The Sermon
At length, everyone was seated in the large chapel. The other priests, Manson and Henry, took their places on either side of the altar, and then Father Hulk began to speak.
"Today, I will tell you the history of the demons that threaten our society and plague our earth." He cleared his throat. "Many, many millennia ago, there was a great city known as Evrai. It sat on an island 300 miles north of where Antarctica now is. This city was the birthplace of the St. Eva religion. It was a grand city, with large, magnificent houses, streets shining with gold, and the Grand Church Of St. Eva, the holiest of places to our believers, sat to the north of it all. Our founder dwelt there, along with the seven others that founded the religion.
"One day, demons arose from the depths of the earth and attacked Evrai, toppling houses and capturing the souls of people. A great battle was fought, and our people prevailed! Evrai was restored and the demons were banished."
"This story is really interesting." Bubbles said.
"Shh…" whispered the professor. "Let's listen."
Hulk continued. "However, the demons never really died. Though banished from Evrai, they continued to live on, to stew in their anger. Those demons are still around today, though their forms have changed somewhat. They live on in the forms of terrorist leaders, racists, and so on. We, as the heads of the St. Eva church, do not approve of nor do we allow demons into our organization. We believe in the pureness of the heart, and the goodness of the soul. That is why…" he turned and gestured to the large, stained-glass portrait of St. Eva behind him, "You must pray to our St. Eva to help you lead a good life, and that the demons may once and for all be vanquished!"
Blossom's eyes drifted up to the picture. St. Eva was surely an intimidating figure. He had a billowing black robe, and a wild grey beard, holding a staff while raising his arms to the sky. The very presence of the portrait filled Blossom with the will to pray, and to lead a good life.
"And so let us remember that demons are evil, and that St. Eva's light will shine brighter the stronger we pray! May He eventually bring peace to the world! And now, everyone recite the blessing of St. Eva after me…"
The massive congregation spoke as one.
St. Eva and his children will pass time and place…
The voices of our prayers will break through darkness…
Abandon selfishness and just pray…
Become a part of the limitless love of our God…
Hope makes the heart peaceful…
Abandon hatred.
Through the breaking darkness, we can see our God.
(A/N: I don't remember all of it! Shame on me as a Father!)
AMEN!!!
And that was that. The service was over.
"Hey, Blossom!" Ray called, waving.
"Hi, Ray." Blossom replied, smiling.
"My dad is a good preacher, huh?"
"Yup, he sure is." Answered Buttercup.
"It fills me with love," Bubbles swooned.
"Hey, Blossom, wanna sit with me during Sunday School?" Ray asked.
Blossom was delighted. "I'd love to!"
"Speaking of which," Father Hulk said, coming over, "It's time for exactly that. Come along, children."
"Sunday School is fun," Ray assured her. He would have followed his father right then, but he found himself enraptured with Blossom's gaze.
Blossom played dumb. "What are you staring at? Come on!"
"Right." Ray said, and the pair of them walked behind Hulk with the rest of the children, but Blossom was in her own world, ecstatic that a boy would look at her like that.