10.28.2007
10.22.2007
My Visit to The Table at Chapelwood United Methodist Church
I recently visited a unique worship service called "The Table." You can read about my experience by clicking here.
10.14.2007
Come visit my new site!
Dear Faithful Readers (all two of you!) --
I have officially moved over to the religion page of the Houston Chronicle. Visit me by clicking here and clicking on my latest blog entry. You can post your comments there and/or send me a message.
I have officially moved over to the religion page of the Houston Chronicle. Visit me by clicking here and clicking on my latest blog entry. You can post your comments there and/or send me a message.
10.07.2007
My Visit on Sunday, October 7
Today's visit resulted from the request of a friend. A musician friend of mine was playing in a hired orchestra during worship today at Fine Arts Episcopal Church. Of course that isn't their name, but they do have a commitment to the "finer" things (I mean -- they hired an entire orchestra for not just one Sunday, but the whole month!). Regardless, I enjoyed the chance to take-in a little Christ and culture. (H. Richard Niebuhr would be proud!)
The stained glass windows in this church are dense and lasting. Functioning like the regal Byzantine icons of Constantinople, the four colorful panels burrow their straightforward images deep into my mind so that I can still call them to my consciousness even hours later. An accepting Christ, bidding followers to eat. A despondent Christ, carrying a cross. Christ resigned, praying in the garden. And Christ jubilant, ascending.
The real is treat is turning around the see the full spectrum of color in the rear window above the balcony. There stands the mysterious author of the bible's final and most vivid book. I can't begin to describe it. But rest assured, the window is as detailed and rich and complex as the subject himself. I think he would be proud. My only regret is that all the pews face front, so you don't see this window until you walk out.
The people were friendly, though far from outgoing. I get the feeling that a consistent visitor could stay anonymous here for months, which may be the approach they aim for. There's no pushiness (come on, they're Episcopalians!) and that's a good thing.
I took delight in watching the deacon prepare the bread and cup for the Eucharist. We were all singing our hymn while he uncovered the tableware and laid out the elements with the precision of a blackjack dealer.
I was grateful to be with them and to overhear the beautiful music they employ to announce their praise to God.
And if I do go back, I'm going to take my own lawn chair and placing right in the aisle facing the rear of the sanctuary . . .
The stained glass windows in this church are dense and lasting. Functioning like the regal Byzantine icons of Constantinople, the four colorful panels burrow their straightforward images deep into my mind so that I can still call them to my consciousness even hours later. An accepting Christ, bidding followers to eat. A despondent Christ, carrying a cross. Christ resigned, praying in the garden. And Christ jubilant, ascending.
The real is treat is turning around the see the full spectrum of color in the rear window above the balcony. There stands the mysterious author of the bible's final and most vivid book. I can't begin to describe it. But rest assured, the window is as detailed and rich and complex as the subject himself. I think he would be proud. My only regret is that all the pews face front, so you don't see this window until you walk out.
The people were friendly, though far from outgoing. I get the feeling that a consistent visitor could stay anonymous here for months, which may be the approach they aim for. There's no pushiness (come on, they're Episcopalians!) and that's a good thing.
I took delight in watching the deacon prepare the bread and cup for the Eucharist. We were all singing our hymn while he uncovered the tableware and laid out the elements with the precision of a blackjack dealer.
I was grateful to be with them and to overhear the beautiful music they employ to announce their praise to God.
And if I do go back, I'm going to take my own lawn chair and placing right in the aisle facing the rear of the sanctuary . . .
10.01.2007
My Visit on Sunday, September 30
I did my homework before visiting this week's church. I went to Edge-of-Downtown Baptist Church's website on Saturday to find out what to expect.
I downloaded the newsletter and checked the calendar and was disappointed to not see anything about the upcoming sermon. (Usually in churches, when the upcoming sermon isn't publicized, it means there is a guest preacher. Its a little trick we preachers pull because we generally assume that attendance will be lighter if people know in advance that there will be a guest in the pulpit. I did, however, make the painful discovery at my last church that that rule doesn't really hold up. On several occasions, MORE people would come to hear the guest preachers! I don't get it. . . what could that POSSIBLY mean?!!)
