the name of Derek Aldermann to preach the service.

This year, for the first time, it was to be televised and aired live accross the known world. Some of the greatest Christian artists in the world had been contracted by the Imperial Government to perform for the service and all, nomatter what religion they were, were invited so long as they were not disruptive.

The Church had been built in 1951, but bore the style of a Church that may well have been built in 1651. The television cameras were placed so that they would not be disruptive of the service. The Organ in the church was the second largest in the world, and the greatest living organist in the world had been hired to play for the service. As the parishoners gathered, an arrangement of "Be Thou My Vision" was being played on the organ.

Two Imperial Guardsmen marched down the centre aisle of the Church scanning the situation and followed shortly by Emperor Napoleon IV and a few other Marechals and heads of states. They were seated as the Choir began assembling in the Cavernous Narthex in the rear of the Church.

Cardinal De Vito has eaten his Christmas dinner with his family. After that, he went and said Mass. Shortly after he was walking out of his cathedral, he got a call.
Cardinal? This is John, You should fly over to Reichsburg and go to that service.
Why would I pass up a chance to embarress the Paisleyites?

His Eminence boarded the plane and touched down in Reichsburg. he made his way to the Cathedral.
---
Cardinal De Vito was dressed in a clerical suit with scarlet trim, and a long back trenchcoat. He entered the church, and removed his fedora (black) hat. He made his way to the third pew back, and sat down. He knelt for a few moments in silent prayer, then dug deep into his pockets. He glanced at the Imperial guards, smirked, and pulled out... a rosary, and began praying it. He prayted a decade, and sat back up, and glanced around, waiting for the service to start.

OOC: I'm tired, please forgive the crapiness.
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In the back of the Chruch, Prince John was standing and talking with Derek Aldermann. Both would be preaching tonight, so they were doing some last minute scheduling -- in other words, they were having a few drinks together.

"So, what was the order of procession again? THis cognac is a memory killer."

--- --- --- ---

Alexei was looking around at the massive church as he walked down to the right of Napoleon (Being the Arch-Chancellor, and all). Not as big as the Kremlin Cathedral, but we're more flashy than Reichskamphen kings are. The Dersconi Praetorian were scattered about in groups of two, easily noticable due to their unique armour and weaponry. The four SPG were hovering about somewhere, monitoring the room through their own version of conciousness. There were no Dersconi Honor Guards, though, as their purpose is simply flashy intimidation (a ten foot armour clad alien is pretty good at that), and this was Reichskamphen, not Derscon.

"I hope Derek and John aren't back there getting drunk," Alexei whispered off-handedly to Napoleon as they sat down in their spots.

Queen Mariah dragged her young son into the Church followed by her husband who was used to his rowdy children by now. The young daughter was staying at home as she was a bad traveller like her mother. She was wearing a velvet red dress with gold trim and purple belt holding on which her sword as attached. The Regent was dressed in formal but not military uniform as he didn't like wearing his marine uniform into churches.

She left her son with hubby and walked upto Cardinal De Vito. She said in Latin "Bless the Saints, where's John? It's not like him not be around when Nap and Alexei are around."

He replied, in Latin,
"He is at one of his relatives house, he felt like staying there for Christmas this year instead of going from their house to Reichsburg, and back, then to Carmel, then back again. The only reason I'm here" he said grinning, "Is to piss off the extremists among the Paisleyites."

Shogun Kenshin wandered into the church, wearing the same air-headed expression on his face as always. His wooden sandles clicked on the stone floor, the sound echoing. These huge stone cathedrals always amazed Kenshin, who had spent his life attending services in Pschycotian churches, constructed in the wood and paper architecture. Behind him, four of his White Guard followed. Three of them removed their helms, but the fourth did not.

Kenshin drifted idely over to Alexi. He had business later, so he didn't want him to try and pull any fast ones. "John getting wasted again?"

The two 'Humans' seated at the very back of the congregation tried very carefully to prevent drawing attention to themselves.

Firstly, they were dressed somewhat... over the top. Neither of them had been quite aware of it until they had actually worked up the nerve to look around, of course.

Officially? Officially, they represent Onatio, a small Atlantic island state which is almost entirely tourist-industry driven. A corporate state, one might say - with almost no real autonomy at all. In fact, Onatio wasn't even acknowledged by the United Nations (or most of the world), but that wasn't everything. Officially, they were Phillipe and Tera Margionet, Prime Minister and First Lady respectively.

