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| 2079: Wild
West Cowboy Church, Westcliffe, Colorado, USA |
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Mystery Worshipper:
MoboJobo.
The church:
Wild
West Cowboy Church, Westcliffe, Colorado, USA.
Denomination:
Independent.
The building:
The building is made of red corrugated metal. There are places
to tie your horses outside. The interior walls are covered with
bark planks. On those walls are 20 stuffed animals and a bear
rug. The collection "plate" is a battered cowboy boot.
The "plate" sits near the entrance and it is not passed
– this to prevent anyone from being embarrassed or feeling
pressured to contribute. The coffee is served from a chuck wagon.
The musicians were on a stage made from plank fencing with saddles
on it.
The church:
From their website: They are "a ministry that uses horses
and western related activities in order to introduce people
to Jesus Christ and to help them grow in their faith. We are
a mix of urban and rural families who have come together to
joyfully praise our Lord."
The neighborhood:
Westcliffe is a quaint little town in the midst of the old silver
mining region of southern Colorado. The town is surrounded by
the majestic Sangre de Cristo ("Blood of Christ")
mountain range, said to be one of the longest mountain ranges
on earth, with peaks ascending to 14,000 feet. (The name is
thought to refer to the mountains' reddish glow at sunrise and
sunset.) The area is known for its unparalleled views and endless
miles of lush wilderness trails and mountain meadows bursting
with wildflowers. Wild West Cowboy Church sits just off the
country highway north of the main town. Westcliffe is a town
in transition – part farming and ranching (Amish farmers
have moved here lately), some mining, skiing and mountain sports,
with the addition of some retired stockbroker types from Denver.
Directions to the church were supplied by two local women who
were putting the finishing touches on their new wine business.
The cast:
Unfortunately the "trail boss" (pastor), the Revd
Larry Smith, was not there that evening. A cowpoke by the name
of Mike Wilheit led the service, preached, and played drums.
The date & time:
Sunday, September 5, 2010, 4.00pm.
What was the name of the service?
The Sunday Evening Round Up.
How full was the building?
About 75 per cent full – cowboys and cowgirls, definitely
regulars, all in boots and hats (spurs were optional) and arriving
in four-wheel-drive "lifted" trucks.
Did anyone welcome you
personally?
Yes. There were two cowboys at the door and a lady who asked
if we wanted a Cowboy Bible. Naturally we did.
Was your pew comfortable?
They were metal padded folding chairs, but comfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Friendly and talkative. (We just knew we were in someplace different
when a 20 year old girl in from of us announced, "I shot my
first elk this week!")
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Good afternoon, hi and howdy, and all that stuff. We want to
welcome our visitors tonight." (Then a visitor from London,
as well as ourselves, were mentioned by name.)
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
Those who didn't bring their own Bible used the aforementioned
Cowboy Bible, entitled The Way for Cowboys. It was
essentially the New International Version with testimonies inserted
from Christian cowboys.
What musical instruments were played?
Keyboard, three guitars, drums, and three singers.
Did anything distract you?
No, not even the stuffed animals on the wall (although the cougar
was magnificent).
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
Enthusiastically evangelical. As befitting the evangelical background,
there were plenty of Bible references, by chapter and verse,
and almost all the participants looked up each one. Songs were
projected for congregational participation; notable were Josh
Turner's "Long Black Train" as the Lord's Supper made its way
around and Dale Evans' "Happy Trails" for the recessional.
Exactly how long was the
sermon?
13 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how
good was the preacher?
10 – Mike Wilheit spoke clearly in a "down home" sensible
style, interwoven with some politically incorrect humor.
In a nutshell, what was
the sermon about?
Jesus doesn't care about who you are or what you wear. He cares
about you. Just as Jesus asked Peter, Simon and Andrew to drop
their nets and follow him, he asks us to do the same.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
How involved the people seemed with one another. There was talk
of several local projects and a cancer walk. One of the congregants
mentioned that one of his horses had walked away from pasture,
and would everyone please keep an eye out for it.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Not one thing!
What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
Their custom is to hold a communal meal after the service. All
present are invited; bringing food is optional. We were immediately
invited to come and "chow down" with them. "Once
you visit, you are friends," we were told, "and when
you come back, you are family!"
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
Coffee, tea, lemonade and sodas were served from the chuck wagon,
and tables full of food just appeared. There was a separate
table for desserts.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 – We loved the members' involvement with one another
and the wonderful atmosphere. We both ride horses, and we could
picture our own horses tethered to the hitching post outside.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Good singing, good food, good fellowship. (The elk comment and
the stuffed animals were memorable, too).
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
Their motto: "The church that horses around". |
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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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