Observations as a Student

1. SPACE: A beautiful church sanctuary with soaring white columns, an ornate pipe organ as the centerpiece, hard wooden pews, a magnificent skylight, hushed tones, muted voices.  A lower level with rows set up classroom style.  A second tier with rows arranged around the perimeter of the room.  An upper level balcony also with rows arranged around the perimeter of the room.  A pulpit at the center of a large stage that also features a choir loft.    
2. ACTOR: Church goers.  A row of middle aged men all dressed in suits along the front row.  Primarily caucasian suburbanites.  One African couple, or at least they appeared to be African, not African-American.  One Asian couple.  One Latino family.  No children, only adults.  Twenty to thirty college students, mostly young men, scattered throughout.  Notably there were two rows of college men about 3-4 rows back from the front. A choir robed in burgundy robes seated on the stage.  A pianist.  A cello player.  
3. ACTIVITY: Standing. Sitting. Praying. Listening.  Singing.  Taking communion.  
4. OBJECT: Pews.  A pulpit with beautiful green and white floral arrangements on either side.  A table at the foot of the stage with gleaming brass trays of matzo and small plastic glasses for grape juice.  Bibles.  Hymnals.  Programs or bulletins as they are typically called in this setting.  Notebooks, Bibles, and pens located in the laps of many of the attendees.  
5. ACT: Crying.  Yawning.  Removing glasses.  Putting glasses back on.  Removing suit coats and rolling up sleeves.  
6. EVENT: Sunday morning worship service. 
7. TIME:  Arrive and find door to enter. Find seat.  Wave to familiar faces.  Sing songs.  Listen to announcements.  Take offering.  Pray.  Listen to sermon.  Receive communion.  Take second offering.  Sing.  Quiet reflection.  Exit and visit with friends.  
8. GOAL:  Grow closer to Jesus.  Check the box.  Hear the Word of God.  Worship God.  
9. FEELING: Excitement to see familiar faces.  Sadness that this place just doesn't feel right. Confusion that it feels good to so many, but not to us.  Longing for a place where we can experience Jesus, sing His praises with hands in the air, and see the body of Christ and all its diversity well represented.  Interest in hearing the story of Paul.  Frustration that we have to keep looking.  More sadness as the bread and wine are passed and I realize how much I need them.  Appreciation as music is played to remind me of Jesus' gift on the cross.  Curiosity at whether others feel the same thing.  Shame at judging that...