Church

Wow. I’m writing this blog fresh still on my high from chapel today….and yes, I actually did go to chapel today. I’m probably about as surprised as you. Claudio Carvalhaes, who I have had the privilege of learning from this semester in Intro to Worship, was giving his last sermon at LPTS before he moves on after this year and I wanted to go and support him.

The service started out very…traditional: call and response, hymns, prayers, etc. However, as it progressed, it became everything but that, which is what made it so awesome. The essence of his message as I perceived it was this: be willing to try new things, accept new people and experience things outside of what you have always done…push the limits. As he was finished with it, he casually tossed each piece of paper from his sermon on the ground, over his shoulder, anywhere but where one would think it should go.

What happened afterwards was single-handedly the coolest experience I think I’ve ever been involved in. As the praise band started playing and Claudio started singing, the people started dancing! Starting out with clapping and a little body moving, people gradually felt more comfortable and started dancing not only in their pews but in the aisles and on the chancel. People were truly feeling the spirit and letting it move with them, complete with confetti and streamers. As the song ended, we all gathered on the chancel, around the table and shared in communion. We served each other and enjoyed each other’s company—we even said the Words of Institution together. The bread and cup, however, were not the only elements present on the table. It was filled with fruits, veggies, chips, dips—the whole nine yards. And after we finished sharing in the bread and cup, we held hands, prayed, and fellowshipped with one another, sharing in the feast that was on the table before us.  

This experience reminded me of why I came to seminary and what church should be like. It made me wonder, why do we do things the way we do them? Does it really hurt to try something new? To me, church should be exactly what it was today—a celebration of Jesus Christ and all the wonderful things He does for us. Sometimes, I think we get way too caught up in the politics of everything and lose sight of the work that we are really being called to do. I love church, and I love the way we do church. But church, like everything else, can use a little change. While the season of thanksgiving may be over in the eyes of society, I will attempt to continue practicing thanksgiving. So today, I am thankful for people who are not afraid to push the limits and move for change.

If you believe and I believe

And we together pray,

The Holy Spirit must come down

And set God’s people free.

-a hymn from Zimbabwe