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The church: Scarborough Christian Fellowship, North Yorkshire, England.
Denomination: Elim Pentecostal.
The building: White, stone-fronted building with double steps up to the front door. Inside is very modern and quite plush.
The neighbourhood: It's right in the town centre and there is very little street parking. There are car parks around, though.
The cast: Rev. Graeme Parkins.
Worship Encounter.
How full was the building?
About 18 people – many were away on holiday. It is usually quite full.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
The pastor came over and shook hands, chatted for a while, seemed genuinely interested in who I was. He introduced his wife. A lady came and sat next to me and chatted in a generally warm and friendly way.
Was your pew comfortable?
Single chairs, padded, covered with mock leather. Very comfy, but made rude noises if you moved in yout seat.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
People were chatting quietly. Everybody was there on time. It was a bit like a family gathering.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"Just while we're waiting for everybody to take their seats, could I just encourage you to spend a moment in prayer?"
What books did the congregation use during the service?
No books – just an OHP. Acetates were stored in very neat folders on a table at the front.
What musical instruments were played?
Keyboard. It appeared that other instruments were used normally, but some musicians were away.
Did anything distract you?
When I arrived, there was a strong smell of an acetone-type cleaner – it made me feel quite light-headed.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
Started off quite lively – some dancing and clapping. The service was mainly quiet, though, and the Spirit of God was tangibly present. There was communal prayer and singing in tongues between the songs.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
11 minutes – the shortest Elim sermon I've ever known.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
8 – I was amazed to get such a short sermon, but it was to the point and well delivered. He was easy to listen to.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
Do not lose heart.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
Without doubt, the worship. It was very heartfelt, Spirit-led, all as it should be.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The offering happened very suddenly and I was still trying to discreetly get the Mystery Worshipper calling card out of my bag while the lady with the plate was standing next to me.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I didn't get the chance – the lady sitting next to me started a conversation straight away.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
Tea and coffee, served from a table at the back of the room. I didn't stay, though, as I had to travel home that evening.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
9 – If I moved to Scarborough, I'd definitely come here.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Not half!
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
How good the worship was.
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