St. John's Episcopal Church

I do not believe I've attended an Episcopalian church prior to this morning. All Christian denominations (even nondenominational) share certain features of worship. The order might be different, or some key phrases reworded (we will never agree as a people whether it should be the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit, for instance), and some songs might be sung at a different key or pace, but there is enough familiarity that someone from one faith ought to be able to figure out what is happening in another faith's worship service. Unless you are 9-years-old.

In the 4th grade, I transferred from public school to Catholic school. Once a week in Catholic school, the entire school gathers for morning mass. I was not a Catholic, and Catholic mass is so formulaic and routine that most in attendance whip through activities quickly and without much thought. So I, as a young Lutheran boy, didn't know they were making the sign of the cross as they faced the alter and bowed before entering the pew, because the entire set of actions happened in a fraction of a second. So I, as a young Lutheran boy, slapped myself in the face and chest and pretended to trip, just as they did -- rather, just as they seemed to do. Let's just say I made a lasting impression on my fellow students at that mass.

Nowadays, I can more easily go with the flow. If people bow, I bow. If they kneel, I kneel. If they open a Bible, I open a Bible. If they read the Nicene Creed aloud, I recite it from memory (when I attended confirmation classes, we were required to memorize the creeds, which is just stupid since I've never been in a situation where I was called upon to recite a creed without a printed copy right in front of me -- so now, because I possess this knowledge which has no practical value, I am compelled to NOT look at the printed creeds when everyone else does).

St. John's Episcopal Church in Corona was familiar to me, but it was also a bit different. Instead of pews there were chairs, and though the chairs seemed to be more or less permanently in place, it gave the church a temporary feeling. The congregation of St. John's was amazingly diverse; it looked like a United Nations assembly. The congregation was also very vocal, as was the choir by the end of the service (choir seemed a little timid at the start of worship, but they were in fine form by the end). The church's acoustics were awkward -- the solid masonry flooring meant even the smallest sound resonated, and there was no acoustic focal point. The awkward acoustics also gave me a sort of claustrophobic feeling; the noises coming from every direction made the place feel more cramped and confined than it actually was. I'm not certain many people are as aurally meticulous as I am, so others might not have noticed it, but it made me twinge.

One notable difference was how children were dealt with during church. Typical to churches I've attended is that after the opening prayer and song, a brief children's message is delivered, then the kids are escorted out of church to Sunday school, where parents retrieve them once services conclude. At St. John's the kids begin in Sunday school, but 3/4 of the way through the service they are paraded back into church to join their parents. There is nothing wrong with that, but those of us who do not have children oftentimes try to scout out a seat away from small kids who might cry, kick, or otherwise cause a distraction. At St. John's, unless you know the people you choose to sit near, it is a gamble... and one I lost.

Today's sermon was focused on money, tithing, and church contributions. I've stated in other blog posts that I'm aware every church has to give the tithing sermon once a year, and I don't hold it against them when I visit. I do commend this preacher for his turn-of-phrase, "You shouldn't 'Give until it hurts,' you should 'Give until it feels good,'" but beyond that it isn't fair to comment about a sermon wherein the pastor has to basically beg for his paycheck. Imagine if once a year you had to stand before 150 people and justify your income.

There was a real community atmosphere at St. John's, which is nice but daunting if you are a visitor. Everybody knew everybody's first name and exchanged knowing nods and glances. There was a lot of discussion of things in the works, such as new construction, interfaith services, and luncheons. The congregation seemed active and responsive, which is as they should be. It might be worth checking the church out again in a few months to hear another sermon and see how/if the vibe differs.

To be honest, once I understood what the sermon topic was, I zoned out. I have a lot of things going on in my life, and I took the opportunity to pray about them. I'm not comfortable praying for myself or for my own needs. I rarely do so, preferring to pray on behalf of others (sometimes secretly hoping others might pray for me in return). But there are aspects of my life that are in need of improvement, and I felt praying to God was time better spent than listening to a tithing sermon. It isn't that giving back to the church community isn't important, but a church soliciting funds is a touchy subject for me, especially considering how much less the average church provides now versus even 50 years ago. I preferred to just let my mind drift to silent prayer, which is what I did. I did include the needs of others in my prayers, and I offered thanks for a few good things that have happened recently. But to be blunt, I need one or two big things to happen very soon, so that was where my focus was this morning.

I've never known definitively whether prayer "works." Oprah is fond of that cheesy "Secret" book, the main thrust of which is if you want something bad enough, you can actually will it to happen (and, conversely, if something you wanted didn't happen, than you obviously didn't want it badly enough). I find fault with that level of simplicity. I do believe it is important to take time out of our days to express gratitude for what we have, and try to ponder how to attain that which we want and/or need, as well as what others want and/or need. In Christian language, that is prayer. Others might call it guided meditation. Half the time, when I'm praying, it is a way for me to organize my own thoughts and feelings -- to get things straight in my own head and heart -- whether God opts to listen is not integral to the process, though it would certainly be nice if He did. I do not concern myself with formal prayer; I can pray in my car or in the grocery store if the spirit moves me. But I do appreciate a quiet and contemplative environment like a church. Years ago, when I worked at the NBC Studios in Burbank, I used to go inside Studio One when nobody else was there. I'd ascend the audience bleachers and make my way to the very top row and just sit there, in the dark studio, and ponder life's imponderables. You see, NBC's Studio One was where people like Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, and Tom Snyder displayed true ingenuity, humor, and creativity. It is as sacred to me as any church, and though I worked at NBC long after they were gone from the halls, I could feel a tangible connection by being in that space. It was a time in my life when I felt most at peace with who I was and where I was going.

In the present day, my life is filled with uncertainty, so I was grateful for the chance to focus. I prayed for myself, though it feels strange to do so. I prayed for new opportunities, even though I'm aware they will come with new challenges. Mostly, I tried to pray for hope -- not the sort of buzzword hope spoken of by politicians good and bad, but the sort of hope that allows someone down on his luck to keep pushing. I prayed for the hope that one day there will be reason to offer grand prayers of thanksgiving. I prayed for the hope of eventual peace.

And then the kids came in from Sunday school and one kid sat behind me and repeatedly kicked my chair until worship concluded. That never used to happen in Studio One.

Amen.
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Sunday Scorecard:

What is the contact info for the church?

St. John's Episcopal Church
526 Magnolia
Corona, CA 92879
(951) 737-1363
http://www.stjohnscorona.org/

What was the denomination?

Episcopalian

What Bible verses were referenced?

1 Kings 17:8-16, Psalm 146, Mark 12:38-44

What are the demographics of the congregation?

A wide variety of ages and races... very eclectic blend

Was the atmosphere formal or casual?

Formal church environment

What was the music like?

Organ, choir, some acoustic guitar. The choir built up to a decent sound by the end of worship.

How was the use of PowerPoint?

None at all, but speaking in terms of technology, the church is crying out for an acoustician