Week 3: From Africa to Charlotte

Where I Went and Why:
I decided this week it was time to get out of my comfort zone.  I chose Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.  I hope to include several (many?) African American churches among my "50" and Friendship's reputation in Charlotte put it near the top of my list.  Frankly it rose to the top because it had an 8 am service and David and I had travel plans for this Sunday, so it fit the schedule.

What to Know if you Want to Go:
Friendship is located at 3400 Beatties Ford Road just on the "outside" of I-85 from the City.  Dress is very dressy with many women wearing both hats and heels.  There is ample parking at the 8 am service but exiting the parking lot took 3 volunteer policemen.  I have a feeling if coming to the 10:30 service, you would need to allow time for parking and traffic near the church.  If I were to go again, I would sit past the horizontal aisle.  The ushers stood in this aisle and often blocked my view as I am vertically challenged!  LOL

Mood:  Greeting and Atmosphere
I arrived about 10 minutes before the service and the parking lot was beginning to fill.  The first thing that hit me upon entering the sanctuary were the exquisite windows.  The stained glass windows on the left of the Chancel depicted stories from the Bible and the windows on the right depicted the African American journey from Africa to Charlotte.  There was also a HUGE pipe organ which unfortunately I did not get to hear.  As I sat and read the bulletin (which concentrated on announcements and only had a general outline of the service) I was astounded at the numbers of people there and filing in.  As I observed them, I realized that there were no children (except for a beautiful babe-in-arms about 3 rows in front of me) and I assume from the bulletin that the children were in programming in other parts of the building.  The Worship service was definitely geared to adults. 

 Visitors were asked to stand during the announcements and were greeted with applause.  There was a reception for visitors (and another gift) after the service, but because we were in a time crunch I did not go there.  I may have a different view had I done that.

The general mood of the congregation was reverent, kind and joyful. There was clapping during the  gospel music and a few folks stood to enjoy the music.  I missed the presence of children and their spontaneity.  The bulletin asked that you put away all electronics., so I did not take pictures and the pictures in this blog are from their website (and of much greater quality!!) 

The bulletin gave no indication when to stand or sit.  I just followed the folks around me. There were Bibles in the pews but no hymnals. 

Music:
My Gospel music expectations at an African American church were more than exceeded. The Prelude was played on a grand piano and quieted the congregation (though the crowd was at least 10 times larger, it wasn't near as "chatty" as last Sunday).  The Call to Worship was sung by an all men's choir who provided two other "Ministry of Music" interludes during the service.  After the Prelude the musicians switched to an electronic organ, bass guitar and drum to lead the congregation and singers.  I was in awe of the pipe organ and disappointed that I did not get to hear it.

The Ministry of Music before the sermon was "I Made it Through" and included a rousing solo by a very talented member of the men's choir.

The only hymn printed in the bulletin  was the opening hymn "Lift Him Up" and the other hymns were sung by the congregation from memory, a daunting task for a visitor.  The men's choir led the congregation with poise and enthusiasm. Only a few  folks around me were actively singing, though many were clapping and actively enjoying the music.  During the Invocation and Intercessory Prayer,  music was played behind and "under" the speaker, building to a triumphant AMEN.

 Message:
There were many "nuggets" to be gleaned both in the prayers and in Rev. Sandra Caldwell-Williams' sermon.   Many points were made with touching humor and repetition .During the Intercessory Prayer,  on kindness and hospitality, the Deacon said, "If you were arrested for kindness, would there be enough evidence to convict you."    The lead up to the offertory prayer had another Deacon declaring "good news and bad news": that there was enough money in the treasury to pay off the mortgage and fund all of the outreach programs... unfortunately, it is still in your pockets!

Rev. Caldwell-Williams preached on Peter 4: 7-9 , entitling her sermon "Turn it Up".  As she emphasized the expectation of the End Times and return of Christ in Peter's letter, she cited the inaction of Congress to fund research to end the zika virus and 546 fatal police shootings since January, encouraging parishioners to "turn it up" and register to vote. (There were registration tables in the education wing.)  Parishioners were urged to "voice their choice" without specific choices being mandated, but obviously "understood."   I liked her call to turn up our prayer life and  "pray with expectation", knowing that God hears our prayers.  When discussing Peter's call to have fervent love and hospitality, she spoke about attitude.  "Even though you might "tic me off" today, I will still love you.   She also urged the members to serve in the church with hospitality and without complaints.  Near the end of the sermon there was an altar call or "Invitation to Christian Discipleship".  One woman went up I think (this was when I couldn't see).  Special prayers were said for her to help her in the next step of her faith journey.  She finished the sermon with "and I preach with my shoes off, because I'm standing on my own two feet!" 

Outreach and Other Interesting Things:

• I anticipated being moved most by the music at this church and while it was awesome, I think the Messages inspired me the most.
• After the sermon, there was a mass exodus for the exits.  Rev. Caldwell-Williams, had to call folks back for the Benediction!  
• The ushers were dressed in all white and wore white gloves.  I remembered this from a one other time I attended this church for a funeral (in the "old" Sanctuary across the street).  During the offering, the ushers would empty the plates into large leather boxes.  I'm not used to this large of a sanctuary and this much in the plates!  (I guess the "good new/bad news" worked!)
• The outreach in the bulletin,  emphasized their wellness programs.  There was help for Seniors in understanding Medicare and Medicare supplements, and a Medassist over-the-counter giveaway.  During announcements, a cancer survivor spoke and encouraged other survivors or caregivers to join a "CROSS" ministry and support group.  (CROSS was an anagram for Cancer Survivors, but I didn't quite catch all of the words.)
• This church likes to walk!  There was a Walk Team Ministry and a Jericho Prayer Walk: only 1/2 mile, but parishioners were encouraged to pray to tear down negative strongholds and build us up in a positive way, including prayers concerning social justice and the 2016 elections.  
• I have emailed the pastors of each of the churches I've visited and invited them to read my blog, this time I will also invite them to contact Catherine Armstrong and join the "We Walk Together" project.
• As far as I could tell I was the only white attendee at this service.  While there were nods of greeting and I felt welcome, no one engaged me in conversation.  This may be a component of it being such a large congregation.  And had I joined the 1st Timers reception after the service, I may have had a different experience, but the "mountains called"... We had planned an outing to Black Mountain.
• I was very impressed with the attendance at an 8 am service.  The 2000 seat Sanctuary was almost filled! ...at 8 am on a hot Sunday in August!

Bulletin: