Fishhook had the opportunity to work with an IUPUI writing class. The students were given the opportunity to secret worship a church and write about their experience. This is a 5 week blog series with their stories and experiences!
Music, Technology, and Worship: a personal account of my experience as a church newbie
Late in March I visited a church I had never been to. I haven’t attended church since I was a little girl, so I was nervous. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how much church has changed since I last attended.
Prior to attending the service, I looked at the church’s website. The site was easy to navigate and had a page just for newcomers. The webpage painted a picture of worship, without judgment. Newbies are encouraged to come as they are, in any attire and any walk of life.
I attended a Saturday night service, which was new to me. I always thought that church was only held on Sunday mornings. The 6 p.m. service fit perfectly into both my mom and my schedules. We left a little early to give us time to find the church. We knew the general location and weren’t far away, but we knew we could get lost just going down the street. Thankfully, we arrived early. We were slightly confused by the parking lot and not sure where to park. The parking lot went in a big circle, but you could only go one way around it. There weren’t very many cars there yet to let us know where to park, so we drove in circles a couple times. We assumed that we needed to go in the front doors, but that was not the case. After waiting for more people to arrive, we realized that we needed to go in the side.
Two door holders greeted us as we walked into the church. Children were playing in the lobby as the adults and teens chatted with one another. My mom and I made our way to the room where the service was going to be held. “Hi! How are you ladies doing this evening?” a woman greeted us as she handed us a pamphlet. The pamphlet outlined the service, provided information about the church and upcoming events, and contained a communication card. The communication card requested information such as name, address, email, and phone number. We found seats and looked around. Everyone chatted and joked with one another. Many wore jeans and t-shirts, including the pastor. There were around 30 to 40 people in attendance. The number of guests fit comfortably within the room.
The service kicked off with a live band playing a set of catchy hymns. The audience joined in singing and swaying to the music. Thankfully the words were provided on a screen behind the band, so I could join in. The music was lively, inspirational, and contemporary. After the band played a few songs, video announcements relayed information on upcoming events. Although it took a while before the pastor actually began his sermon, I didn’t mind. The music and humorous video announcements never left me bored.
The pastor introduced himself and welcomed any newcomers before starting his sermon. The sermon was infused with personal anecdotes, humor, and technology. The service focused on accepting others and not placing judgment on those who may be further away from God than themselves. To convey the message, the pastor used personal examples, video clips, and even drawings. The pastor ended the sermon with a prayer, and then offered communion to anyone who wished to partake. The communion offerings were set out on a table on either side of the room. While we lined up to receive communion, the band took the stage for one last song. The pastor closed the service by asking anyone who needed prayers for themselves or anyone else to come forward, and they would pray together. Others were offered to stick around and chat or could leave.
Overall, I found the church welcoming and enjoyable. Everything about the church was welcoming. There was no pressure to dress up, give money, or receive communion. The members were friendly and open to others. The live band offered fun and unique element to the church. Prior to visiting this church, I had never heard of a church with a live band. The music was relevant and easy to sing along with. I was also surprised with how large a role technology played in the service; the pastor even used a tablet for his sermon. I loved that technology was incorporated throughout the service and provided a modern feel.