A Visit to Church of the Resurrection

I've driven by Resurrection many times since moving down here, so this week I decided it was time to visit. It sits on a hill overlooking North Beaureagard. The front entrance faces away from the street and overlooks the parking lot. Driving up and around I found a church of the same vintage as Grace Norwalk and my grandparent's church, Prince of Peace Lutheran in Brookfield. It's one of those designed like an A-frame with walls and built of brick.

I arrived at about 9:50 for the 10:00 service and got there before the ushers. The greeter was trying to make sure newcomers and visitors had everything they needed, which inlcuded Wonder, Love and Praise for this morning's service. Service music was printed in the bulletin, even though it, too, was in Wonder, Love and Priase. The Entrance and Gospel Hymns were from the Hymnal 1982, and the Recessional Hymn was from Lift Every Voice and Sing, though it was printed in the bulletin.

I also arrived before most of the congregation. About five people were seated in the pews when I went in. By the time the service started that increased to 20 or so, not inlcuding the 15 member choir, the clergy, adult acolyte, and music director. There were about 60 when the sermon started. In spite of the fact that I was not the youngest person in the church, there was not a child in sight except for the infant with the couple that sat next to me. The children and their teachers arrived as the priest began the Eucharist, so there were about 75 total in church. This is the most diverse congregation I've visited in Alexandria so far.

I reaaly appreciated that the greeter also came up to me after the service to make sure to invite me to the reception being held for a departing couple. She didn't push when I said I really couldn't stay. Before I left she handed me a small gift bag with information about the parish, a small stone with a cross engraved on it, and two business card magnets with the church's address and contact information. And of course, she made sure to invite me to come again. Just enough without being too much.

They have an interesting touch when receiving communion. After everyone at the rail has been served, before they return to their seats, the priest says, "Become what you receive." The people respond, "We are the body of Christ."

This is a parish that isn't quite sure what to do with their children. Or perhaps they're in transition. The bulletin contained a special announcement about a special pre-service praise and worship time:

Our orgnaist and choir director will lead us in praise songs that we con't nromallyt sing in our Sunday services. It will be a time to sing some different kinds of music and learn some new songs. it will be particularly suitable for families and young chyildren as the songs will be easy to learn and sing. Children can go on to Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. as we start our regular service.We will do this every Sunday through Labor Day

My first thought was wouldn't this be a perfect time to have the children participate in the entire worship service rather than coming in when the Eucharist begins?

Then I read the literature in the gift bag.

For children and youth, we offer a Church School program on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. Our classes are taught by several dedicated teachers in small classroom settings. On the first Sunday of each month, the children come into church at the time of the "peace" and remain with their families through the end of the service.

That may have been the reason I saw no teenagers. And since this wasn't the first Sunday of the month, either they're doing things differently for the summer, or they need to update their newcomer/visitor information. In either case, it's my belief that children should be participating in the entire worship of the church. Worship is part of formation, and Sunday School should done at another time. Before someone says that's too long of a time for children, I point out that this parish has an Adult Forum immediately following worship. That's the perfect opportunity to have formation time for all.

The parish is in transition, which many parishes in the area seem to be. Not only do they have an Interim Rector, they have an Interim Deacon. It will be interesting to see what a new Rector may be able to accomplish.