Monday, March 12, 2007

• Church+Happiness

  So I went to the local foursquare again yesterday. It was the first Sunday in the new auditorium, and the excitement, relief and celebration among the members was infectious. I was so happy for them - the new auditorium is beautiful, and so much bigger. Their old building was adorable and homey, but the sanctuary was only made to fit 100 people if that. This gives them more room for the kiddos and the teens with space to grow. The sermon was once again solid and challenging. Worship....mmm...it's not showy, it's not over produced but it's so earnest. Sincerity and passion are evident even when people are singing off-key or the bassist makes a mistake. As a musician I notice the mistakes, but as a worshiper I appreciate the heart of worship so much more than anything else. They did some old songs and some very new songs and I liked the mix of old and new. They didn't sing the songs like a set list at a concert. Thank goodness.

  For the first time in a very long time I left church refreshed and happy. I pondered the people and the sermon the rest of the day and I smiled. I can see myself there. At the same time, I was perturbed by my coldness and watchfulness. I was looking for something wrong, for something to go wrong, someone to say something wrong. I'm convinced it can't be easy or simple somehow. That bothers me. I don't want to be this way, yet I fight it everytime I walk in the door of a church. Pastor Shannon introduced himself to me and we talked about Starbucks. I just KNEW I had seen him before, and now I know where. He's a Venti Soy, Extra-Hot, No Water Chai guy. I like him. I think he's real and he loves his people, that is very clear.

   

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