But if one looked very closely at the right records, one would note that the corporate island was, by extremely confusing way of a succession ownerships and silent partnerships, owned by the Imperial Trade Conglomerate.

And the ITC, in turn, is the Iluvauromeni economy - and is in turn owned by the Imperial Family.

And so the surgically altered Nenyar try very carefully to draw no attention to themselves - even though they don't work for the Imperial Trade Conglomerate. After all, there are no Nenyar Christians.

These two particular Nenyar did not know whether or not they would be welcome, but they were curious all the same - and so were their employers.

I'm sure nobody would mind, a series of exceptionally subtle body cues and very quiet empathic broadcasting conveyed from one to the other.

You can never be too sure. Just look at Iesus Christi. And the Crusades. I learned about those in history class back at school, years and years ago. Dreadful things.

A lull in the conversation. The one with darker hair - and green contact lenses to prevent his naturally amber eyes from being a dead giveaway as to his species - glanced at the other, inclining his head slightly. Eyebrows flicker, small smile, slight raising of a shoulder. A pause, then a tiny inclination of lips towards a frown.

Maybe so, but I'd feel much more comfortable back home. Why'd we come all this way, anyway? We have Christians in the Commonality. Not many, but they exist. Pause. And we can't point any fingers. It's not like the Two Thousand Year Slaughter is that forgettable.

[OOC: OOC note: Onatio is a holiday resort/tax haven which hasn't been mentioned before but is spectacuarly unimportant. It sits at the edge of the Bay of Turath, inside the Commonality's Economic Exclusion Zone. However, it is listed on maps as autonomous, and has a mostly-Human population (who are mostly transient staff who arrive and leave with the beginning and end of the holiday season). There is a permanent population of seventy-eight - all of whom are exceedingly rich individuals.]

OOC: Sorry, I couldn't get to a computer yesterday. And, Ma-tek...as long as you arent going to do anything treacherous, you are welcome to play along.

IC: Finally, the Organ finished its Toccata, and Sounded three Chords. Then, the enormous Chancel Choir assembled in the Narthex sang out Acapella, "Hodie Christus Natus Est, Hodie Christus Natus Est. Alleluia, Alleluia!"

The Organ then began to pound out "Angels from the Realms of Glory." The choir began to process down the centre aisle as the lights in the sanctuary were dimmed and the choir's candles were lit.

Angels from the Realms of Glory, wing your flight o'er all the Earth. Ye who sang creation's story, now proclaim Messiah's birth. Come and Worship, Come and Worship, Worship Christ the newborn King.

The Choir began to assemble in the choir loft as the Pastors now exited the Narthex behind the choir, singing along to the hymn.

Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, In His Temple shall appear. Come and Worship, Come and Worship. Worship Christ the newborn King.

Finally the Choir, with military precision, had assembled in the Choir loft, beneath them was a full orchestra that now joined in with the organ, the violins shooting off quick trills and roulades to accent the plain line of the hymn. Then the ministers all stood in place and faced outward to the congregation. The Organ began a short fanfare and then abruptly modulated up a halfstep. As he did so, the gasflames that appeared to be candles in the enormous iron light fixtures overhead illuminated, along with the gas operated torches on the sides of the great stone wall. Awash with the soft glow, the Choir began to sing the last verse and the soprano's executed a soaring descant that floated above the melody line.

Sinners, wrung with true repentance, Doomed for guilt to endless pains, Justice now revokes the sentence; Mercy Calls you; breaks your chains; Come and Worship, Come and Worship. Worship Christ the newborn King.

"Let us pray." the presiding Minister, Rev. Dr. Derek Aldermann announced. "Allmighty God, we thankyou for the blessings which you have visited upon us in this previous year and indeed the years before us. We thankyou moreover for the greatest gift of All, your son, Jesus Christ, who was born lowly in a manger, yet would be the King of Kings. We thankyou for his death on the cross and the forgiveness of sin.

We truly stand in awe of your power which causes the worlds to change their courses. We stand in awe of your generousity towards our fallen race and your supreme Holiness.

Yet, we confess, Lord, that oft we act as if you were not in the world...we act as if we were our own Gods. We confess Lord, we take for granted the gift you have given. We forget too easily that we all deserve Hell as our just reward and that it is only through your grace and through faith in your Son that we are pardoned.

Let us not upbraid ourselves, let us all act in accordance with thy Will...and grant it that our songs and prayers we raise to thee may be pleasing in they sight, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen."

OOC: Psh, fine, skip the social part, I see Mr. Aldermann is a prick. :p

Tell me when you want to jump in with John.