In the story, Indiana Jones is trying to stop his evil arch-rival and Nazi cohorts from obtaining the sacred Cup of Christ - which imparts youth and eternal life to anyone who drinks from it. It appears that the bad guys will win out as their leader stands before an ancient table full of cups and has but to pick up the one true Grail and drink from it. He chooses an ornate chalice of solid gold and drinks. It is a fatal mistake. His body shrivels and turns to dust because he has chosen unwisely. Now it is Indiana's turn. He selects a simple wooden cup - the modest cup of a carpenter's son. It is a wise choice.

Like the simple wooden cup in the movie, one could easily miss the Palomar Congregation's meeting place in a Vista industrial park. It has no ornate facade, no towering steeple, and no manicured grounds. The inside is much like the outside, clean and well-kept but without any of the trappings you would normally associate with a church. Rows of comfortable seats fill the main hall, which is decorated in a modern style. There are no statues, altars or images, just a pair of bible verses in English and Spanish on either side of the stage. A small library off the lobby is filled with Bible-based books and magazines. It is obvious that this is a place of learning rather than ceremony.

Before the 9:30am Sunday services begin, about 50 or 60 people mill around with smiles on their faces, engaged in conversation or just greeting friends. The men and boys are dressed in suits or slacks, all with ties, and the women in modest, but not old-fashioned, dresses and skirts. Although they come here to worship, they do not call this a church. No one in the crowd wears a special collar, robe or sash because the elders try not to distinguish themselves from the other members of the congregation.

The meeting begins with a short song and prayer. Song books are stacked on the counter in back for anyone who does not have one. All quietly say "Amen" as the prayer ends and the meeting begins. The sermon is given by one of the elders, dressed in a suit and tie. The topic on this particular Sunday is "Evidence of God in the World Around Us." What follows is about 30 minutes of very well-presented material mainly derived from the bible itself. Many in the audience have bibles in their laps and the speaker invites them to open their bibles and read along with several scriptures. Amazingly, even children can be seen turning to the scriptures and following along as the speaker reads.

After the public talk and another song, the speaker asks the audience to turn to an article in the Watchtower magazine, also provided in the back. Another man in a suit joins the speaker on the platform. He reads paragraphs from the article as the speaker asks questions and calls on congregation members who raise their hands to answer. Men, women and even young children participate, using microphones to give short answers to each question. It becomes obvious now why the building is so simple and modest - it is merely a place for studying the bible and bible-based materials. Except for the song and prayer, no ceremony takes place here today. No collection plate is passed and everyone is made to feel welcome and encouraged to participate. The meeting ends with another song, a closing prayer, and another half hour or so of lively conversations taking place in the hall, the lobby and spilling out into the parking lot.

Compared to the ornate churches and temples of most religions, the Kingdom Halls of Jehovah's Witnesses are indeed very simple and modest - as are the bible studies which take place within and the people who conduct and attend. Any one looking for a church that Jesus would attend, would be wise to consider this one.