St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church has a reputation of being progressive and active in the faith, political, and social justice communities. I wanted to worship there.
WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO
St. Luke's is located at 1600 Norris Avenue just off Statesville Avenue between Moretz and Antondo Avenues near the Double Oaks and Druid Hill neighborhoods. Parking was plentiful and dress was "church dressy" with several women wearing elaborate and exquisite hats. Worship is at 10 am and lasted almost 2 hours.
REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP
MOOD
This was a welcoming congregation. Many people greeted me before worship and during the passing of the peace. Their greetings seemed sincere, yet no one asked my name. It is a clapping and laughing congregation, even with a sermon based on Lamentations (I think a first for me)! The bulletin was easy to follow and words to the songs and responses were also on 2 large screens flanking the chancel.
MUSIC
Music was provided by a choir, 2 keyboardists, and a very talented drummer. I had high expectations since both my husband and I were impressed with the keyboardist from St. Luke's at the Community Easter Service. While the drummer was definitely highlighted among the musicians, he often came very close to drowning out the choir on many occasions. A young woman sang a solo and call and response, during the Altar Call entitled "Fill Me Up". She had a great voice.
MESSAGE
Rev. Clifford Matthews chose Lamentations 3: 1-24 for his fiery and enthusiastic sermon entitled "The Strength to Keep on Keeping On." He posed an interesting question in the beginning. Recognizing reality TV as a favorite genre, he posed, "What would you want your life to look like if cameras were always in your space?" Would you be able to keep it together? Or would the downsizing really be an eviction, and the entrepreneurial opportunity be because "they fired my tail."? And to these hard times, you used words worthy of having your mouth washed out with soap? He cited the passage in Lamentations as what Israelites and now Christians often experience as real, raw life. He recognized that the poem was written for both the personal and the political, as it describes the conditions and destruction of Jerusalem during the Babylonian takeover of Israel. The writer who some believe to be Jeremiah, asserts that Israel fell because they did not listen to God. He brought the message to the present citing our forefathers who had many more disadvantages than the current generation, yet persevered. He quoted Frederick Douglas "There is no progress without struggle." He then emphasized verses 19-20: "BUT, this I call to mind and therefore have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases." The African-American church he declared has provided that strength since slavery. He encouraged the congregation to "leave your many burdens at the altar, and let the love of the Lord keep you standing". A summary does not reflect his enthusiastic oration.
OBSERVATIONS AND OUTREACH
- I entitled this post "Feeding bodies and souls" because, the major outreach emphasis for this church is physically feeding the neighborhood. With school out (and no school lunches) they will offer a free lunch Monday-Saturday for the entire summer. They will also begin their VBS with a supper. They also solicited food for their food pantry.
- They are also offering summer training sessions in their CARES3 Computer Center, helping folks with their computer skills, writing resumes and job searching.
- And in that vein, they encourage the congregation to be social media savvy. Here are 2 quotes from the bulletin:
- At the opening of the service, they had their graduates (High School through graduate school!) process in their caps and gowns to pomp and circumstance! I thought this was terrific. Later in the service they highlighted each one recognizing their achievements and future plans. They had graduates from Mallard Creek High, West Charlotte, Columbia Southern University, NC Central University, and Pheiffer.
- This congregation likes to do things in doubles. There was an altar call where more than half of the congregation went forward to offer silent prayers and receive a blessing from the pastor, AND an Invitation to Discipleship after the sermon.
- AND after the passing of the peace, which was very warm and heart-felt, the pastor repeated all of the announcements. Rev. Matthews said, "We aren't rich enough to build condos (a reference to St. Paul's?) but we can feed people! That is why we tithe! (Perhaps this doubling of the announcements is because the congregation started with about 50 at 10 am but quadrupled to nearly 200 or more by the sermon.)
- I have come to realize that my German Lutheran heritage also carries some punctuality issues! LOL Don't get me wrong, one does not raise two children and have granddaughters regularly sleep over and not be late to church occasionally! But late to "good Lutherans" is coming in after the processional and during the first hymn: never a half hour or more into the service! "Lateness" is not just found in the African American churches, but was rampant at the Greek Orthodox church (the priest even had "good reasons"!) and at both Catholic services I attended. My Italian sister in law calls it "Italian time."
- This is the third time I've heard a powerful African American preacher have the congregation on their feet clapping at the end of the sermon. One thing I find curious about their style is their propensity to end their sermons quoting familiar hymns and songs. Rev. Matthews ended with "Jesus Loves Me" and "Ain't no Mountain High Enough"! This got everyone to their feet.
- The offering was done as a march up to the altar, with the ushers staying stationary and the people passing by the plates. (a third altar call?) I don't know why I find this uncomfortable. But once again I asked someone sitting beside me to take up my offering.
THIS WEEK'S EXTRA
I couldn't believe the array of cartoons when I put "Lamentations" into google! Who knew?! Here are a few favorites.... I never thought of Alexander and the Terrible... etc. being a child's Jeremiah or Lamentations!
THE BULLETIN
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