Amanda Short - Church Visit #2

Church Name: Iglesia Christiana Community Christian Church
Church Address: 76 S. LaSalle St., Aurora, Il 60505
Date Attended: 10-11-15
Church Category:  Multicultural/Different Ethnic Demographic

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context? 
     I grew up in a non-denominational church, so many of the elements of the service were very familiar. Specifically, the structure of the morning was very similar to my previous experiences. The service opened with a few songs led by a worship team consisting of three people, with the senior pastor on the guitar. After a few announcements, the sermon was given by the senior pastor's wife, followed by communion, the offering, and a closing song. The feeling of close community was a similarity between this church and my own back in Ohio, but something that I have seen lacking during my time at Wheaton.
     The only big difference between this service and my normal context was the fact that it was a bilingual service, and most of the congregation was Latino-American. Another minor difference was the size of the congregation, which was somewhat smaller than my church at home and significantly smaller than most churches in the Wheaton area. 

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service? 
     First off, I loved experiencing a bilingual service, especially one in which the same speaker used both Spanish and English, translating phrase by phrase, as opposed to taking turns with a translator to speak. I really resonated with this intentional stylistic feature. Having the same speaker talking to both those who spoke only English as well as those who only spoke Spanish greatly diminished any feelings of division or separation. At the same time, I felt a sense of contentment recognizing that I wasn't in the majority but still feeling completely at home in this church. I love that God restores and solidifies the unity of His people regardless of ethnicity or language. That is the power of the gospel.
     Another thing about this church that I really appreciated was the size. There were about 30-40 people in attendance at the service I attended. The sanctuary's setup was very comfortable and simply decorated. This made it easier to focus on the service itself rather than the setting or people around. I think that the size of the congregation also allowed for a more intimate feel to the sermon. 

What did you find most challenging or disorienting about the worship service?
     It took a few minutes to adjust to a bilingual setting, but considering my lack of experience in such a setting, it hardly posed a problem. In fact, through my little bit of knowledge of Spanish I was able to understand the Spanish phrases that echoed the English. It was almost as though the speaker was reiterating her points, a powerful tool. 
     At first I was a bit hesitant when I saw what a small church it was, afraid that I would be the only visitor, dreading the special attention (purposeful or not, positive or not) typically given to unfamiliar faces. I braced myself during the greeting time and gave myself a quick pep-talk about how no one here knew how terrifying small talk was for me and that I can actually come across as a pleasant enough person. I quickly found myself in a pleasant conversation with the woman next to me, who introduced me to the head pastor and his wife after the service. 
     Honestly, I kept trying to think of what I found uncomfortable or challenging during the service but couldn't come up with anything.

What aspects of scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?
     I enjoyed being in the ethnic minority because I recognize how often I'm part of the majority. I try to appreciate these opportunities as chances to learn about the perspectives of others. Singing in a language that you aren't very familiar with makes you recognize just how big God is, as well as how diverse and beautiful His creation is. 
     Secondly, the sermon was so clearly practical. The message focused on stress, and the speaker spoke specifically in the context of Psalm 23. The sermon addressed a very real aspect of our lives as physical beings, but without making the physicality and emotionality of our nature seem like simply a byproduct of spiritual issues. Mental health and the conversation surrounding mental illness is something that I am passionate about. This was the first time that I've heard a sermon on stress without the pastor making the claim that depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental illness are purely the result of lack of faith. The sermon just seemed very real and tailored to the congregation, based on some of the speaker's comments. God made us physical beings, and that's not an inherently bad thing. Our human nature is flawed, but is redeemed through Christ. This church seems to understand that.