3827 W. Ogden Chicago, IL 60623
23, October 2016
Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?
The worship service I attended had a greater focus on prayer than my usual church context. This focus on prayer seemed to directly relate to the violence in the community of Lawndale. While the violence in this community is unfortunate, there was a beauty about the way the Church responded; the Church was realistic about its circumstances yet hopeful, going to their heavenly Father with expectant, fervent prayer. The family at LCCC seemed to encourage one another to live amidst such dire circumstances in a way that reflects Christ’s love, to break the expectations for their community with selfless love. This is a tall order, yet I saw this Church as sincere in their desire to live as such. Even the lyrics in the songs they selected were shaped by the pain of their circumstances contrasted with hope in Christ, depending upon God to love when it is hard.
What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?
In this service I found the practicality of the sermon uniquely appealing. The sermon clearly intended to meet the congregants in practical, tangible ways rather than merely be intellectually stimulating. My home church is like LCCC in this regard, and after having been to Church services in Wheaton which devote more time to theological speculation over practical application, I find the latter more appealing. The Pastor specifically spent great lengths of time teaching his congregation the Soul Shalom prayer and focusing on how to be peaceable when people cross you. Once again, the focus on prayer and love, reliance on God to thrive and not just survive, was reflective of the violence in the community of Lawndale at large. While there is definitely a time for theological speculation, the lack of need, urgency, and responsiveness among some privileged Churches probably does them more harm than good.
What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?
The most disorienting part of the worship service was sitting in a round. This was not necessarily challenging in an uncomfortable way, but it made it hard to focus at times when I was easily distracted by people I saw in each direction. Usually I focus on the band during worship or the pastor during the sermon; at this service I had to crank my neck to see the band from where I was sitting. While the pastor taught from the center of the round, the remarks offered by the congregants were particularly distracting as I could see who was interjecting. I enjoyed this change because it helped me reflect on the importance of community, of a Church family. Having to see the gathered alongside you makes you feel closer to them. These are the people you have gathered to worship with today, who you call sister and brother.
How did the service help you to reflect on questions of wealth and poverty?The main question I reflected upon in regards to wealth and poverty is this: “How does socioeconomic privilege or lack thereof shape the praxis of a Church body? Reminiscent of Gutierrez, the focus of the teaching from this service primarily addressed praxis. Relevant Biblical advice was given clearly and repetitively because the pastor urgently desired for the congregants to thrive despite the challenges present in Lawndale. While all protestant Churches which I have visited address Church praxis to some degree, there is definitely a spectrum of difference between those Churches which tag brief application at the end of a long-winded theological oration and those which are more down to earth with a focus on daily living. A Church like LCCC may fit into the latter camp as a function of responding to poverty and violence in its community. Perceived needs in society directly shape a Church’s theology.
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