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| 2125: Prince
of Peace, Ontario, California, USA |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Origen.
The church:
Prince of Peace, Ontario, California, USA.
Denomination:
Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, Pacifica
Synod.
The building:
1950s style modern era building that looks like a blend of
a school and a cabin. There's a simple altar comprised of
a large chancel cross, a table for serving the eucharist,
and the pulpit.
The church:
They operate a local preschool on their premises along with
hosting a Seventh Day Adventist congregation on Saturday mornings.
Wednesdays they offer Alcoholics Anonymous for women.
The neighborhood:
Ontario is a city located about 40 miles east of Los Angeles,
in the area of California known as the Inland Empire. It was
established in 1882 by two engineers from Ontario, Canada,
George and William Chaffey, and was intended to be a model
urban agricultural community. The church is located in a residential
area near several parks and other churches plus an elementary
school.
The cast:
The Revd Dennis Dirks, pastor; Penny
Pan, organist and pianist; Jerry Wallace, liturgist; and Bob
Tuff, greeter and lector.
The date & time:
Sunday, January 30, 2011.
What was the name of
the service?
Service of Worship (Setting Two).
How full was the building?
Nearly empty with no more than 20 to 25 people present.
Did anyone welcome you
personally?
Yes, several members of the church greeted me warmly and handed
me an order of worship. They asked if this was my first time
visiting, and if I had any prior experience in Lutheran tradition.
Was your pew comfortable?
Yes it was very comfortable.
How would you describe
the pre-service atmosphere?
Conversation was mixed in with the congregational announcements.
It fell reverential once the organist started playing the
first hymn.
What were the exact
opening words of the service?
"Let us sing hymn number 249, 'God himself is present'."
What books did the congregation
use during the service?
Lutheran Book of Worship.
What musical instruments
were played?
Electronic organ and a piano.
Did anything distract
you?
I lost my place in the Book of Worship and couldn't find the
hymns or the psalter.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
Liturgical yet with little to no warmth. Congregational singing
was greatly disappointing considering it’s a small church
with no choir, and the only warmth I sensed in their singing
was in the Kyrie and Gloria. There was no exchange of peace.
Exactly how long was
the sermon?
18 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10,
how good was the preacher?
6 – Pastor Dirks carried himself with confidence in the
pulpit and related some real-life stories to the biblical
readings.
In a nutshell, what
was the sermon about?
The pastor's sermon was entitled "Yurts and Tabernacles".
He told a personal story about having built a yurt, a type
of large tent, and he tied it in with Psalm 15 ("Lord,
who may dwell in your sacred tent?"). He used the temporary
nature of the yurt as an example of how we are only dwelling
on earth for a short time until we return home to the embrace
of God. He connected all of that with humanity’s stewardship
of the Lord’s good creation.
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
The sermon, the warm welcome, and the singing of the Kyrie
and Gloria.
And which part was like
being in... er... the other place?
The congregational singing of hymns.
What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
Everyone was friendly and made sure I knew about the food
and fellowship following the service.
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
Refreshments included coffee cake with orange juice. The juice
was fresh and satisfying and the coffee cake was addicting
and sweet.
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 =
terminal)?
6 – While I admire the ELCA and the Lutheran liturgy,
I would like to see the congregational singing here strengthened,
a choir added, and for them to retain their hospitality and
warmth. I would like to see the presence of more college aged/Gen
Xer types like me in the church.
Did the service make
you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will
you remember about all this in seven days' time?
Warmth and intimacy of a smaller church.
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