Who says Mass isn't meant to be enjoyed?

Last Sunday, there was a power trip at our Church of the Holy Spirit during the 11am Mass. And that experience made it into my "Best Masses I've Attended" list.

It had happened just as the offertory hymn was ending. The bright, fiercely hot sun had suddenly been shielded by storm clouds. The choir was leading us into the final line in conclusion of the song and just as our jubilant voices hit the final "SING (to the glory of the Lord!!!)", a flash shot past outside our new stained glass and at that very same instant, a sharp crack was heard.

We found out later that the bolt had possibly hit one of our lightning conductors which explained why the thunder followed so closely on its heels. Participants attending the Archdiocese Alpha Pilot Run in the attic had a bad fright. Our friends manning the Bruce Kuhn sales table outside witnessed parishioners milling around at church visibly jump out of their skins. It was that near... that loud.

Back in church, I saw a choir member tap the mic and I whispered to my friend, "I think the mic is dead."

True enough, we soon realised the airconditioner had stopped as well while Father William Goh continued preparing himself for the consecration.

When he stepped back at the altar table, I just kept wondering if the mic was working. He spoke... into a mic that was soundless. Then he consulted with the altar boys. I was making my worried face, wondering if he could proceed with Mass without the mic.

One brief second of hesitation later, he stepped confidently towards the altar table again, picked up the host and chalice and spoke his prayers out loud.

A hushed silence fell over the congregation. It was dead quiet. All we could hear was Father William Goh's loud voice proclaiming his prayers. And well, one little toddler speaking out.

When it came time for us to respond, "Blessed be God forever", I felt we all proclaimed that much more fervently. Perhaps we had considered signalling our brothers and sisters sitting on the upper floor and at the backs who might not have heard Father William Goh without the mic, that it was time for us to respond... well, that consideration was needless because it seemed the whole congregation, for once, responded, loudly, clearly, as one.

Mass went on as usual. Or more wondrously than usual.

When it came time for us to wish peace, Father laughed and said, "I told y'all, we cannot trust technology. Technology just short-circuits. But PEOPLE! People – we cannot short-circuit. We must remain INTER-CONNECTED with one another. AND SO, let us wish one another a hearty sign of peace."

We laughed, we teared and we wished peace. I know I felt more love and more loved than usual.

It was a beautiful Mass. I had on my sweater because I had worn a sleeveless top underneath and I didn't want to remove my sweater... and it was hot. Father William Goh had to speak so loudly for half an hour. I'm sure some parishioners had struggled to hear him. The choir sang without their mics too.

But none of it deterred our worship. It was pure worship, in a back-to-basics setting. And it was beautiful.