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| 2370: Theology
on Tap, Alexandria, Virginia, USA |
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Mystery
Worshipper: MoboJobo.
The church:
Theology on Tap at Pat
Troy's Restaurant and Pub, Alexandria, Virginia, USA.
Denomination:
None, but Theology on Tap is held under the auspices of the
Roman Catholic
Church, in this specific case the Diocese
of Arlington.
The building:
A modern brick edifice, Pat Troy's Ireland's Own Restaurant
and Pub is a long-time fixture of Old Town Alexandria. The dining
area spans almost the entire pub, although the bar itself is
tiny. There is a stage, with tables on the raised level next
to it. Paintings of small-town Irish life hang on the wall,
along with family crests and other memorabilia. A special table
commemorates the day in 1988 when President Ronald Reagan walked
in unexpectedly, sat down, and ordered a plate of corned beef
and cabbage washed down with Harp beer. There is a courtyard
where the local pipe band practices during the summertime.
The church:
Theology on Tap got its start in a suburb of Chicago in 1981
and has since become an international phenomenon. Basically,
the program is a series of lectures geared toward young adults
who want to explore the role of faith in their daily lives.
The lectures, generally held in restaurants, bars and other
non-traditional venues, are given by spiritual leaders and
religious academics and address current (and sometimes controversial)
topics in religion and theology.
The neighborhood:
Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, DC, is an upscale
city largely populated by professionals working in the federal
civil service, the U.S. military, or for one of the many private
companies that provide services to the federal government.
Old Town is the historic core of Alexandria and is noted for
its boutiques, restaurants, antique shops and theaters. As
such, it is a major draw for tourists.
The cast:
The Revd R. Scott Hurd, a priest in the Archdiocese of Washington
and Vicar General of the Personal
Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, was the lecturer.
The events of the evening were overseen by Pat Troy, proprietor
of the pub.
The date & time:
Monday, April 16, 2012, about 8.00pm.
What was the name of
the service?
Theology on Tap.
How full was the building?
The main bar area was packed; I gave up after counting 100.
Pat Troy later stated that 150 people had attended. The audience
was almost all twenty-somethings, equally split between male
and female. Four elderly women sat far away by the back door,
and left as soon as they could.
Did anyone welcome you
personally?
The hostess welcomed me and conducted me to a table with a
view.
Was your pew comfortable?
Standard pub table and chair; more than adequate.
How would you describe
the pre-service atmosphere?
I got there precisely at 8.00 and the lecture had just started.
Almost everybody already had food and adult beverages. I ordered
the shepherd's pie and a pint of Smithwicke's.
What were the exact
opening words of the service?
Sorry, I missed the start.
What books did the congregation
use during the service?
None, but the lecture came from Father Hurd's newly published
Forgiveness – A Catholic Approach.
What musical instruments
were played?
None.
Did anything distract
you?
The shepherd's pie was excellent, as usual. I won't distract
from the report by describing it.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
Serious theological discussion, with some sufficiently distracted
from their food to take notes. I fitted right in.
Exactly how long was
the sermon?
30 minutes lecture, 15 minutes questions and answers.
On a scale of 1-10,
how good was the preacher?
9 – Father Hurd has a dynamic presentation style, personable
and informal. He kept the vocabulary non-technical, avoided
complexity, and selected thoroughly accessible concepts. In
short, a simple talk for people who had probably never thought
much about theology.
In a nutshell, what
was the sermon about?
Forgiveness, taken from the first four chapters of his book.
He presented forgiveness as a decision, a process, and a gift.
He provided reasons for forgiveness: for self, for others,
and for God. He spoke of the "New Evangelism" – living
out the Christian ethic as the Body of Christ doing the deeds
of Christ in the world we live in. When he was done, he announced:
"If we are going to start the questions and answers,
then I'll need another Guinness."
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
Well, there was the Smithwicke's – but actually the thought-provoking
argument was the most memorable part of the experience.
And which part was like
being in... er... the other place?
And then Pat Troy got up. He (1) introduced the sisters from
the local Christian bookstore, who had copies of the book
to sell; (2) announced that the Ancient Order of Hibernians
had declared the pub to be the food collection center for
the local homeless, and that starting next week people should
bring non-perishable food contributions to Theology on Tap;
(3) led the audience in reciting three Hail Marys for the
Blessed Mother's support of those in service to the nation.
What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
Everyone left and I went over to the sisters and purchased
a copy of the book.
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
I was too full to consider the dessert menu.
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 =
terminal)?
5 – It was a bit more Catholic than my Baptist background
is comfortable with. But my local Baptist church back home believes
that our culture should see genuine Christianity in us, and
witness a truly Christian response to the moral issues and public
discourse of the day. Theology on Tap seems a laudable attempt
at reaching out to people who might not think about these things.
Did the service make
you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes. Perhaps this is the future of Christian outreach.
What one thing will
you remember about all this in seven days' time?
"If we are going to start the questions and answers, then
I'll need another Guinness."
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