The case begins...

The long awaited case for St. Mary of the Angels was held in Superior Court, downtown Los Angeles, September 23rd, 24th and 25th of last week. Taking the Metro seemed like a good way to begin this "adventure". I put on my walking shoes, my black cloth sun hat and left our apartment at 8:30 am. Walking at a good clip, I arrived at the Metro at Western and Wilshire in about 20 minutes. Somehow I navigated purchasing a Tap Card and a day pass. The Metro was uncrowded, simple and direct with a stop at Grand Park directly across the street from the Stanley Mosk Court House. I passed through the security check and took the elevator to the fourth floor. Department 32 was at the end of a long corridor. It was good to see the familiar face of John Bruce, a former member of St. Mary's who has been chronicling our case in his blog for the past three years. A face of someone I hadn't seen in over three years was that of Michael Merrill, looking very official in his security guard uniform. Hugs were exchanged with both men and small pleasantries exchanged.
Other friends joined us, Deacon John and Jackie Yeager, Father Kelley pushing Mary Alice in her wheel chair, Dr. Allan Trimpi and John Pouncey.
What was difficult was seeing Laura Bartus joined later by Fr. Andrew Bartus. They had both been subpoenaed to appear in court and did not look happy about it. Others from the opposition, now defendants in court, arriving were Marilyn Bush (of the permanent frown) Richard Neve, John and Judy Cothran, Pat and Pamela O'Meirs and an ACA (Anglican Church in America) bishop, Owen Williams. There were a few others joining this group that I didn't recognise.
Because I had been called as a witness by the opposition I knew I was to dutifully sit on a hard bench outside the courtroom all day. To this end, I brought a bag with a couple of books and a notebook I had begun when all of this started. Allegra Rineer,  one of our lawyers, came out of the courtroom and asked me if I would like to sit in the courtroom with them as a representative of our Vestry. My response was an enthusiastic yes! My notebook and pen were ready to go into action.