| |
 |
 |
|
| Comment on this report, or find other reports. |
|
| Our Mystery Worshippers are volunteers who warm church pews for us around the world. If you'd like to become a Mystery Worshipper, start here. |
|
| Find out how to reproduce this report in your church magazine or website. |
|
|
| 2336: Church
of the Advent, Lillian, Alabama, USA |
|
 |
|
Mystery
Worshipper: Preacher's Kid.
The church:
Church of
the Advent, Lillian, Alabama, USA.
Denomination:
The Episcopal
Church, Diocese
of the Central Gulf Coast.
The building:
The church is fresh-paint brand new, and unusual in that it
is of modular design and construction. Pictures of the progression
of construction are at the website. It is a cruciform chapel
with the altar in one arm, the choir and organ in the arm to
the left, and seating in the remaining area. It is fully handicap-accessible
and houses a sacristy, restrooms, and a bride’s room/lounge.
The church:
Advent is a mission begun in 2001 that now has some 81 communicants.
They sponsor a cursillo group, Episcopal Church Women, and Education
for Ministry, which is dedicated to intensive biblical, historical,
and theological study. They also manage a thrift shop.
The neighborhood:
Lillian is a small town on the Perdido Bay/Styx River area,
which is also prime farmland. When the first bridge across the
River Styx was built, a sign was erected that included the phrase
"Charon Retired". The village is home to retirees,
vacationers and fishermen.
The cast:
The Rt Revd Philip M. Duncan, Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast,
was the celebrant. The bishop was assisted by the Revd Martha
Kreamer, vicar; and the Revd T. Keith Talbert, rector of St
Paul's Church, Foley, Alabama, who also preached. Also participating
were Thomas Roberts; crucifer; Jill Byerley, cantor; Cheryl
Josephson, verger; Paul Condit, server; Col. Marilyn McGuane
and Col. John Corbett, flag bearers; and Joan and Ron Freudenberg,
banner bearers.
The date & time:
February 15, 2012, 4.00pm.
What was the name of the service?
Dedication and Consecration of the Episcopal Church of the Advent.
How full was the building?
Standing room only! Every seat was filled. Chairs were brought
in and still there were people standing at the back. The congregation
included "all kinds and conditions" of folk, from a guy
in cargo shorts to a middle-aged lady in a fur coat.
Did anyone welcome you
personally?
Everyone greeted us warmly. The Kid was in the company of a
former vicar and his family, and we were accorded great seats.
The peace was truly enthusiastic, particularly because the Kid
is not a vigorous peace-passer.
Was your pew comfortable?
The church has no pews; rather, it has cathedral chairs, but
not the cane-bottom ones you see so often. These were fully
upholstered in a dark maroon fabric that went well with the
interior of the church. By the nature of the service, most of
it was conducted with the congregation standing, at least up
until the peace.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
This was a day of jubilation for this congregation and no one
was quiet outside. However, from the point in time that the
bishop pounded the door with his crosier, reverence prevailed.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Through the ages, Almighty God has moved his people to
build houses of prayer and praise."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
A service leaflet with the dedication service reproduced therein,
as well as the Prayer Book 1979 and the Hymnal
1982.
What musical instruments were played?
A first quality electronic organ, a piano, a string quartet,
soprano and alto recorders, a mandolin, and a trombone.
Did anything distract you?
The length of the service truly got a bit tiring. The smell
of fresh paint and the finishing of the building were apparent.
The two children sitting in front of us were obviously bored
to tears and a bit frenetic, but then again the service lasted
almost two hours. Technology abounded in a few ringing phones.
Was the service stiff
upper lip, happy clappy, or what?
If one had to classify the service, it would be "broad." Nothing
was noticeably high or low. That said, Bishop Duncan's liturgical
style is quite dramatic. Let it be known that no one will sleep
through his celebration. The music provided for the service
was an interesting combination: a Fauré piece for trombone and
piano, a three voice canon on "Dona Nobis Pacem" and a Taize
gospel number.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
17 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
6 – The Revd Mr Talbert is a neighboring cleric who had
participated in the embryonic days of the growing of the church.
Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because of the nature of
the occasion, his sermon was more reminiscent than intellectual,
more conversational than oratorical.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
He compared the culmination of the efforts of the parishioners
to create this church to the repatriation of the Ark of The
Covenant that David attempted. He noted that although it was
important for place, the glory of God is everywhere and in everyone.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
The apparent joy of the parishioners for their new church home.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Standing for almost an hour and a quarter is pretty much like
being in the "other place." Because the building was new, there
were certainly some missteps: one wireless microphone refused
to operate, although the room is small enough to need very little
amplification. The altar party didn't seem to know quite where
to put the processional cross, flags and banners. And when it
looked as though we might make it completely through a service
without "Please turn in your Prayer Books to..." it happened.
Tthe bishop began the eucharistic prayer with: "We now
continue with Eucharistic Prayer A, found on page 361 in your
Prayer Book."
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
You could not hang around. In one massive wave everyone in the
church moved out and across the way to the parish hall for dinner
on the grounds. Everyone became everyone's best and oldest friend
at that dinner.
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
Did they ever have a feed! Recall that we are truly in the Deep
South, and church events – particularly big ones –
cannot transpire without "dinner on the grounds." Everything
was served, from fried chicken to ham sandwiches you made yourself,
to ham biscuits, to drop biscuits, to carrot cake – all
washed down with wine and champagne.
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
8 – This church is not truly locationally convenient to
my residence, so that would militate against membership.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Absolutely! How often does one get to see real evidence of the
growth of the Church?
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
Bishop Duncan's delivery. |
|
|
|
 |
|
| We rely on voluntary donations to stay online. If you're a regular visitor to Ship of Fools, please consider supporting us. |
|
 |
|
| The Mystery Pilgrim |
|
| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
|
 |
|
| London churches |
|
| Read reports from 70 London churches, visited by a small army of Mystery Worshippers on one single Sunday. Read here. |
| |
|
|
|
|
