Doing Church Right

En route to a music conference I found myself in a Norfolk, Virginia, hotel last Saturday night. I thumbed through the Yellow Pages in search of a United Methodist church to attend the following morning, and found a listing for Christ UMC in Norfolk, just a stone's throw from the Atlantic Ocean. Not knowing the church or anyone there, I called the number, hoping to get a recording with information about Sunday services. To my surprise a friendly voice answered — Mr. Kelly — there setting up tables for the annual church picnic on the grounds the following day. It was my first encounter with a church that I found to be an exceptional experience. Here's why:

1. My initial encounter was pleasant and rewarding. With clarity and hospitality, the man on the phone told me the Sunday schedule and asked if I were new in town, perhaps recently assigned to the sizable military presence in the community. I explained I was simply traveling through and he graciously invited me to join them for worship and the picnic. Mr. Kelly's directions were clear and precise, given slow enough for me to write them down, and he listened as I repeated them back. This was already a plus, since most of the time when I call a church while traveling I get a recording without directions to the church, or the directions I receive from a live person are incorrect.
2. The Sunday schedule showed the church's interest in serving a diverse congregation. They offered an 8:30 contemporary worship service, a time for coffee and fellowship, Sunday school for all ages, and a traditional 11:00 service, with Holy Communion and the pastor preaching at both services this day. The church picnic was a plus.
3. The contemporary service included a praise team and band that had obviously rehearsed. The projected lyrics were readable from a distance. The instruments and miked voices didn't overpower the congregation. The songs included loud celebration and quiet meditation, the old and the new, and a good mix of musical styles. The musicians made effective use of combining the words of "Amazing Grace" with the music of "Peaceful Easy Feeling." In some contemporary worship services, I sometimes have difficulty recognizing Holy Communion. The liturgy, music, and prayers are omitted or so mangled in the attempt to be contemporary that I wonder if the Lord is truly present. But this morning, even though somewhat abbreviated, the celebration was done with joy, reverence, and faithfulness.
4. The fellowship and coffee time was short and served its purpose, allowing the entire congregation to mingle and socialize. I was warmly welcomed by many people, many of whom went out of their way to remember and call me by name.
5. I attended an adult Sunday School class that used the Revised Common Lectionary texts for discussion. Following their announcements and sharing of prayer concerns, the discussion was substantive and lively and ended with prayer.
6. I found my way to the choir room and slipped in as they rehearsed the morning's music. They had recently acquired The Faith We Sing and were singing several songs during the service. Organist and music director Peggy Faggert helped them recall the previous week's rehearsal, including admonitions against scooping and wobbly vibratos, especially among the sopranos. They went over music and communion hymns, and the offertory selection, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." The director, who also had played keyboard in the praise band, concluded by gathering their attention together for a brief prayer of thanks for the choir members, their faithfulness and commitment, for the people of the congregation, and for the pastor and those who were to lead in worship.
7. During both services Pastor Bruce Carper incorporated a number of congregational celebrations: recognition of the church's graduating high school seniors and the colleges they would be attending in the fall; dedication of special packages and kits for an annual conference missions project; an invitation to the people to attend worship during next week's annual conference; highlights of his appointment to another church and the new pastor's arrival in a couple of weeks; prayers for and recognition of those departing for military assignments; and words of endorsement and encouragement for the church's Disciple Bible study classes. At both services the pastor was clear that communion was open to all, and there was an encouraging invitation to come forward for prayer, to receive Christ as Savior, or for rededication or call to service. I especially appreciated seeing the ushers pass the offering plates to the choir as a part of receiving the congregational offering. I find it to be less an act of joyful stewardship on my part when I have to drop my Sunday morning offering on the church secretary's desk or mail it in because the choir is never included in the offering.
8. Finally, during both services there were words of conviction and encouragement; acts of praise and repentance; time for silent mediation and prayer; opportunities for sacrament, celebration, remembrance, and farewell; and a challenge to live a transformed life in Jesus Christ.
9. The picnic had what we Methodists do best: lots of good food, fun, fellowship, games with raw eggs and water balloons, and the praise band playing and singing outside.

It felt to me that Christ UMC of Norfolk, Virginia, its staff, and the approximately 100 people who worshiped last Sunday morning, know how to do church right. But they also demonstrate that it is not just enough to do and say the right things at the right time. All that they do seems to be done as the work of Jesus among them — seeking, reaching out, commending, challenging, consoling, celebrating, committing, serving, and ministering — called by God and blessed and enabled by the presence of the Spirit.