Church name: Dupage African Methodist Episcopal Church
Church address: 4300 Yackley Ave, Lisle, IL
Date attended: February 16, 2014
Church category: Different ethnic or racial demographic
Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?
As we entered the church, we discovered to our dismay that the woman playing the piano had physically collapsed. Someone in the front was giving her CPR and many were weeping; all were praying. As the congregation fervently prayed for this woman, the ER got to the church and carried her out. The pastor decided to continue the planned service, as we kept her in our prayers. A gospel choir stood on the worship side along with two drummers, a pianist, organist, and saxophone player. The music constantly ran through the service. When people were speaking, when announcements were made, when the congregation and choir were singing, slow chords and runs were played throughout. The music did stop during the message though. The songs were sung by the choir and the congregation would join in. There were no lyrics written anywhere - everyone knew the lyrics. I attend an Anglican church, so some obvious differences include that the service was nonliturgical and much less structured. The church was entirely African-American, most of whom were middle aged. Because it is Black History month, the sermon called upon a movement for African-Americans to think back to their ancestral identity and their high cultural value of being united as a family - valuing the needs of their community and taking care of each other. The service-style was wave after wave of energy. Words, ideas, or song lyrics would be said, then repeated for emphasis; as they were repeated, those in the congregation who resonated with the words would say "Amen", "Yeah!", and would clap. The energy would rise until the congregation was standing and clapping for the Lord. Then everyone would sit and the energy would rise again later. In this way, the service was focused on the Spirit's leading and a rhythm of inspiration/emotion.
What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?
The sense of community and family among the church was undeniable. The style of worship, in which everyone would be swaying, moving, clapping, etc emphasized their unity in the worship of Jesus. The music was incredible; it would move and flow with the service. As the preacher's preaching was intensified, the music would intensify and it was a beautiful flow of energy between all in the building. The sermon, far from exegetical, was convicting and extremely culturally informative for me. As God is reflected in the diversity of humanity, so much can be learned from people different from me. I understood deeper the sense of unity that the black church feels and their call to hold to their heritage strongly while still acutely feeling the pressures of racism and injustice.
What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?
I was slightly disoriented by the intensity of the preaching and the emotional highs of the congregation. While my church has some charismatic tendencies, this church was more extreme/involved. It was disorienting standing out so much in the service. The congregation had me and my friend stand, introduce ourselves, and then they all sung us a welcome song! However, the discomfort was embraced; I learn so much about God and his beauty through immersion into different contexts.
What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?
Communal worship. The welcoming handshakes and smiles by everyone around me was deeply touching. The confidence that this body had in the redeeming work of Christ was undeniable. Christ is with us through everything; as a people-group that has undergone incredible injustice, their testimony to Christ's presence means all the more. It is a gritty and real testimony. The way in which music can be interwoven in the service as improvised and how it feeds of the energy of the people was illuminating. In many Western church contexts, music is scripted and planned. But this music carried the service on its back, almost as the sign of God's continual presence in the sanctuary. One other aspect of worship that was perceived was how integral movement was to the worship. The congregation stepped from side to side, stood and sat down, put their hands into the air when a word from the preacher hit home, and a little girl danced two rows in front of me as her father grinned at her: the movement bodily expressed the posture of praise, devotion, and trust as we worshiped the Lord.
Church address: 4300 Yackley Ave, Lisle, IL
Date attended: February 16, 2014
Church category: Different ethnic or racial demographic
Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?
As we entered the church, we discovered to our dismay that the woman playing the piano had physically collapsed. Someone in the front was giving her CPR and many were weeping; all were praying. As the congregation fervently prayed for this woman, the ER got to the church and carried her out. The pastor decided to continue the planned service, as we kept her in our prayers. A gospel choir stood on the worship side along with two drummers, a pianist, organist, and saxophone player. The music constantly ran through the service. When people were speaking, when announcements were made, when the congregation and choir were singing, slow chords and runs were played throughout. The music did stop during the message though. The songs were sung by the choir and the congregation would join in. There were no lyrics written anywhere - everyone knew the lyrics. I attend an Anglican church, so some obvious differences include that the service was nonliturgical and much less structured. The church was entirely African-American, most of whom were middle aged. Because it is Black History month, the sermon called upon a movement for African-Americans to think back to their ancestral identity and their high cultural value of being united as a family - valuing the needs of their community and taking care of each other. The service-style was wave after wave of energy. Words, ideas, or song lyrics would be said, then repeated for emphasis; as they were repeated, those in the congregation who resonated with the words would say "Amen", "Yeah!", and would clap. The energy would rise until the congregation was standing and clapping for the Lord. Then everyone would sit and the energy would rise again later. In this way, the service was focused on the Spirit's leading and a rhythm of inspiration/emotion.
What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?
The sense of community and family among the church was undeniable. The style of worship, in which everyone would be swaying, moving, clapping, etc emphasized their unity in the worship of Jesus. The music was incredible; it would move and flow with the service. As the preacher's preaching was intensified, the music would intensify and it was a beautiful flow of energy between all in the building. The sermon, far from exegetical, was convicting and extremely culturally informative for me. As God is reflected in the diversity of humanity, so much can be learned from people different from me. I understood deeper the sense of unity that the black church feels and their call to hold to their heritage strongly while still acutely feeling the pressures of racism and injustice.
What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?
I was slightly disoriented by the intensity of the preaching and the emotional highs of the congregation. While my church has some charismatic tendencies, this church was more extreme/involved. It was disorienting standing out so much in the service. The congregation had me and my friend stand, introduce ourselves, and then they all sung us a welcome song! However, the discomfort was embraced; I learn so much about God and his beauty through immersion into different contexts.
What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?
Communal worship. The welcoming handshakes and smiles by everyone around me was deeply touching. The confidence that this body had in the redeeming work of Christ was undeniable. Christ is with us through everything; as a people-group that has undergone incredible injustice, their testimony to Christ's presence means all the more. It is a gritty and real testimony. The way in which music can be interwoven in the service as improvised and how it feeds of the energy of the people was illuminating. In many Western church contexts, music is scripted and planned. But this music carried the service on its back, almost as the sign of God's continual presence in the sanctuary. One other aspect of worship that was perceived was how integral movement was to the worship. The congregation stepped from side to side, stood and sat down, put their hands into the air when a word from the preacher hit home, and a little girl danced two rows in front of me as her father grinned at her: the movement bodily expressed the posture of praise, devotion, and trust as we worshiped the Lord.
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