Church Name: Hickory Creek Community Church
Church Address: 10660 West Lincoln Hwy, Frankfort, IL
Date Attended: Sunday, April 6th, 2014
Church Category: Different Liturgical Style
Describe the Worship service you attended...
I'm from the South Suburbs of Chicago, and since I was visiting home this weekend I went to a local church. It's a non-denominational church in our area, with a very medium size - not a megachurch, but maybe about 500 people who attend. I went to the 11 am service, but they have two other ones. The location looks like a church, with a steeple - but has an attached "box" sanctuary. Service started with a praise band, led by a couple who took turns moving the congregation through the service. There was decoration - a cross on stage, and a Christian and American flag on either side of the stage. Then there were announcements and a prayer for the offering. The sermon was on Old Testament promises fulfilled in Christ. We closed in a final song after the sermon. All of the songs were contemporary worship, except one redone hymn. We didn't take communion. Other than singing and giving money, there wasn't any real participation in the service.
What did you find most interesting?
It was a very warm and family/community atmosphere. Everyone seemed to know each other before and after the service. While the "greeting" time was short during service, afterwards lots of people milled around and talked. There were lots of families, lots of different aged kids. This makes sense for my hometown - we have large highschools and the town has experienced a lot of family growth since I've lived there. Normally I don't love contemporary Christian songs that are sung because they are recent and new - but the couple that led worship were very talented. I appreciated the mix of songs, and that we were moved through the service with prayer and explanation.
What was challenging?
The most challenging part was not having some of the liturgical aspects that bring about participation in the service. Singing is great, and a huge part of the Christian gathering. But the service seemed more like a performance. The couple leading worship were leading; the pastor was preaching; but the congregation wasn't doing much except paying for the experience with their offerings. That might be a bit harsh, but it's how I felt. We didn't have a Psalm to read and pray together. Scripture was read by the pastor as an intro to his sermon, rather than a lay leader or community member bringing the Word to us.
The biggest challenge has lately been not having communion. At my church, I look forward to and crave partaking in Eucharist. It's the highlight of my week and a huge spiritual help for my week. I left church feeling like I was missing something.
What aspects of Scripture or theology did the service illuminate for you?
The Church is meant to be a local community, not just an ephemeral concept. I have very strong opinions about church unity and ecumenism. But my experience at Hickory Creek Community Church helped me understand that the local church is the tangible manifestation of the body, and a necessary one at that. While I didn't receive communion and experience that means of grace, the grace I did experience being around such friendly and loving people was great as well. In fact, I think this community could add some liturgical aspects that emphasized the community gathering (Eucharist, lay leaders leading prayer/scripture reading). But having that family-feel was great, and shows just how much Christians should remember their local community of faith.
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