David Burnham - Church Visit #1

David Burnham - Church Visit 1

All Souls Anglican Church

25W741 Jewell Road

Wheaton, IL 60187

26 January 2014

Anglican - More Liturgical

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

The worship service at All Souls, although familiar to me from various places I have visited, was still quite foreign from the church contexts I am used to. My church background consisted of a service with a very structured order: a song or two, followed by announcements and more songs, then a forty-five minute sermon, and finally the service would be dismissed with a benediction, or occasionally communion would be served; all the while, a staff member would lead in prayer between each transition in the service. At All Souls, the service seemed much more scattered. The epiphany contained a structure of events that, although very organized, seemed out of place to me. The prayers were usually recited by the entire audience, and songs were sung at seemingly random times throughout the service. It was, however, evident that each part of the service had significance, which was apparent from the crowd’s full participation.

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

The most interesting and most appealing part of the worship at All Souls was the focus on the cross. The cross is, undoubtedly, the focal point of Christianity, and the style of worship employed at All Souls recognized and celebrated that fact. Towards the beginning of the service, a woman carrying the cross enters through the center aisle of the sanctuary and brings it to a point on the stage that is clearly visible by all in attendance. The hymns sung generally centered around the cross and the person of Jesus Christ. I think that is an important concept that has been somewhat lost in modern church today, that the Christian life is not us doing things for Christ, but rather Christ actively sanctifying and working through us. I appreciated that this church recognized the importance of Christ in the worship service.

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

The most uncomfortable part of the service was during communion time. I was sick the week I attended and therefore could not participate because the entire church body drank from the same cup; therefore I had to remain in my seat. The friends I attended church with knew my predicament, but the rest of the congregation probably thought any number of things. I got some strange looks, but gladly was not approached by anyone. I had previously experienced a similar situation in a similar church and was approached by an usher and asked why I was not participating. Nonetheless, many adults walked by me and offered awkward smiles, while children looked at me strangely. I wish, however, that I was able to participate in communion. At the center of the small auditorium, a large crown of thorns hangs from the ceiling; communion is served from under that crown. It was a beautiful picture to see: people of God kneeling before the crown of thorns to receive the symbolized manifestation of the outpouring of the love of God. While it was uncomfortable for me at that particular time, I do believe it would have been a great experience if I was able to participate.

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

I loved the parts of the service that called for audience participation. My background is in churches with upwards of two thousand members, which do not call for much audience participation in the service. The extent to which my home church participates in the service is the occasional group reading of Scripture. At All Souls, not only was Scripture usually read as a group, but there were frequent calls to worship and statements of faith led by various lay leaders in the congregation. When my father was a pastor, every Easter he would lead the popular “He is risen” statement and response, but All Souls makes practices like this part of its weekly service. I think many churches could create a deep sense of unity if they followed this model.