Samantha Frank - Church Visit 1

Church Name: St. Michael Catholic Church

Church Address: 310 S. Wheaton Ave, Wheaton, IL

Date Attended: September 17, 2015

Church Category: More Liturgical

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

The worship service was significantly more liturgical than the services I usually attend. During the school year I attend a nondenominational church which is not very liturgical. When I am at home with my family I attend an ELCA Lutheran Church. Although some of our services are liturgical, they were not nearly as liturgy focused as the service I attended at St. Michael’s. I attended mass on a Thursday at 8 in the morning. I am sure this had some impact on the way the service went and was somewhat different than a Sunday Mass at St. Michael’s. The sanctuary was not full and there were no musicians. The service involved readings, some prayer, a short sermon, and communion. It lasted a total of thirty minutes. We sang a short song before the Gospel reading and before communion. The service was given by a middle aged male priest and he was assisted by a young boy and girl. The priest was dressed in formal white robes and followed along with the liturgy of a traditional Catholic mass.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

One thing I found interesting about the service was the fact that it was on a weekday. It was clear that for some of the people there probably attended mass most weekday mornings. I admire the disciple of attending corporate worship every day. Routines can help us see God in new ways and it was evident that attending mass regularly throughout the week was a disciple of faith for some of the people in attendance. I also found communion appealing. From attending just one short service, it was clear that communion held a deep significance in the Catholic tradition. I thought the fact that communion took up the largest portion of the service was representative of the significance the sacrament. The liturgy leading up to communion was very lengthy and involved lots of kneeling and praying. It served as a reminder to me about the reverence and seriousness one should have when they take communion.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

One of the most challenging things about the service was that it felt very formal and somewhat unwelcoming. Throughout the service I felt a heightened awareness of the fact that I was an outsider.  Once the service began I realized that I didn’t have one of the books, containing the liturgy, readings, and songs, to follow along with. I looked in the pews and around the back of the church, unable to find one. Despite the fact that many people saw me looking for a book and it was very evident I was a newcomer, no one offered to help me or greet me. Because I didn’t have the book, it was hard for me to feel like I was fully participating in the service. Additionally, the service felt very formal and somewhat forced. The priest giving the mass spoke very quickly and it sounded rushed. The people in attendance knew exactly how and when to respond. Their responses were almost mechanical. I think these things struck me as challenging due to their stark differences from my church experience. As much as I wanted to appreciate the liturgy and tradition, I was uncomfortable because it felt rehearsed and formal.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

The most illuminating part of the service was communion. I was really impacted by the amount of reverence and significance that was placed on communion. As we prepared to take communion at many point we were on our knees praying. There is something powerful about the physical act of getting down on your knees to pray. It was very humbling and also reminded me about the importance and significance of taking communion. I think it can become easy to simply go through the motions when taking communion and to forget what it is we are supposed to be remembering and reflecting on as we partake in it. As I was on my knees I really was reminded that I was to remember what it was Jesus had done for me when he shed his blood. It reminded me that I need to come to the table humbly to be refreshed and renewed in Christ.