Sunday, August 21 (Part Two) Plains, GA

My Sabbatical is soon coming to an end and I think this is the last blog of my church visits.  So I thought it appropriate that I end with an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America visit.  This little church is in Plains, GA.  As “Part One” outlines, we went to Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist in Plains.  Before you get to Marantha, you pass St. Andrew’s Lutheran.

The church is beautiful–a jewel box.  But, alas, it has seen better days.  There were only fifteen of us in worship.  Our attendance boosted attendance by nearly 15%!

Everyone in the church greeted us warmly.  This level is friendliness is common in small parishes and points to why a church should never close if at all possible.  

The service was straight from the LUTHERAN BOOK OF WORSHIP and conducted by a lay person–a woman from a nearby town.  She did a good job.  Her sermon was quite excellent.  I would give it a 4 (of 5) stars (although I would give her delivery a 2–she read it).

It felt good to be back in an ELCA parish.  Back in July I had preached at my Mom’s parish in Kansas, but being a participant is not the same as being a guest. 

A Blog You Need to Read

By pressing the “Internetmonk” link on the right you will find Allen Krell’s excellent guest blog “Why Lutheran Churches Can’t Attract a Crowd (or How to grow a Lutheran church)”.

It is such a joy to see good theological thinking!  As I have visited many different kinds of religious worship expressions, I cannot help but notice the “crowd” and the often parallel “Theology of Glory”.  Churches with some bad biblical theology pack ’em in and churches with great theology seem to lack the “crowd” (compare the mega-churches of my blog with my most recent post concerning Incarnation Lutheran).

My main attraction to Lutheranism has always been the sound theology that seems so lacking in many worshiping communities.

One of the thoughts that has been brewing in my mind since beginning this Sabbatical is starting a class when I return to St. Mark’s on the Augsburg Confession–to help Lutherans understand Lutheranism.

Worship Types

It has become clear to me that worship is more than paying tribute and highest honor to God (“worth-ship”–the Old English foundation for today’s word “worship”).

Scripture says, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).  Therefore it would seem that worship is pretty cut and dried: spirit and truth–these are the necessary ingredients of true worship.

Many lifelong Lutherans assume that there is but one way to worship and that is by using a book with a common liturgy in it.  Some will go so far as to say, “There really is no true worship since The Lutheran Hymnal or The Service Book and Hymnal or  The Lutheran Book of Worship…”  What they mean is that the worship format they grew up on is what is most meaningful to them.

How well I remember the worship wars when my congregation went from the SBH to the LBW.  The old adage runs especially true with worship, “How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb?” The answer: “Change???”  Perhaps nowhere are people more resistant to change than in worship format.

When congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American moved from LBW to the current EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN WORSHIP, there were far fewer rumblings than the battle some 25 years before in the change to the LBW.

I suspect there was less resistance because the modern worship wars today are fought not over a book but over style: “Contemporary” (often meaning musical instruments other than piano or organ).  The use of overhead screens for the words to hymns, scripture, etc.  Perhaps especially the movement to a more simplified, less formal style of worship that does not seem like worship to traditional Lutherans.  This movement is far more threatening than the mere changing of books.

So my quest centers on this question: What is authentic worship?  Specifically: What is authentic Lutheran worship?  I suspect there will be no single answer.

It would seem to me that an important element in true worship combines belief with action: ORTHODOXY with ORTHOPRAXY.  What kind or style of worship articulates authentic Christian belief and leads to or reinforces Christian behaviors?

Elmer Towns, in his book PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS, identifies at least six worship styles:

1. The Evangelistic Church that focuses on winning those far from God;

2. The Bible Expositional Church that emphasizes teaching the Word;

3. The Renewal Church that focuses on excitement, revival, and touching God;

4. The Body-life Church focusing on fellowship, relationships, and small groups;

5. The Liturgical Church that emphasizes traditional elements that have sustained Christians through the centuries;

6. The Congregational Church that is primarily lay-led.

As I read, study, and participate in a wide variety of Christian and non-Christian worship, I am attempting to study the link between belief and action.  My hunch is that this link plus “Spirit and truth” is the key.

What a fascinating journey I am privileged to embark on!

Sunday, June 5

Holy Cross Lutheran - AV Consol to Altar/Nave

HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH (LC-MS), Indianapolis, IN – 8:30 a.m. service

I immediately found the “Visitors Parking” (I much prefer “Guest”) near the front door.  Upon entering the spacious narthex (now–as of this Sunday–called the “Great Room” [it had been the former nave of the church before they built their new nave]).  A pastor dressed in robes warmly received me.  An usher handed me a bulletin.  The worship space was open, full of light, “in the round” and very attractive.

Prior to worship the announcements were posted on a large screen over the altar and on two side television monitors.  Well done with recorded music as background.  Then the prelude began and the screens went blank.

Another pastor made announcements lasting seven minutes.  Then the congregation shared the “Peace” (all were “Good mornings” around me).

The entire worship service, which was quite liturgical, was put on the overhead screen.  Every one (except for one person I spotted) used the screens.  Only one used the hymnal.

The singing was outstanding–aided in part  by good acoustics.  Also aided by the effective use of the visual screens.  Much appreciated the congregational singing during communion.

The congregation remained seated except for the opening hymn, Psalm, Confession and Absolution, “This is the Feast”, Reading of the Gospel and final hymn, “Shout to the Lord” (which was the only more contemporary offering).

There were many young families evident (probably in part because of a large Christian day school attached to the congregation).  After Children’s Message, the children were given the option to remain for worship or go to “Children’s Church”.

The number of families attending an 8:30 a.m. service surprised me.  Total attendnace I estimate at 160-180 (Last Sunday’s attendance was listed as 358–probably a low Sunday for them since it was Memorial Day weekend).  They also have a 10:30 service which I suspect is better attended (although the 8:30 service had someone seated in EVERY pew in the worship center!).  The congregation has a contemporary service on Saturday evenings.  Wish I had attended!

I got a very “Patriarchal” feel for the service.  Mostly pastor led (with “Elders”–all male–assisting with Communion).  Would like to have seen more lay participation and more women!

The prayers of the church followed as part of the sermon (with the congregation remaining seated).

Sermon was engaging but around 24 minutes in length.  Little use of humor but Law and Gospel were evident.  The sermon was challenging.  Entitled “Tidings of SUFFERING and Joy”–a take on the Christmas carold “Tidings of COMFORT and Joy”.  The preacher challenged the congregation to examine our American penchant for COMFORT over suffering.  Good sermon–4 of 5 stars.

As far as spiritually uplifting, I would give the event a 3 of 5 star rating.  The hymns can only relate to people well-versed in Christian theology and thought.  Even then, I found myself wandering.

The people were not particularly outgoing and friendly.  But they were not unfriendly either.  I was impressed by a degree of multi-cultural makeup in the congregation.  This is a lively church.  They were “Writing on the Wall” of their new facility they are building after fellowship.  Nice touch.  Vibrant and attractive congregation.  Service lasted 1 hour 20 minutes.