Abby Burgdorf

Church name: Lawndale Christian Community Church
Church address: 3827 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL
Date attended: 23 October 2016

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular church context?
The church service was in a gym, and it was really unique because the stage was in the center of the audience, and multiple rows of chairs encircled it. A band played instruments along one of the far-side walls. The worship style was upbeat, gospel music. Flocks of people were coming into the worship service 10-20 minutes after it already started, but you never got the impression that the congregation judged other people's tardiness. About half of the congregation was singing along while the other half was hugging, kissing, and greeting one another. The emphasis seemed to be more on fellowshipping rather than participating in worship. Following the songs of praise, they had scripture readings from Psalm 56:3-4 and Romans 12:14-19, the choir came up to sing, they welcomed new members, they had a call to pray, and Pastor Wayne or "Coach" gave a sermon.
This church service was similar to my regular church context regarding the liturgy. At my church, we sing songs, have a scripture reading, do announcements, and have a sermon. What is also similar is that my church usually does a series for a number of weeks, which is what Lawndale was doing as well. Other than these similarities, however, my church is much different from Lawndale. I attend a predominately white, middle class church. This church has a mostly black, lower income congregation. During the service at my church, most of the congregation is not visiting with one another during worship, rather fellowshipping takes place outside the church service. Also, the call to prayer at Lawndale addressed the crime, violence, and suffering taking place in their community. Two boys who were members of the church were shot and killed the morning of and night prior to Sunday's service. The congregation was in mourning for these deaths because most of them knew the boys, and the church leaders on stage offered highly emotional prayers for the senseless violence that threatens to destroy the communities of Chicago. I have never experienced such a passionate and intimate call to prayer in a church service.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?
What I found most appealing about the worship service was how much they emphasized the needs of the community. In a typical Western church service to a more affluent audience, the worship songs tend to be very individualistic, and the sermon addresses the needs of the individual without discussing how to apply the message to one's community. Because Lawndale's congregation lives in an area surrounded by senseless violence, killing, and petty crime, they have a stronger calling to live out the church's message by being missionaries in their own community. Thus, the call to prayer was very powerful because you could see how hardship binds the people together in a way that would not be possible in a "safer" social context. The congregation was in mourning over the violence that recently struck their community, but they recognize that they have a calling to participate in and promote God's restoration of these spiritually dead communities.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?
This worship service definitely convicted and challenged me. Coach had the congregation practice the "Soul Shalom" where we named our anxieties and stresses and prayed Proverbs 3:5-6 to trust in the Lord during hard times. Even though the church recently had two boys murdered, I found myself praying for God to help me and guide me through the stresses and anxieties of personal relationships. Whereas the people of Lawndale presumably had heavier burdens that they were praying to God about. I was focused on my own needs rather than the troubles that my own community might be facing. Through this exercise, I saw how the community that I live in is immensely different from the community of Lawndale. For example, I do not have to worry about one of my friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, etc. getting killed from a drive-by, unlike Lawndale's congregation. This challenged me to get outside the Wheaton bubble and interact with believers who live in different communities, so that I can seek to understand and participate in their hardships.

How did the service help you to reflect on questions of wealth and poverty?
This service helped me see how those who are impoverished are better able to understand and apply the Beatitudes, as opposed to a wealthier community, because they are constantly confronted with these challenges: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." This community is in mourning over the recent murders and violence that is infiltrating Chicago's neighborhoods. They are also mourning over the spiritual darkness that permeates these criminals' hearts. But because they are actively mourning and crying out to God for intervention, Jesus promises that they will be comforted. This comfort can come in any form: peace, justice, etc.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." One of the leaders prayed for the church to be able to forgive their enemies, and she prayed that God would restore life to these dead communities and break into the lives of those committing senseless violence. This congregation is facing the seemingly impossible task of forgiving those who could potentially murder one of their children, friends, or fellow church member. But because they are seeking to show mercy to their enemies, they are in the right posture of humility to receive God's mercy, which is something all Christians should be hungering after. I believe that living in an impoverished community, rather than living among the wealthy, allows people to better understand and live out Jesus' commands in the Beatitudes as well as Romans 12:14-19: Blessed are those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'”