At the end of the sermon, they were encouraged to gather in a circle and hold hands while the priest led them in prayer. “God, our father, let us see the kingdom come today. Forgive us of our trespasses. We know that we are sinners and cannot therefore save ourselves, but instead rely upon the mercy of your salvation. Use our problems not to cast us out, but to draw us closer to you so that we might have a saving relationship with you through your son’s redemptive work at Calvary. Give us hope in this life and the life to come that is found only in Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. We know you to be the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins. Thank you for bearing those sins and giving us, who accept you into our hearts, eternal life. Many of your children standing here today have lost everything, but Lord God, offer them the gift of everlasting life. Where they may inherit all things. For that, and for the glory of the name I pray in, Jesus Christ amen.”

He spoke as if he was putting words in her mouth and speaking them to some presiding spirit who was either pleased and therefore merciful, or displeased and therefore vengeful. Aria felt humiliated by his words. She could not find in herself a sinner. Instead this “God” they spoke of had stood by and watched year upon year of trespasses against her. It was they that had sinned. It was they that should be asking for forgiveness. And it always struck her as odd that anyone with a life as bad as she had experienced would be asking for life to be eternal. Why not pray for life to be over? she thought to herself, waiting for the spectacle to end. She could see beyond the pretenses. She could see that the person who was most insecure in his relationship to God was the very man trying to secure everyone else’s.

After the sermon, anyone who felt ready to put their trust in Christ was welcome to step to one side of the room for their salvation. A galvanized metal utility tub that looked vaguely like a watering trough was filled daily with freshly blessed tap water. The priest would instruct any woman who was ready to commit to Christ to sit in the water, holding her left forearm with her right hand and using her left hand to pinch her nostrils closed. The baptisms were short, faith placed on a conveyor belt. The same ritualized words were yelled to the woman being baptized, as if yelling them made them more effectual.