Max Adams - Church Visit #1

Church: Covenant Presbyterian Church
Address: 2012 West Dickens Ave, Chicago IL, 60647
Date: 8/31/2014
Category: More or Less Liturgical

Wondering how to approach the more or less liturgical church visit—Having attended a non-denominational church throughout my childhood, and high Anglican since my time at wheaton—I decided to visit Covenant Presbyterian in Bucktown, the church that my sister had attended previously when she had lived in Chicago. She had suggested the church as a blend of these two backgrounds. The service seemed to focus upon the sermon rather than the Eucharist, much like my non-denominational background; however, it was supplemented with light liturgical call and response. I say light because, as far as i understand it did not utilize either creed or daily collects (however this may be my limited experience with the particulars of Anglican liturgy). The worship for the service pulled from hymns rather than contemporary worship music, drawing more closely to my experience in the anglican church.

The most appealing aspect of the church service for me were the arts. The hymns were creatively reinterpreted outside of a choir, church organ, or contemporary "christian rock." The congregation was led by about five or six instrumentalists, including violin, bass, banjo, etc. The music followed traditional hymnal tunes but with a folk/ bluegrass twist. This was a refreshing approach. More importantly, being a visual artist, I was enthralled by the architecture. The church has reprocessed the Catholic All Saints Cathedral. Frescoes and stained glass adorn the interior—the congregation surrounded by a visual "communion of saints." A massive altarpiece stretches toward the high-vaulted blue ceiling. The church building itself draws the presbyterian church into further unity with broader church traditions.

I was little disoriented by my experience. Since my time in the Anglican church, i have found that my attention span for sermon-based services has become short. My imagination wandered from the pastors words and up and along the beautiful walls, but this seems anything but problematic or disorienting. The visual sermon created just as significant a meditation. The church was also hot and my back was sticking to the wooden pews—but who really cares. It was predominantly a wonderful experience and worth revisiting.

The sermon series during my visit focused upon the psalms. The old testament focus was refreshing. My non-denominational church in my home-town regularly focused upon the New Testament, so i enjoyed this shift in focus. He talked about afflictions. It was a nice sermon, I think. Along the walls, between each of the several gothic archs were painted varying angels, each holding a shield or crest, perhaps familial or church-symbolism. Beneath and above those were stained-glass parables of the church fathers. The heavenly host and the parables provided an overwhelming sense of community. Like the cloud of witnesses was surrounding and encouraging. This was my take away from my experience.