It has been a while since I visited this church, but it was so touching it's better late than never to write about the service. During this past Spring Break, my University's Chorale went on tour in Alaska. We sang in lots of different buildings, chapels, and churches, but singing as a part of the Native New Life service definitely felt the most worshipful. Not because of anything we did differently, but because of the present atmosphere of simple reverence, adoration, love, and worship that they carried. They worshiped simply, but that did not take away from the service at all.
Their service consisted of one guy playing guitar and singing from a book of songs. He had maybe prepared 2-3 songs, but then started taking songs from the congregation. They included the whole church in the leading of worship. It felt like we all were the worship team leading each other in worship. It was a beautiful experience. Then after that time, which was probably a half hour, there was testimonies. Not necessarily savlation testimonies, but testimonies of God's faithfulness, how they've seen God's goodness in their lives, or reminders of who God is from their personal devotions. Several people from the church went up to share. Individuals, couples, families. The whole service felt like a family reunion or gathering. It felt intimate and intentional. They did not necessarily care about new and groundbreaking topics on theology or preaching, but they were reminding each other of who God is. Much like God called the Israelites to do, this church spent their service remembering. And this is what they do every week!
I'm reminded of the verse in Revelation, "And they have conquered by the blood of the Lamd and by the word of their testimony..." Christianity seemed so simple, comforting, and loving from going to their service. I often think of their service as what the early church in Acts probably looked like. Meeting in houses just simply worshiping, learning, listening, and loving. After the service most, if not all, of the chorale was crying because of the pure honesty of their worship. We all felt honored to worship with them through our music, which is very different from their normal worship. I will never forget my time there and continue to reflect on the beauty of their simple worship.
Kommentare