The new church report

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 12 January 2005 13:33:35

I was going to run with a theme on the blog for a while, following my journey adjusting to the new church. I thought I'd give little reports into my reactions to all the strange things, meaningful and meaningless that I encounter. I thought maybe some guest bloggers could provide their opinions for a bit of balance. Now that I've actually attended my first service, the whole picture has just got so much bigger.

Walked on down to the new place, after meandering through breakfast. So nice not to rush out the door to church. Greeted at the door by some genuinely friendly people; and not a black uniform shirt in sight. Inside was quiet. People sat in their seats waiting, maybe preparing themselves to come before God. It was nice to sit down quietly and just wait. Then came the most atrocious songs. Very folky. Very seventies. Twila Paris and Graeme Kendrick featured. Not that that's bad, but it might give you an idea. Played very skillfully on the real stringed pianoforte. We sang a song about sights and smells all around. It was a bit like being on beach mission, except there was only one kid present, so maybe the song was supposed to be for the grownups. But then I didn't go to this particular church to hear a great performance, I went to be part of a community, and to join in not because of the talent, but because someone I know is giving something of themselves in their song choices to that community.
I don't think the pronoun, 'I' was used once in all those songs. They were all about God, which I really appreciated. It doesn't matter what I'm going through, I can sing about God without lying. Not always the case when the song says, "I'm so glad to be here, jumping for joy, cos God makes me smile on the inside."

I had decided that I would participate exactly as I was asked to. None of my usual, I'm not singing that song, and I'm not going to stand, and I'm going up the back to pace up and down. It's a new culture I'm going into, and as the outsider, the least I can do is join in and learn how these people do things. Still, it's a bit of a shock to be asked to, "All stand," rather than, "If you feel like standing..."

I had thought about changing the blog title but I think after hearing the sermon, 'Unordered' is still a good name. The guy (Dee, come down and meet these people so you can give names to them) was speaking about Adam and Eve being asked to subdue the earth, right in the beginning, before they had sinned. It implies that the world God has made contains wild elements, and requires our efforts to bring order, and to look out for each other in it. I guess that's still what I'd like to do. Bring God's order to our little village by making room in my life for all the messiness of people's lives.