Allie McDonald church visit #3

Church name: Church of The Resurrection 

Church address: 935 W. Union Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187 

Date attended:  November 3, 2015

Church category: More liturgical 

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

I went to a morning prayer service that was part of their 40 days of prayer. The service mostly consisted of readings from the Common Book of Prayer and communion. While it was called a prayer service, it is interesting to me that my view of prayer is me formulating my own thoughts in communication to God, and I think we only did that once for about a minute. Prayer in this context was reading scripture or some kind of prayer from the common book of prayer. Communion was also different because of all the words that were said that I think were meant to set apart the elements and make them holy. In my church background, nothing has been said and the elements have been passed through the rows-there is no indication that they are anything but symbolic, but there was definitely more emphasis on the sacraments. I'm looking forward to writing my paper on the sacraments in a couple weeks. 

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

They read about Thomas Hooker, an anglican saint's life and read some of his writing. One man asked what the Old Testament reading was and they said they were instead just doing the Thomas Hooker reading because it was the anniversary of his death, or his birthday in heaven, as one lady told me. That was interesting to me, that a reading on a saint would replace scripture. I did appreciated the involvement I had in the service. I was not listening to a pastor pray but participating in it myself. I am learning to appreciate liturgy more and more and seeing the theological truths woven in it. 

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

I could simply not keep up with all the page turnings to get to the different readings! I felt behind the whole time and thankfully one of the freshman girl on my floor was there to help me through. I honestly felt self-concious the whole time, like the small group of people there could tell that I wasn't a real anglican or something. It was like I needed a whole new set of skills to be fast enough and know what to read and when. 

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

After the service one of the ladies was explaining to us about one of the books with readings and how different theological nuggets are put into the readings. I'm appreciating more and more the liturgical tradition and how certain traditions or creeds or readings can imprint thing on our hearts as we read them with meaning over and over. I also saw a much more emotional and spiritual connection with the taking of communion that I loved. I think because the elements were set apart, there was a deeper reverence and  respect to the action we were taking part in, remembering Christ's sacrifice for our sins.