Well anyway, I had heard of Edge-of-Downtown's fantastic music program, so I figured it was worth it to make the trip anyway. The church is all of about 6 blocks from my house, so in the event that the guest preacher was horrible, I could still make it home in time for the Texans noon kickoff and the morning would be recovered.
Turns out, the preacher WAS there after all -- and it was a wonderful sermon -- and I didn't need to make the embarrassing "11:45 kickoff sneak-away." The sermon was gracious and relevant, and I could tell he was saying some things that his particular congregation needed to hear. (Hearing a sermon as a "congregational outsider" is like reading one of Paul's letters and trying to diagnose the "issues" Paul was trying to address at Corinth, or Galatia, etc. I'm always wondering what the congregational concern is: budget? outreach? lack of vision? lack of identity?)
I think my only significant disappointment with worship was what happened at the very beginning. After a beautiful organ prelude, a kindly older gentleman, who I think was on staff, walked to the pulpit. The stage was set, a beautiful old sanctuary, deep blue stained glass windows, a hushed congregation, hungry for a word. "Here it comes," I thought, "the opening words of worship -- an invitation, a blessing, a challenge, a prayer. . ." Instead, he delivered the announcements.
Sad. He had such a great presence and a beautiful voice. And I imagine he was just doing what had been done in that worship service for years: starting the hour with the "business of the family." He thanked a family for a memorial gift, he mentioned the church's apartment ministry, he pointed out the roses on the chancel. All of this could have been written in the bulletin -- all I wanted to hear him say was "Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say, rejoice!"
How important those first few spoken words are in worship! Whoever says them -- they are breaking a week's worth of congregational silence to offer the first words of delight and praise to the Creator. There is surely a place for announcements (a couple of them maybe!), but not as the first words of praise that form on the lips.
We did recover and I was delighted to be soon be singing some old favorites (hymns by Fanny Crosby and Charles Wesley) with a congregation that enjoys its singing. We were led by a spirited man (probably the music minister) in the front of the church who I could only assume was a man who deeply loved his job (his enormous grin gave that away). He was loving every minute of it -- and why shouldn't he? His joy seemed contagious and my worshiping companions and I sang all louder and more gleefully because of it.
The highlight was at the end of the hour. When some new members joined, there was a quick introduction of them: one was a boy making his public pledge of trust, two others were soon to be married. But after they were introduced, I listened as the congregation spoke in unison a few words that were printed in the bulletin. It began with, "We pledge ourselves to be the family of God for you. . ."
I love that! Walking down the aisle to join a church is a very hard decision, and so it makes sense for that tough moment to be met with an equally-challenging pledge for the congregation. They may not have realized, but that church is pledging to do something very difficult. "To pledge ourselves to be the family of God for you..." Wow! Those new members are in for a treat!
This church knows grace. They were welcoming of me and (more importantly) as I looked around, they welcomed with open arms the people of various races, socio-economic classes and life situations. In their geographic setting at the edge of downtown, that is extremely important.
A final word: in a couple of places on their website, I noticed what this church says about how to dress on Sunday morning. Its something to the effect of: We honor God by wearing our best. I think the main reason for that is to manage my expectations as a visitor . . . so that when I arrive and see everyone dressed-up, I am not surprised. But I wish they wouldn't do that. I think it is making a big deal (OK, a "moderate deal") out of nothing.
I have visited several churches in the last few weeks and out of all of them, this church was the most casual in terms of how people dressed. And it works -- people look comfortable. They might dress up, but for some people, even their nicest suit isn't brand new or the latest fashion. Of all the churches I have visited on this blog, the people at this church (refreshingly) had the least pretension about how they were dressed and how they appeared to other people.
Now if they can just find a way to communicate THAT on their website. . .
