Madeline Baltzer - Church Visit #3

Church name: DrPage African Methodist Episcopal Church

Church address: 4300 Yackley Ave, Lisle, IL 60532

Date attended: 11/1/15

Church category: Church of a different ethnic demographic

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

I attended the 8:15 service at the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Located in Lisle, the congregation was very well-to-do and dressed to the nines for Sunday worship. It was Communion Sunday, so the service was more tame according to one member who welcomed me. Still, the AME church was energetic. The worship band, which included piano, saxophone, keyboard, and percussion felt like a jazzy version of a traditional sound. They played throughout the service, helping to build the emotion of the service and bringing it to crescendo at certain points. I thought this was really cool and added a lot to the service. There was significant participation by the congregation in call-and-response speaking by the reverends. 

Of course, a very unique characteristic of this church is their welcome of visitors. They sang to me which was a very gracious welcome. In general, I felt like the church really cared about who was there, an interesting contrast to the church I attended last week. There was not only a greeting time in the middle of the service, but we all hugged those around us and held hands at the end.

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

I really enjoyed the worship band and found that very appealing. I also found the sense of unity in the church wonderful. People did not shy away from greeting each other, and I thought our holding hands and singing at the end was an outward expression of the connection we all have in Christ. When communion was served, we double-checked that it was ok for us to take communion and were told that "There's a place for everyone at the Lord's table." I really like this philosophy.

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

The thing that concerns me the most when I visit a church that is predominantly people from a different ethnic group is that they don't really want me there. The AME Church was founded to be a community of black Christians and the name of the church includes "African" in it. Clearly, they were hoping to minister specifically to blacks in the area; they wanted to create a community of Christians to support each other that is strengthened by ethnic ties. Racism definitely exists in the U.S. and the people at AME all understand what it feels like. I don't. There is also tradition of the type of energetic service I described earlier. For me, it almost feels like a cultural appropriation when I attend. I wonder if I'm taking something from them. However, several members specifically welcomed me to come again so I don't think I'm correct in thinking they feel this way.

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

Things were definitely not perfect at the service. The reverend speaking for the sermon was somewhat ill, but he humbly offered what he could. He spoke on how God can use us as small and imperfect people, and I felt that was true in the congregation.  The people singing were talented, but were by no means rockstars. Everyone was encouraged to join the choir or other church ministries even if they didn't have experience in. I really connected with this and found it to be something I don't often see in my normal context. Often we only participate in areas of the church in which we are "gifted." While I agree with that philosophy to some extent, I think we need to offer our weaknesses to God as well because He can use those too.