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| 1891: St Paul's,
Santa Monica, California, USA |
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Mystery Worshipper:
Divinity Boy.
The church:
St Paul's,
Santa Monica, California, USA.
Denomination:
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.
The building:
A fairly small, cruciform neo-Gothic church made of painted
brick, dating from the late 1920s. The interior has a lot of
original woodwork, including intricate wooden beams that hold
up a barrel ceiling. Light brown walls, dark brown pews and
red carpeting give the church a warm and cozy, yet spiritual
feel. St Paul's has appeared in many films featuring church
scenes, such as the 1950 version of Father of the Bride,
starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. The church was
very badly damaged during an earthquake in 1994, but was soon
refurbished and reinforced thanks to the generous support of
the congregation.
The church:
They seem to be a small but friendly group, quite multi-generational
and ethically diverse for a Lutheran congregation. St Paul's
sponsors several community groups, including Swedish American
Families Together, the Swedish Women's Educational Association,
and several 12-step recovery programs. The church serves as
a precinct polling location for the surrounding Lincoln Park
neighborhood, and houses the Palisades Preschool in its educational
wing. They also sponsor a recital series called Music at St
Paul's. A field trip was being planned for later in January
to a local stained-glass studio.
The neighborhood:
Santa Monica sits just west of Los Angeles, on the Pacific Ocean.
The city's mild climate plus its several miles of beachfront
have helped to form the image of the laid-back "California
beach lifestyle" in the minds of many. St Paul's Church
is located in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Santa Monica,
just a few blocks from the beach.
The cast:
The Revd James E. Boline, pastor, assisted by the Revd Daryl
Forman (whose name belies her sex). Presiding at the organ was
Barbara Hoffman, associate in ministry.
The date & time:
January 2, 2010, 10.00am.
What was the name of the service?
Sunday Worship.
How full was the building?
About half full. Most people sat toward the back.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes. There was a friendly elderly woman at the main door greeting
people and handing out bulletins.
Was your pew comfortable?
No. But then no pew is ever comfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
The organist played a prelude for about five minutes prior to
the worship service starting.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
We began by singing "The First Noel".
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
What musical instruments
were played?
Organ, an opus of the Abbott & Sieker Co. of Los Angeles,
installed in 1976.
Did anything distract
you?
There was a vague smell of incense.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
Middle of the road. Some aspects were a little high church,
but nothing too over the top. The hymns were fairly standard
Christmas fare: "The First Noel," "It Came Upon
a Midnight Clear," "Go Tell It On the Mountain."
Exactly how long was the sermon?
12 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
9 – The pastor's sermon was informal and nuanced, more
a writer's sermon than a preacher's sermon.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
He spoke on the gospel reading for the day, John 1:1-14, and
talked about the importance of beginnings. He asked the congregation
to sing the "Do-Re-Mi" song from The Sound of
Music. He then equated New Year's Day with a fresh beginning,
a new start.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
Singing the hymns. This congregation could sing. The choir was
strong and led well. The organist was spot on.
And which part was like
being in... er... the other place?
The sound system was awful. The speaker right above my head
buzzed throughout the service. Sometimes the pastor and assisting
minister forgot to turn on or turn off their microphones. It
really isn't a large enough space to warrant microphones anyway.
What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
Several people from the congregation welcomed me as we walked
out the main door. The pastor shook my hand and asked my name
and said, "Thank you for visiting."
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
Held on the front lawn under very pleasant weather. Coffee and
juice were served in plastic and styrofoam cups, along with
some donuts on paper napkins. Several people chatted with me.
How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
8 – It seems to be a very low-pressure church in a part
of the country that isn't very Lutheran, isn't very Christian,
and isn't very religious. I live not far from this congregation
and would seriously consider joining. I'll continue to visit
from time to time over the next several months.
Did the service make you
feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes, which is saying a lot!
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The female minister with a first name usually associated with
men. She even mentioned her husband! I liked that. |
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| The Mystery Pilgrim |
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| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
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| London churches |
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| Read reports from 70 London churches, visited by a small army of Mystery Worshippers on one single Sunday. Read here. |
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