Kocur.net Blog

Drew and I took another Sunday morning to visit another church. There was a church that Drew had heard about called “Church at the Movies.” It was a Baptist church that decided that it wanted to reach out more to younger people. So, rather than meet in a church, they decided to meet in one of our local movie theaters. Drew checked the website and we found that the service started at 10, with the coffee bar opening at 9:30. Coffee bar was all I needed to hear.

We got to the theater a bit early, so we sat in the car and read the paper for a bit. When we got out of the car and walked toward the theater, there were people greeting us before we even got to the door. “Welcome! There are coffee and bagels inside!” Two more steps. “Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here! Coffee and bagels are right over there!” Three more steps. “Hi! Welcome! I’m *insert name.* Are you new? Coffee and bagels are right there! Help yourself!” I kept thinking to myself, “I SEE the coffee! I want to GET to the coffee!” I’m always thankful for a warm welcome, but this was borderline excessive. Since Drew and I aren’t looking for a new church, just simply trying to participate in different worship services, we’re not anxious to check the “First time visitor” section of the sign in pad. I do appreciate a warm welcome and a church that is genuinely glad that you are there, but there is a fine line between that and smothering. I can understand that struggle. It’s hard to find a good balance. How can I make you feel welcome without making you want to run screaming for the car?

So we finally got to the coffee (I was relieved that it wasn’t Maxwell House.) I was fixing my coffee when yet another person was greeting me (this time not in a smothering way, just a genuine smile and “welcome.”) and then I heard, “She’s cool. I know her.” I looked up and saw the bagel and muffin man (why yes, I do know the muffin man) who often delivers the muffins and bagels to the coffee shop I work at. He and I have had many lovely encounters in the wee morning hours at 6 a.m. We chatted for a bit, and he introduced me to his fiance (they get married THIS Saturday!) and I introduced him to my husband. It was nice to see a familiar face.

We headed into the theater and found the band ready to begin worship. They started with a David Crowder song and then a Charlie Hall song. I enjoy both of these worship leaders/songwriters, so it was an enjoyable way to start. I didn’t recognize the rest of the songs, but they were enjoyable, and it was nice to hear some new stuff. There was only one vocalist, and I found I enjoyed that. It was simple. He wasn’t a “trained” vocalist, which I found refreshing. He kept it simple and didn’t do any crazy vocal aerobics like us vocalists are often tempted to do.

There was a movie clip they used in the middle of the service. I think they do that every week (hence the whole church at the movies thing). I can see how it would be hard to find a clip that fits in each week. The clip we watched didn’t really make sense to me. I couldn’t see how it fit in. I guess they can’t all be winners.

The pastor was a good speaker. Drew and I enjoyed his speaking. He spoke on the blood, and why it’s so crucial to Christianity. He acknowledged that talking about blood is weird and not many of us want to hear about it, but that it is so important. He was funny, and I liked how he actually taught from the Bible. He referenced back to Scripture a lot, and tried to explain it as he went. I feel like so many sermons I’ve heard lately don’t really teach much from the Bible. I miss that.

He did start to get a bit long winded toward the end. He had four points that he wanted to leave us with. I can’t remember what they were. He spent so much time explaining the first one that by the time he got to the second one, I couldn’t remember what the first one was. But overall, he did well and I enjoyed listening to him. It was the longest I was able to focus during a sermon for a long time.

He finished with a prayer, and it was a typical Baptist prayer. With our heads bowed, he led us in prayer, then started addressing the audience about accepting Jesus, without closing the prayer. A bit later he closed the prayer. I realized this is a pet peeve of mine. I don’t like to combine the prayer with the “altar call.” Pray if you’re going to pray. Talk to me if you’re going to talk to me. But don’t combine the two. Don’t start talking to me when you’re praying to our Holy God. It just doesn’t work. I never know if I should open my eyes or keep them closed. It’s awkward and… annoying.

Other than that, the service was enjoyable. Drew and I walked out refreshed, which was… refreshing. And passing the popcorn bucket as the offering plate was fun.

Drew and I have taken a break from church duties, and in our new found free time on Sunday mornings, we’ve tried some different ways to connect with God. We’ve taken some time to ourselves, at our Church of the Loveseat (as Drew so aptly named it…) and shared some music and thoughts with each other. We also decided to spend some time visiting other churches. We didn’t want to be searching for another church or “church hopping,” but simply wanted to experience some different worship experiences.

This morning, we went to St. Peter’s Anglican Church. I wanted to try something traditional, and Drew was willing to go along. I guess I didn’t think about the fact that Anglican means “high” church (A term I really don’t like). I didn’t think about all the “smells and bells” that would accompany the worship. The incense gave me a headache, and reminded me of those “new age” stores. Incense is never something I associate with worship, and it sort of threw me at first. I mean, I hear about it and read about it, but just haven’t experienced it in worship often. When they processed by us, swinging the incense ball to and fro, I fought back the urge to cough.

I can appreciate the imagery of the incense representing our prayers wafting up to heaven though, and once it dissipated a bit, it was bearable. After that, the symbolistic and ritualistic side of the worship fascinated me. I was intrigued by the processional, and wondered why the bearer of the cross was holding one hand to his forehead. What’s a Verger? Or a Thurifer? It was all very interesting.

The rest of the the service was followed word for word out of the bulletin. Part of me loved the flowing and poetic nature of the prayers and the texts, and the other part of me resented having to keep my nose buried in the bulletin. Drew commented later that he had to focus so much on the order that he missed out on what was happening.

The classical musician in me loved the music. Traditional worship is refreshing some days, and other days it can honestly just be boring. Today it was refreshing. I especially loved singing the Kyrie. It was printed in the bulletin and looked like the Gregorian chants that I studied in my music history classes. Music without stems and measure markings is way too cool. Singing it was mystical and (to me) fulfilling.

I enjoyed hearing all the Scriptures read (an Old Testament, Psalm, and New Testament reading) rather than the selected text that we were focusing on. Unfortunately, the preaching left something to be desired, at least for me. I tried to focus, but spent more time bringing my drifting mind back to attention then actually paying attention.

Communion was also intriguing. The words spoken were somewhat familiar and comforting. Watching the motions gone through during the reading was interesting. Again, lots of ritual. We opted out of taking communion, knowing that we’d be more focused on taking communion correctly; nervously watching our neighbors to see if we’re doing it right, than focusing on the true meaning of Holy Communion. One thing I love about my husband is that he doesn’t take communion lightly. He won’t take it simply because he’s expected to. He takes time to mentally and spiritually prepare himself, and if he doesn’t feel ready, he won’t hesitate to not take it. He’d rather not take it than take it flippantly.

We had an ending hymn, and then a dismissal, and then the recessional, complete with the swinging incense ball. (I wonder if they have a class on how to swing it… seemed like there was some technique behind it.) We said hello to a couple of the pastors (several of which I know because they are regular customers at the coffee shop I work at) and then were on our way. Drew made a comment about needing to use the Neti Pot when we got home to clear the incense out of his nose.

All in all, I enjoyed the experience. The biggest thing I appreciated was the fact that there seemed to be real reverence in the worship. I know many people probably go through the motions without really thinking about it, but there was a sense of holiness and respect for the God we were there to worship. I think in many churches, there is such a sense of making church “comfortable” (which is very important, don’t get me wrong) that we lose the sacredness of it all. I don’t want church to be boring and rote (the boy across the aisle from us appeared less than impressed with the service… made me wonder if he has any way to really engage during worship) but at the same time I don’t want to lose sight of how holy God is and how puny I am. Maybe I don’t incense for that, but it was a good reminder…