Tonight I was journaling about not attending the Selichot service, well in fact not attending  a single service since moving and theorizing why this had happened when Judaism was so central to my life while in Montgomery. Well, in my jammies and writing… hair a mess. No  makeup and maybe no deodorant either I just looked at the cat and said. So go. You have fifteen minutes to change. Well  I didn’t need to even change clothing, the instructions were to be there for havdalah  at 8:45 and selichot would begin at 9. and to bring a pillow and a candle in a container. I mustered up something black and presentable but  by no means “normal” synagogue clothing,, grabbed a map and within 15 minutes on the highway I was at the reconstructionist synagogue. People slowly filtered in I introduced myself to a few and got the standard questions. Most of the people lived in my SW neighborhood and laughed at the fact that they had bought a building in NW. But the space was minimalist and beautiful. Light wood floor. No pews but rather long easily moved sofas arranged in a circle emanating from the small wooden bimah. More a readers table than a formal bimah… The window behind the east facing ark was covered in a bronze filigree tree of life. Everyone was invited to come into an anteroom for havdalah. The lights were turned off and the service was short, completely participatory, even with about 60 people, and mostly sung. We then lit the candles we had brought and gathered in a circle standing while a few people changed the torah mantles for the high holy days from green to white. We then sat and it was like no service I had ever attended but what I had always dreamed  of. No instruments. Just voices. 75% was sung. No sermon, several lay leaders taking turns about the purpose of selichot. We had  a guided meditation with breathing and imagery.  Sang more songs and prayers. I actually cried with awe and wonder that a small service could be so meaningful and inspiring with so little said or done and so much internal work accomplished. We ended by singing while we walked outside into the courtyard with  our lights and  looked at the stars, felt  the cool fall air. when each person was ready they blew out their light and that was the signal that people could talk to them. Hugs and thanks followed. I introduced myself to the Rabbi (dressed in jeans and a blue shirt) early in the service I had removed my clogs and was sitting crossed legged on the floor with my eyes closed swaying and singing. My behavior was not out of place  I felt one with the universe. Their High Holy days are being held in a larger public building and are free to the public. Their informality, emphasis on individual spirituality and the importance of compassion in life blew me away. I will be going back and back and back. L'Shana Tova