Jessica Duttweiler - Church Visit #2

Jessica Duttweiler - Church Visit #2

Jessica Duttweiler - Church Visit #2

St. Michael Catholic Church

310 S West St.
Wheaton, IL 60188

More Liturgical 

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

The most significant difference between my usual context and St. Michael's Catholic Church was the lack of a sermon. The priest did talk for 5-10 minutes but it was not on the same level as a protestant sermon. Other significant differences included the amount of reading and singing that was done. Instead of there being a set "worship time", there were songs/hymns woven throughout the service. There was also a significant amount of scripture read, much more then in a protestant church, or at least in a different format as blocks of scriptures were read throughout the service instead of being read by the pastor during his sermon. The other major difference I observed was the way the priest and his helpers were dressed. They all had very formal robes on and everything they did was extremely precise and organized. Every little movement seemed to have a purpose and it was very interesting to watch.

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

The most appealing thing about the worship service was the air of respect that filled the room. From the high ceilings to the stain glass windows to the prominent figure of Christ on the cross, everything in the sanctuary reminds one that they are in God's house. Every person in the church conducted themselves with dignity and poise and each movement made was filled with significance. I also loved the Holy Water that was present at the entrance to the sanctuary. I'm not exactly sure where I stand when it comes to the water being literally "holy", but it was a good reminder to dip my finger in the water, cross myself, and remind myself that God's goodness and righteousness was with me throughout the day. I also really loved the kneeling pads that were attached to the back of each pew. It was very humbling to pray and inwardly confess some sins while in that kneeling position. It reminded me that I should always treat God with reverence because he is God and I am not.

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

The most disorienting thing about the service was the lack of community that seemed to be taking place. Everything was so structured and planned out that there seemed to be no room for the Spirit to work or for fellowship with others. Everyone seemed to walk in, find their pew, follow along with the service, and then leave as soon as it was over. It was also really hard to follow all of the scriptures and songs outlined in the bulletin and I felt kind of stupid sometimes since I didn't know exactly when to sit, stand, kneel, etc. I got the feeling that if someone was new to the faith, they would have been completely and totally lost and felt alone and unwanted because of the lack of fellowship. There was also no presentation of the gospel or acknowledgment of new believers. It was a beautiful service, but it was also rigid and unwelcoming.

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

As previously stated, the aspect of theology that was very clearly stated at this church was reverence and respect for God's authority. Sometimes other churches try so hard to modernize their churches and make them entertaining for visitors that they lose their sense of respect for the creator they are worshiping. As soon as I walked into this church I could tell that the congregation and the leaders took God and his power very seriously, and I admired that a lot. There were also a lot of passages read from the Old Testament that I would not have picked as passages to read in Church, but the way they were read and the context in which they were read made them come alive to me in new ways. God's love and redemption were blindingly evident in those Old Testament stories and I loved hearing them read aloud by different members of the congregation.