Oh wait, I take that back...they really really do.So I'll admit, I chickened out a bit when it came down to which congregation to choose to profile for my Congregations in the Ozarks class. I wanted to do the small Buddhist group that meets on Saturdays, or the Unitarian Universalists but I got a little worried that I wouldn't be able to observe enough to cover the requirements for the class.
I played it safe and picked the large Presbyterian church right off Missouri State's campus. Considering that the majority my classmates are observing more evangelical, Pentecostal and liberal churches, I thought it might be good to provide the more mainline conservative balance.
I was Presbyterian for about 3 years of my life, but I was young and I really only remember how cool it was to be one of the acolytes. We'd wear these big black robes that flapped as we charged down the aisles with the flames...but I digress. :-)
This past week we were to observe the music in the congregation, both choral and instrumental. I went to the traditional service, so as you can imagine the music was just that- traditional. Needless to say my report to the class was rather boring compared to one of my fellow students who is observing a church (James River Assembly) that has a huge worship team (guitars, drums, singers, horn section, strings...etc...).
I think in a way I've looked down on worship services that are too contemporary. They seem too...anti-intellectual? But I realize now just how much music affects my personal worship experience. Some of my most powerful and emotional spiritual experiences involve more contemporary songs (Doubting Thomas, Be Still, etc.) It's a little hard for me to find the Divine trudging through all 4 verses of "We Give Thee But Thine Own".
But maybe I'm just one of those young whipper snappers who can't appreciate tradition.
I'm going to try and attend the contemporary service next time to get a better perspective on the worship spectrum at the church. Should be interesting to compare and contrast the traditional and the contemporary. They have a pretty large youth program with a college section, so I'm also looking forward to interviewing some of the younger members on what it means to them to be Presbyterian.
This field experience thing sort of has me hooked...I might become a professional church tourist after this semester is over. :-)
