Churches Visited on May 6

I attended the a.m. worship services of First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio on May 6. They have an 8:30 traditional service, a 9:30 traditional service, a 10:45 contemporary service and another 11:05 traditional service. Somehow, their pastor, Richard Kannwischer, manages to preach at all 4 services. They obviously lean toward the traditional side of things, but their contemporary service is beginning to outgrow all the others. This service is held in another meeting room, something that looks like the fellowship hall.

This church is very outward focused, always thinking of how to reach people. One way their doing it is in being creative with their children's Sunday school time. For about 4 years, they've been having 5 week lessons on one Bible story. 5 weeks to study, for example, the story of Jonah. One week, the kids go to a drama room and act it out; the next week they go to a computer room, and do computer activities related to the story. There are about 12 computers in the room; the following week might be an arts and crafts room; then they go to a video room, videotape themselves acting out the story, and then see themselves on the screen. There's another room, but I can't remember what they do there.

Another ministry the church focuses on is Habitat for Humanity. It reminds me of our own Carpenter's Helpers. If I were to go to their church next week, I'd see a big container for receiving diapers. The church family is buying diapers for mothers who cannot afford them. These are just a few of the things they do to reach their community.

In the contemporary service, I witnessed a moving Lord's Supper. I love how they do it at this church and others like it. They have congregants break off a piece of a loaf of bread, dip it in some grape juice, and eat the soaked bread. A couple of deacons or elders administer the elements. And when the pastor talked about how Christ's body was broken for you, he tore the bread in half - a very vivid picture of Christ's sacrifice for our sins.

In the evening, I went to Austin Stone, a contemporary church in, well, Austin - nondenominational and conservative. Mostly college age students and young families attend here. And every Sunday there's a lot of setting up and tearing down, because the service takes place in a high school gym. Once they arrange everything, they have 3 mostly identical worship services at 10:45, 5:00, and 7:00.

The worship had a concert feel. Hands were raising everywhere. It was a mixture of contemporary songs and arrangements of hymns. Everyone in the band was 20 something. The pastor, Matt Carter, who might be as much as 30 years old, was beginning a series on the 7 last sayings of Jesus from the cross. Each week of the series will focus on one of the sayings. The worship was led by Andy Melvin this week, although Chris Tomlin leads when he's in town.

Sadly, I remember only one person greeting me at Austin Stone, whereas I was greeted several times at the Presbyterian church. People say that FBC Wimberley is a friendly church. I hope everyone who visits our church goes away with that same impression.

Observations:

The Presbyterian church's traditional service was "high church" to the max. You would not hear any Gaither music here. The choir, accompanied by a very accomplished pipe organist, sang "The Heavens are Telling" from Haydn's Creation Oratorio, which is over 200 years old. Prayers were offered at various times in the service, along with the reciting of the Apostle's Creed. The prayers were read, but they were beautiful and eloquent, well thought-out responses to God's grace. After some of the prayers would be a choral response.

For all the tradition we experienced up to this point, the pastor's sermon that followed was very contemporary and relevant. The service flowed well from beginning to end. Then the pastor dismissed us with a heartfelt benediction. Hear me on this next point: As traditional as this service was, I believe as much worship of God was going on here than at the Austin Stone church I attended on Sunday evening. I don't want to offer much more commentary at this point. Suffice it to say that it was a wonderful Sunday of worship all around! God is good. His love endures forever! Amen.

I look forward to meeting with a couple of worship pastors this week, or at least talking with them by phone. I also will work on goals for music ministry in our own church. I'll be thinking deeply about all things related to music and worship this week. So I would appreciate you lifting me up in prayer.