Two Churches in the Burbs

Being the pastor of a church downtown, I wanted to visit some suburban American churches. When we first moved to Colorado Springs we lived downtown and pastored downtown, but we couldn't afford to buy downtown. We bought a home in the burbs - that place where they level the hills and name streets after them. In most cities it is that place where they cut down the trees and name streets after them - but there were no trees there to begin with in Colorado Springs!

Anyway, as you may note I have a bias for the urban centers. I like the diversity and the overall flavor of the downtown of a fairly major urban center. I like the fact that I have to explain to my kids why two women are holding hands. I like having to give my kids some change to give to the homeless guy in front of the restaurant. I like not noticing that the owners of one of my favorite restaurants speak with a heavy Iranian accent. I like going to church where someone of any race could walk through the doors and not feel different from everyone else.

My first Sunday I went to a church pastored by a good friend of mine. The music was good but dated, the sermon was good and relevant, the building had incredible views that inspired me to worship the Creator. I was welcomed by four greeters with name tags as I entered the building - but nobody gave me a bulletin, oops! I found a seat in the back and joined in the singing. After the first couple of songs we were told to greet those around us - I didn't know anyone and felt awkward. Then the pastor and his wife spotted me and made their way over to me and invited me to sit with them.

Later in the service the music leader told us to turn toward the center aisle and sing to the people across the aisle - awkwardness again. However, as we were singing someone on the other side of the church recognized me and waved - very cool! The attendance was low for the early service, but the church was an average suburban church of 250-300 people at their weekend services. Communion was served after the message - crackers and cups (Individual cups of grape juice and a broken piece of unleavened bread served separately by the elders of the church). Having grown up in the Evangelical church, it was very familiar to me - too bad my friend couldn't come.

The second church I attended was also in the burbs but was much bigger. I found my parking space along with the other 5000 people and made my way to the big building. I was greeted by 4 people again - I also got a bulletin (more like a great marketing brochure). I arrived a couple minutes late and walked into the service while the pastor was greeting everyone and setting the stage for the video - very smooth! It took me a second to realize that he wasn't in the building but about 7 miles away at their satellite campus. At the end of the video he offered the prayer of blessing and invited us to greet the people around us - awkward again! But this time I wasn't the only one who didn't know anybody! Nobody knew anyone!

So the music was excellent, fresh and new - I barely noticed how two of the songs were not led by the team in our building but by those at the satellite campus. But we got the speaker and they had to watch him on the big screen! Great sermon, not one "umm" and there were three jokes and two emotional illustrations. At the end of the message, about 10% of the church got up and left even though the service was still very much "alive." The pastor - not there - invited anyone who needed prayer to come to the front or go to one of the guest booths in the foyer. He then blessed everyone and we left while the band played the "theme song" for the service, (I found myself humming that song for the next hour or so).

My only regret for the first two Sundays of my sabbatical, is that my friend is not feeling well enough to go with me. I would have loved to hear his perspective. Well, I might have recruited another friend for this week as we visit the Presbyterians - I wonder if they drink out of little cups too?