Conservative Church

@jung ∴ wooyoung Dongwook walked through the school. With a small sigh, he adjusted his slightly crooked collar and made his way to the chapel, a space that seemed to retain a hint of sanctity despite the institutional setting. The chapel's wooden pews creaked slightly as Dongwook walked down the aisle, the sound echoing in the empty room. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, his youthful face reflecting a mix of nerves and determination. The ancient lectern stood before him; its surface polished by countless hands over the years. He cleared his throat, flipping open the well-worn Bible and glancing at the passages he'd be sharing.

The familiar scent of candles and incense filled the air, though there was a hint of mustiness that spoke of a space not often used. Dongwook took a moment to steady himself, his lips moving silently in a quick prayer before he began adjusting the candles, making sure they were evenly spaced. He checked the chalice and the small bowl of wafers, his movements practised but not without a touch of apprehension. As he stood there, he imagined the faces of the congregation who would soon fill these pews – some attentive, some fidgeting and others lost in their own thoughts. He knew that connecting with them meant more than just reciting scripture; it meant finding a way to bridge the gap between ancient teachings and their contemporary lives.

The minutes slipped by as Dongwook readied the chapel, his motions becoming more fluid as he fell into a rhythm. He straightened a crooked pew cushion, adjusted a flickering candle, and then stepped back to survey his work. The chapel was simple, far from the grand cathedrals he'd seen in his studies, but it held a certain charm – a place where faith had been nurtured for generations. With a final, satisfied nod, Dongwook took a deep breath and looked around. The chapel was ready, and he was ready. He couldn't help but smile, feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility. The congregation would soon arrive, their chatter and energy filling the room. Dongwook's role was not just to teach them about religion, but to help them find meaning and connection in the teachings, in a world that often seemed chaotic and confusing.

Turning back to the altar he silently lowered his head in prayer he wasn’t sure anyone would find their way to this chapel for his first service. He had no altar boys and no voices of the church to read the scripture. He also had no connection to the young people mostly traversing the halls of the institution this chapel was part of. But he was confident that his faith would be strong enough to light even the smallest immortal light. With that thought his eyes moved up to the eternal flame high up in the back of the church. When he first arrived, it had not even been lit and he had asked the priest of the neighbouring church to honour him with a light transferal ceremony to return the holy spirit to his church. Their request had to be run up the ladder until one of the holy bishops of the Vatican had signed the formal papers to return the spirit of god to this small chapel after all Dongwook’s appointment to this chapel had been less than ideal and thus he was closely monitored and the eternal flame was only given after many thoughts. Normally he would have let it be until the ester wake and lit the flame once more with the blessed flame of the ester fire but it was still long till then and this place could use any blessing it could get.