The congregation was a small group of people that meet in a home for their main weekly Sunday worship. Their expression of hospitality began with the invitation, extended by a fellow Seminarian; an invitation that included offer of transportation, and a description of what I could expect.
A small sign on the screen door at the home declared the identity of the church and the days and times of main worship and Bible Study. Gathering included handshakes and introductions with names to everyone, including the children. There were ten people in attendance including me: a Korean family (2 children), a Portuguese Family (one child), a young Chinese woman, a middle aged Canadian man, and myself. Worship was held in a living room with a large window of which the curtains were open to the beautiful sunny day; the trees swaying in the gentle breeze seemed to participate in praise along with us.
The order of worship was written on a children's whiteboard (songs from hymnal, songs from Binder, scripture reference). We opened with Apostle's Creed, Lord's Prayer (said in Portuguese by the Portuguese wife) and song (all English). Hymnals and song binders were provided to everyone, and everyone had the option of playing a simple instrument - cymbals, shakers. The children played as shakers little plastic bead-filled eggs to the rhythm of the piano and guitar accompaniment.
When we got to scripture, we all read, going around the living room where we sat in a circle. Each of us read a verse, around in the circle until the reading was completed, the children read too in their turns, with parents helping to sound out difficult words. We read from our personal editions of the Bible; one person read in her mother tongue, Portuguese. The reading, I discovered, was a common lectionary reading: Year A Proper 18 (23) Matthew 18:21-35. I felt oneness with the body of Christ in the knowledge that in this home, on this Sunday, we as believers joined believers internationally who were reading and reflecting on this same lesson, of the servant whose debt was forgiven.
The leader erased the ordo from the whiteboard, and drew a small diagram, which he used to facilitate the group discussion which is how the lesson was studied. Words were added to the diagram as we all gave input on how the first servant would have felt when the King forgave his debt. We discussed how the first servant did not extend the same grace to the second servant. The question of human forgiveness of each other was raised; someone carefully identified that forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing, and sometimes it may not be safe to resume relationship, but the forgiveness clears our own hearts. The small group setting, and the warm welcome created a comfortable context for sharing opinions and thoughts, and personal struggles with forgiveness.
Intercessionary prayers followed, which were written on the board (by the leader's 9-year-old daughter who claimed she had, and indeed did have, better handwriting than the leader). Each person offered items for which they wanted intercessionary prayer. These included: restful sleep, missionaries overseas known to the group, Canadian political leaders and their interventions in representing the rights of Aboriginal peoples, family in other countries, birthdays that were coming up, thanksgiving. Each item was jotted on the whiteboard, and when all were listed, each person took up someone else's petition – our scribe wrote names beside each petition on the whiteboard.
We went around in the circle and each person prayed one item. The children also prayed - in English and Korean; the Korean wife prayed in Korean and the Portuguese wife prayed in Portuguese. A child prayed in Korean and English the intercessionary prayer request I had made - there was a special sacredness to her earnest, bilingual petition to God. I thought of Christ’s words "suffer the children to come onto me"[1] and I felt a weight being lifted from my heart on the words of this child who spoke for me with God.
Jesus’ words: “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” got a new meaning for me - seeing the children worship like this made me feel even more the humility and wonder of God who accepts me as a child, and of Jesus’ willingness to protect me with the blood He shed.
After the prayers, we moved to the dining room and kitchen area, where the finishing touches were done to a light meal, which included bread, fruit, Korean pancakes and tea. We communed around that table, sharing stories of our traditions, our experiences in ministry and as Christians, foods from our countries, and other items that had happened in the week. The worship leader offered me a lift home, and dropped two members who were not from that neighbourhood home. I walked home and the sunshine felt especially like a blessing on my face, the gentle breeze like a caress from God. I felt God’s accompaniment proceeding from worship through the rest of that day into the Sabbath night.
Welcome & hospitality – I found this worship very personal, intimate, encouraging for return with invitation to re-join anytime, and even to join for thanksgiving worship and meal. Sharing names, sitting in a circle, their praxis of scripture study, intercessionary prayer and communal meal helped to include the newcomers, giving everyone voice. Availability of hymnals, song binders and musical instruments for all allowed everyone to experience complete participation. I especially liked that the children were so included, from scripture reading, to songs, to intercessionary prayers.
Mission & God in the midst - This church invited people in, making their attendance and even their transportation to the worship easy. I was reminded of "when you do this to the least of my brothers you do this onto me" (Matthew 25:45) in the way we were invited and included. I felt the presence of a warm, loving, inviting God in the midst of the group of strangers. Mission focus was also present in scripture study: discussing the role of forgiveness, and how its manifestation by us as believers is a response to God that we take out into the world. Mission focus was present in the content of the intercessionary prayers, especially in the prayers for justice for Aboriginal people, non-Christian family overseas, and the work of missionaries. We were sent out into the world filled with a real (in our tummies and souls) sense of being fed by our communal worship and meal.
Pattern & Ordo: The worship included significant elements of traditional, larger church worship practice: the Apostle’s Creed, Gathering Song, the Lord’s Prayer, scripture reading from the 3-year Common Lectionary, intercessionary prayer, communal meal and sending. Visitors were made aware of what the ordo would be in the invitation (in my case), and also by the writing up on the whiteboard. I experienced a sense of being centred in the worship as a result of the care taken in sharing the ordo with me, a visitor. Here also I experienced hospitality, and I think this church demonstrates the graceful spirit of God who invites us, and in His Word gives an order to our lives.
Closing Reflection – I liked this worship for the way it welcomes strangers and makes the Body of Christ in the living, gathering of believers who could sing praises, study scripture and support each other, and fed us for sending us out into the world. I think this is a good model for ministry that might include small group worship with diverse people.
[1] But Jesus called for them and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.’ (NRSV Luke 18:16-17)
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