Eleanor Grammas - Church Visit #2

Wheaton Chinese Alliance Church

1748 South Blanchard Street | Wheaton, Illinois 60189

February 9, 2014

Ethnic/racial demographic

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

This church was associated with the Christian & Missionary Alliance which emphasizes, “the personal ministry of Jesus Christ as our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.” The service was spoken in English, and was followed by a service in Mandarin/Cantonese. The sanctuary was small with bare walls and a white dome-like ceiling. The small congregation mostly consisted of individuals of Asian descent. Service began with contemporary Christian music that was lead by a small band. All the pews were outfitted with a hymnal titled “Hymns of Life” that contained hymns written in English and translated into Mandarin/Cantonese. The English speaking pastor was a Wheaton professor (Dr. Robert Gallagher) and a few other Wheaton students were present in the congregation. After worship, a woman came up and prayed for those in Asia who do not have the same opportunity to gather for worship. This was followed by a sermon on Women of Faith, closing worship and a benediction.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

The structure of the sermon really incorporated and encouraged participation from the congregation. The pastor opened up the sermon and gave context for that day’s scripture passage. This was followed by a presentation on the Queen of Sheba by a young woman in the congregation. She gave background info on the Queen and discussed her significance in the story. It appeared that a different member of the congregation would present during each week of the series. I think that this collaboration between pastor and congregation unites the church and illustrates that we can learn and grow through fellowship, and biblical teaching is not only reserved for the pastor. After the presentation, there was some extra time so the pastor instructed the congregation to discuss and reflect on what they had just heard. A few members even shared their thoughts with the church. This sharing allowed for further fellowship and introduced new perspectives on the message.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

I didn't necessarily find any part of the service to be disorienting or challenging. The service was quite similar to the weekly non-denominational services I attend. I actually felt very comfortable throughout the service and found the people to be kind and welcoming. If anything, one thing that I found a bit disorienting, at first, was being a minority within the congregation. Upon walking into the church, my friend and I were immediately recognized as visitors and were sought out. We were also asked to raise our hands at one part of the service so that the congregation could applaud and welcome us. A few minor things: I thought the sanctuary was a bit too bare. The plain white walls were not as inviting as the people. I also wish that the church would have had a time for communion.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

The sermon on the Queen of Sheba talked about her strong desire and curiosity towards gaining wisdom and learning more about King Solomon’s splendor. Her many questions acted as a reminder of God’s provision and power, for Solomon, who had become too comfortable in his blessings. She left with the knowledge of God being the source of Solomon’s blessings. The Queen of Sheba’s inspiring journey should remind us that when we get too comfortable in God’s provision and love, we need to continue striving for wisdom and to always seek God. In a similar way, this worship service illuminated the importance of seeking wisdom through fellowship and church unity. The fact that the congregation was actively participating in the worship service illustrated how each individual within a church community can be used as resources to learn more about God’s character. Members of the church may also act as accountability partners to make sure that you continually seek to know God more.