Who'da thunk

This morning we were invited to join in the weekly moms-and-tots play group in Jingshan, the gated community. A woman we met last week at the playgournd, Katie, invited us. Myles had a very good time. Oddly, when I was telling Myles what we were going to do today, he asked if the kids spoke English or Chinese. I guess he wanted to prepare himself.
So after the playdate we ended up at the playground with Katie and her daughter Michaela. Katie had mentioned something about her Advent fast starting, and of course I was intrigued. It turns out she and her husband are raised-Evangelicals converts to Orthodox Christianity. She was suprised when I asked her if she were OCA (they're actually Antiochian), and moreseo when I went to explain to the Russian woman who was with us what the OCA was. Of course, I'm not Orthodox, but I outed myself as a one-time theology grad student and we ended up talking a little bit about how much I love Schmemann, having been introduced to his writings in my liturgy class. Orthodoxy is not recognized by the Chinese government, so Katie's family attends the Protestant services on Sunday, though on Easter they did join the Catholics. I told her about Nantou Church, and our going there when we can, and what the Chinese Liturgy was like.
So a playdate in the gated community ends with a discussion on liturgy. And Schmemann. I'm telling you guys, he's quite the ice breaker.