I downloaded the newsletter and checked the calendar and was disappointed to not see anything about the upcoming sermon. (Usually in churches, when the upcoming sermon isn't publicized, it means there is a guest preacher. Its a little trick we preachers pull because we generally assume that attendance will be lighter if people know in advance that there will be a guest in the pulpit. I did, however, make the painful discovery at my last church that that rule doesn't really hold up. On several occasions, MORE people would come to hear the guest preachers! I don't get it. . . what could that POSSIBLY mean?!!)
Well anyway, I had heard of Edge-of-Downtown's fantastic music program, so I figured it was worth it to make the trip anyway. The church is all of about 6 blocks from my house, so in the event that the guest preacher was horrible, I could still make it home in time for the Texans noon kickoff and the morning would be recovered.
Turns out, the preacher WAS there after all -- and it was a wonderful sermon -- and I didn't need to make the embarrassing "11:45 kickoff sneak-away." The sermon was gracious and relevant, and I could tell he was saying some things that his particular congregation needed to hear. (Hearing a sermon as a "congregational outsider" is like reading one of Paul's letters and trying to diagnose the "issues" Paul was trying to address at Corinth, or Galatia, etc. I'm always wondering what the congregational concern is: budget? outreach? lack of vision? lack of identity?)
I think my only significant disappointment with worship was what happened at the very beginning. After a beautiful organ prelude, a kindly older gentleman, who I think was on staff, walked to the pulpit. The stage was set, a beautiful old sanctuary, deep blue stained glass windows, a hushed congregation, hungry for a word. "Here it comes," I thought, "the opening words of worship -- an invitation, a blessing, a challenge, a prayer. . ." Instead, he delivered the announcements.
Sad. He had such a great presence and a beautiful voice. And I imagine he was just doing what had been done in that worship service for years: starting the hour with the "business of the family." He thanked a family for a memorial gift, he mentioned the church's apartment ministry, he pointed out the roses on the chancel. All of this could have been written in the bulletin -- all I wanted to hear him say was "Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say, rejoice!"
How important those first few spoken words are in worship! Whoever says them -- they are breaking a week's worth of congregational silence to offer the first words of delight and praise to the Creator. There is surely a place for announcements (a couple of them maybe!), but not as the first words of praise that form on the lips.
We did recover and I was delighted to be soon be singing some old favorites (hymns by Fanny Crosby and Charles Wesley) with a congregation that enjoys its singing. We were led by a spirited man (probably the music minister) in the front of the church who I could only assume was a man who deeply loved his job (his enormous grin gave that away). He was loving every minute of it -- and why shouldn't he? His joy seemed contagious and my worshiping companions and I sang all louder and more gleefully because of it.
The highlight was at the end of the hour. When some new members joined, there was a quick introduction of them: one was a boy making his public pledge of trust, two others were soon to be married. But after they were introduced, I listened as the congregation spoke in unison a few words that were printed in the bulletin. It began with, "We pledge ourselves to be the family of God for you. . ."
I love that! Walking down the aisle to join a church is a very hard decision, and so it makes sense for that tough moment to be met with an equally-challenging pledge for the congregation. They may not have realized, but that church is pledging to do something very difficult. "To pledge ourselves to be the family of God for you..." Wow! Those new members are in for a treat!
This church knows grace. They were welcoming of me and (more importantly) as I looked around, they welcomed with open arms the people of various races, socio-economic classes and life situations. In their geographic setting at the edge of downtown, that is extremely important.
A final word: in a couple of places on their website, I noticed what this church says about how to dress on Sunday morning. Its something to the effect of: We honor God by wearing our best. I think the main reason for that is to manage my expectations as a visitor . . . so that when I arrive and see everyone dressed-up, I am not surprised. But I wish they wouldn't do that. I think it is making a big deal (OK, a "moderate deal") out of nothing.
I have visited several churches in the last few weeks and out of all of them, this church was the most casual in terms of how people dressed. And it works -- people look comfortable. They might dress up, but for some people, even their nicest suit isn't brand new or the latest fashion. Of all the churches I have visited on this blog, the people at this church (refreshingly) had the least pretension about how they were dressed and how they appeared to other people.
Now if they can just find a way to communicate THAT on their website. . .
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