Early in the semester, my university’s chorale went to Michigan. While we were there, we sang at a Reformed Church, and this was my first time in a church like this. In my time there, and in the midwest in general, I learned that Michigan has a great reformed presence. Many churches follow that higher liturgical service. My expectation was for this church to feel similar to the Lutheran church I visited, but I was surprised by what it really was like.
The church felt very similar to the small country church I serve at, here in Indiana. Walking in, the space is a big and beautiful sanctuary with an extravagant organ in the center. That is what your eye is immediately drawn to. And at the center of the organ a wooden cross hanging above everything. We took our seats in the upper loft, the choir loft, above the stage. We sang from the hymnals with the organ and everyone followed in their own hymnals. Worship was just organ and choir. I thought this church was going to be mainly older folks, however I was surprised by the young families and youth that were there. This church, though higher in liturgy, was very focused on making space for new people to feel welcomed. This was especially emphasized in the message. The pastor followed his sermon series, but almost tailored the message to the 60 guests that were sitting behind him. This showed the way that this church found ways to hold to their tradition and doctrine, but also make space to meet people where they’re at.
The emphasis of this church was definitely the Word. However, it was clear that they cared about the arts, especially music, as well as fellowship and families, and also missions. I did not feel like this was a great cultural or theological difference like going to a mass service, but I do think it is not how I grew up. I really appreciated their congregational emphasis. Whether that was all standing and sitting at the same time with the choir, saying prayers together, or how they greeted each other. It just seemed like they really cared about being a Body, not just a group of individuals meeting in God’s presence. I think this service caused me to appreciate simplicity as well as tradition. This church really beautifully blends their traditions with Church History’s traditions, as well as with the culture and people they serve.
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