Church IV: Yeesa-Amen!

I feel as though my church visiting is becoming stronger. I walk in with a better idea of what I am looking for, and perhaps a heart more open. I am enjoying my ability to see through the looking glass from the outside.

I was really excited this week when I passed by the latest church I noticed that they had a Wednesday night service, and put the name in my cranial filing cabinet to dig up later. When I looked up the church to make sure they would have service on this particular Wednesday I saw that it was AG! With a name like “House of Prayer” you never know. I figured I could blend right in, as much as Miriam ever can.

I showed up about 5 minutes early, which turned out to be 35 minutes early as my cranial filing cabinet had noted the name of the church but neglected to file 7:30pm instead of 7 start time. I was tipped off by the fact that there was only 2 cars in the parking lot. Not to worry, I then had time to finish my dinner, and a Sudoku game.

I pulled into the side lot facing toward the building and just so happened to be right outside a pillared window that opened into the sanctuary. A plump lady with slicked back hair, dressed all in paisley appeared at the window and must have been expecting someone else, because when she cupped her hands against the window she gave a disappointed look.  I stifled a laugh and almost wanted to make a silly face back; but restrained myself to acting as though I hadn’t noticed, busily on my phone. 

A few minutes later a car pulled up in the spot right next to me (which personally annoys me when the lot is empty) It was 2 women in skirts and tights; I found this odd in the middle of the brutally hot summer, and got a little worried that I may get some dirty looks for coming to church in my work slacks. “Bring it on,” I thought.  I guessed them to be worship team members, I wasn’t sure how I knew this (perhaps the white folder with flailing leaflets could have tipped me off subconsciously), but it later proved to be correct. The ladies went into the door closest to our cars, and I realized that this was the staff door, ah the staff door. At my church in California I never realized that staff door was the door I always entered through, to me it WAS the front door. I do remember the shocking day when I first recognized that there was indeed a front door and people actually came through it.

Then, ever so gradually 3 and then 4, and later 5 women were pacing across the window into the sanctuary that I was facing. It doesn’t take more than a week at a church to recognize the telltale signs of Prayer Time! They were praying for the pews, or so it seemed, I think my little window was a good “check my phone spot” as all of the women did at least once in the 20 minutes of prayer time. 

Finally it was 7:27, I had received a couple little friendly waves to indicate that I had been noticed. I walked in the front door, and heard the classic piano/ drums combo and for a second thought I was home in California. For a moment I thought they had started early…silly me, it’s the Wednesday night rushed practice right up to service time; so I took a moment to check out the powder room. I located the men's, and went through the opposite door to the ladies…but it was a cry room without any lights on. I backed up to check the door and it did indicate that it was the ladies room. Odd. A Pastor like gentleman saw my confusion and explained that the ladies room was through the cry room. A little portion of my “women are equal” fight boiled up within me and I thought to myself “what, the dads never use the cry room?” But I quickly put that away and figured it was the only place that the builder could put it in.

I found a sweet little mirror that said “look who God loves,” and I looked, oh, me, silly.

On to the service, I got a burst of confidence and walked up to the front, but I found  a Bible, purse, and Bible/purse combo on each pew end; the classic worship team seat saving technique. I chose a pew 3 back and to the side. The Pastor figure from before came to welcome me and ask my name; moment’s later he opened the service and welcomed me by name, well, Mary-anne, which I assumed meant me, I considered this a very sweet gesture. Brother Logan, an elderly man seated in the front row turned and said “Nice to meet you Mary-anne,  I hope you feel at home, let me know if you need anything.” Brother Logan provided a hysterical guided commentary from that point on through the service.

Worship was just as I had expected, they pulled out the hymnal which was the “Melody’s of Praise” hymnal that I grew up with, except these were burgundy instead of ivory flecked with gold.  The worship team was made up entirely of girls and 2 ladies. One of the ladies in a bright floral matching skirt and blouse set was on the baby grand piano, very reminiscent of the “Church Lady.” She had a very classic deeeep voice, and gave a hearty “yeeees” punctuated by an “amen” about every 11 seconds no matter the context of situation.  I knew this was going to be good!

When worship was complete the younger girls sang a special while the velvet fabric offering nets were passed, which oddly enough were just the same as my California church except they were blue instead of mauve. It made my heart smile at the similarities.

My favorite part ~the sermon~ was upon us. The Pastor figure got up and began to read the text, everyone stood on cue for the reading of the word, but I almost missed it but quickly recovered. Paul and Silas, yay!  My third row seat became a liability when it was obvious that I had not brought in my Bible. But worship team girl came to my rescue and let me read off her Bible.  Then Pastor prayed, and we were all seated. He paused, loosened his tie, I got worried that he may be sick, gripped the pulpit and launched into his lively sermon which, most impressively, was one long sentence punctuated only by a “hup” sound at the end of each thought. It went like this: somanytimesweareintheinnerprisonofourlives/hup/weareplacedtherebythe oppressiveforcesthatwarnusnottoshareourliveswiththosearoundusyessisterWendy/hup/butsoonGodcomestoputamelodyinourhearts/hup/thatcanbreakanybound/hup/rightbrotherGeorge? Despite the string of thought, the sermon was quite rousing and held many good points, including the” suddenly” point I have heard attached to the Paul and Silas story, better known as the interruption.  All the while Floral Pianist was adding her own interruption of “Yeeees”, and “amen” on the regularly scheduled 11 second interval, even at awkward times. For example, when the preacher said: “This week I counseled with a young girl who has become pregnant out of wedlock” she enclosed a “yeesa-amen.”  WHAT?!? 

The Pastor figure closed his sermon, and began the altar call, when it wasn’t specifically answered by the congregations so instead he led a prayer for every person in attendance to carry a melody of praise no matter the situation presented with this week. Then he prayed a prayer of blessing for their Pastor and his wife. This made me wonder who this preacher fellow was, and where the Pastor was?

When it was over the entirety of the worship team introduced themselves, as well as Floral Pianist who was aptly named Sister Faith. Two of the girls were wondering where we had met before as I looked very familiar to them. I would have thrown it off as friendly bridge building except I felt the same about them. We tried a couple possible links, but gave up when we realized there was no such link to be found. I met a few other people who invited me back, and I heartily agreed. Since they are fairly close to where  I am staying and seemed rather doctrinally sound I probably will be back on a Wednesday or Sunday night when I am not a-visiting elsewhere.