Allison Freet- Church Visit #3

Church Name: Brooklyn Tabernacle

Church address: 17 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Date attended: October 20

Church category: very racially diverse

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

I have never experienced a church service as beautiful and diverse as the one I attended in New York City with my mom over fall break. Situated in the middle of Brooklyn and in what looked like a beautifully restored theatre, the church is categorized as non-denominational and interracial. Walking into the building was an experience in itself; high ceilings and beautiful paintings on the wall depicting significant events in African-American church history welcomed visitors to the church. The sanctuary itself was incredibly gorgeous, and as my mom and I found a seat in the front, many greeted us. The large gospel choir led us in an hour of praise and worship, and the energy in the place was contagious. People were dancing, singing, and almost everyone had their hands raised in worship. The congregation was a mixture of people, but the majority of people were of African-American heritage, a refreshing change from my regular context.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

The black church sure knows how to worship. Hands were raised high from the very beginning, and as the choir belted out song after song, I found myself wishing I could experience something like this every week. The music was powerful, but perhaps the response to the music was what struck me as most interesting. How incredibly refreshing it was to witness unashamed worship. As we sang “your presence is heaven to me,” I was acutely aware of the Lord’s presence in this place. I heard many say “Thank you, Jesus” and “hallelujah”, and I found it interesting that to these people, worship was a vocal declaration of the joy in their hearts. So often, worship in my regular context is an individualistic experience, but here, at Brooklyn Tabernacle, the worship was communal. At one moment, I was struck by the thought that this is what heaven might be like—a mass of people dancing and singing for the rest of eternity. Chills, I tell you. Chills.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

Interestingly, what I found most disorienting about the worship service was also what I found most appealing: the hour of worship. In my regular context, I can expect the same format each week. But here, I was completely taken aback by the way that worship was conducted. Everyone was quite vocal in their praises to the Lord, often and loudly thanking Jesus for the blessings in their life. Even the pastors encouraged this behavior, asking us to raise our hands in thanksgiving and encouraging us to tell God how good He is. This was uncomfortable to me, as I am not used to calling out loud to the Lord like that or raising my hands in prayer. It felt awkward and forced for me, and during these times, I mostly stood there with my head bowed and thanked the Lord silently, while listening to the prayers of those around me. Though definitely challenging, this was an aspect of worship that I would like to participate in more frequently. How freeing it eventually was to participate in these visible, communal acts of worship, despite the initial awkwardness I felt.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly as in your regular context?

You know that when the pastor has no qualms about calling out a crying child not once, not twice, but three times during the middle of the sermon, he is going to tell it to you straight. And that is exactly what Pastor Jim Cymbala did in his message—he surely brought the truth. Entitled “Waiting in the Storm,” the message highlighted three things we must do when life gets tough: we must maintain joy, we must be careful, and we must share Jesus. Pastor Cymbala’s enthusiasm for the Word and for the message he was bringing to his congregation was evident, and I appreciated the fact that he did not sugarcoat anything: he simply told it as it was. At the end of his message, the pastor invited those who needed strength to continue fighting and withstanding the storm to come to the front. Immediately, hundreds of people made their way down to the front of the sanctuary and began to lay hands on one another. Though they were weak, they found strength in community, in the words that had been spoken, and in their Maker. How inspiring it was to see people come to front and gather around each other in quiet prayer, seeking the Lord’s guidance and love in their time of trouble. I was reminded of the beauty and the diversity of the Kingdom of God during my time at Brooklyn Tabernacle, and the power and presence of the Spirit was very evident to me. What a beautiful way to spend a Sunday morning in New York City!