Jack Lyons - Church visit #1

Church name: St. John Lutheran Church
Church address: 410 N Cross St. Wheaton, IL
Date attended: 4-16-14
Church category: Significantly more liturgical

Describe service, similarities and differences.
The service ran like a carefully crafted military operation. Every action had it's time and place, and every piece of liturgy was accounted for. There was a processional of the clergy which included a cross. The service followed very closely with the ordinary of the Eucharist, which involved the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. A lot of the liturgical elements were said in unison or sung in unison by the congregation but some things were said just by clergy or sung by the choir. I am used to only singing hymns or worship songs in the service so it was different to have these little chant-like melodies before the offering or for the Lord's Prayer (which the people there all seemed to know by heart while I'm fumbling along trying to keep up). Also, because of how many other elements were a part of the service, the actual sermon was only about ten minutes long, if that. Another big difference was the use of bells and incense.

Most interesting or appealing.
As I mentioned, music was such a big part of this service and you can tell that the people worshiping there really value it, and at what I would consider to be a pretty high quality. They sing the Lord's Prayer during the Sunday church service, and I caught myself singing it at times throughout the day, which I think is nice because then it's clearly something you're thinking about even if its subconsciously which you might not always do if you just say it. I also appreciate the reverence of the service. There was kneeling involved and a lot of inward reflection that I think created an environment that was very easy to worship in. I liked the traditional feel of the service because I think it eliminates some of the things that distract me in other services I've been in. The incense was cool too because I like the imagery and it reminded me of when I was in London.

Most disorienting or challenging.
I think the thing that was the most disorienting was the short length of the sermon. I felt like he had just started and then bam it was over. So I guess I would say I didn't really get a whole lot from the message. There was nothing thought provoking about it and there really just wasn't much substance at all. I'm not saying that I need every sermon I hear to be radical and revolutionary, but I tend to like a little bit more of an academic and just longer approach to the sermon. I know this is just something that would take getting used to but the pace of the service was challenging and know what all you were supposed to do at what time and even what you were allowed to do. It was the first church I have been to where you are encouraged not to take communion unless you are a member of the Lutheran Church or something, which I thought was interesting.

Aspects that were illuminated.
In reference to the length of the sermon, while surprisingly short it made me realize something, which is that I had previously had this kind of subliminal idea that the sermon was the reason we went to church and that was what was most important about going to church was hearing the sermon. This format made it more clear that every part of the worship service is important. I think in the traditions I am used to we elevate the sermon and all the other things are kind of just preliminary or in response, but I don't think that's the way it has to be, and maybe not even the way it should be. I also was reminded of something when I noticed how enthusiastically some of the clergymen were proclaiming the corporate readings like the confession of sins and the Nicene Creed. Like they almost yelled it, which just made me think wow they really are proclaiming these things and I need to remember that every time I say "I believe in God..." that I am making a proclamation.