Sick: Number 2

I’m not sick of, and I don’t hate, but I am surprised with what church has become. It isn’t what I thought it would be.   First some perspective and a disclaimer:  I am 44 years old and I have attended church nearly every sunday for my whole life.  I was probably in church within the first 10 days of life and I expect to be in church just days before I die.  In my lifetime, I have attended 10 churches.  My dad was a pastor and back then, they moved us around quite a bit.  My rant is not about my church or any one in particular, but about church in the 2000's in general.  I like my church.  My kids are happy there and that is of very high value to Frank and I.  That being said, here is my church rant.....

a. I think it is ridiculous and confusing that churches don’t put anything that identifies them in their name. We are River Ranch, then there is Northside and People’s and even First Baptist down town changed their name to Crossroads. (how unique!) I imagine people are driving by thinkin… "what the heck sort of church is that anyways!"

b. I know I didn’t do my part to save it, but I have decided I want Sunday night church back. Sunday night was about the “fellowship of the redeemed”. It wasn’t about outreach it was about upreach and I MISS that. There is no altar time. There is no after church fellowship. Which leads me to c…

c. When was the last time you went to a church potluck? Oh sure, you have seen cookbooks – even at Costco – about the infamous church potluck, in fact Amazon lists 60 books in their church potluck results, but I defy you to find one in Modesto this Sunday, this month, or this year! I've heard the whining, "we're too busy", "we work", yeah, yeah, yeah.  The women in Frank's office put on the dog when it comes to office potluck time, a few times a year.  They run home at their break if they have to!  Church ladies, shame on us!

d. I miss the hymns. Don’t I sound OLD!!! I miss sweet old choruses from the 30’s-60’s He’s the Savior of My Soul, There is a Fountain. And I am sorry, but singing Amazing Grace does not qualify as the bone I am looking for here! Everyone knows that because they sing it at funerals. I am looking for: Great is thy Faithfulness, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, I am Thine O Lord, Savior Like a Shepherd. Hymns are like classic literature. Without the classics we are not as rich as we could be.

e. As a subset of part d, I miss seeing a grand piano and an organ in the sanctuary. Wait a minute, when was the last time I was in an actual sanctuary? Hmmm. Can’t remember. Every church we go to or visit when we are with family is a large room we set up each week. I miss getting to hear an ORGAN. Now, I am a bit biased because we were around some pretty fabulous organists, but still, I miss it. It makes me sad that if they want an “acoustic” sound at church it just means don’t play any keys. Once upon a time there was a class you could take at Bethany Bible College (by the way, they have also changed their name) called Evangelizing the Keys. This course taught you to play in the Pentecostal style. I don’t see that on the course list any longer, but I do see Piano Proficiency, which is about all you need these days, piano lovers! As long as you can play chords in the key of G you should be just fine!

f. Speaking of old choruses, Everybody Ought to Go to Sunday School…. There isn’t any!!

I want to go to church where light streams in the windows - maybe stained glass ones.  Where people know me and I know them.  Where a live piano and organ play as people enter.  Where there is a mix of songs, new and old to encourage all ages.  Where real truths are taught in a classroom environment, called Sunday School.  Where people go to an altar after service and seek God for as long as they want to and while we are seeking, the pianist stays at her post and plays, "Where He Leads I Will Follow" and moves seemlessly into several other inspring melodies.  And finally where we all go out to a picnic on the grounds where my lemon pie is the star of the show!  (JK, cause if Beth is there and I know she wants to be, her peach will win hands down.)

What am I doing about this? On Sunday nights, I have taken to throwing open my windows, sitting down at my piano with an old hymnal and chorus book and pounding out the oldies for an hour or so. A few weeks ago, I looked out my window, over my shoulder and I saw a neighbor couple had brought their lawn chairs out to the sidewalk and were listening. If anyone wants to come over and join me, you are MOST welcome, just bring a dish from this book and we’ll both be happy!