This past Sunday I had the most amazing worship experience. Four other students and myself decided that we would make our way deep into the Chicago south side to attend a service at Trinity a congregation in the United Church of Christ tradition. We left at 10am.
Arriving at Trinity is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. We had a camera with us so it had to be checked in at the desk. As visitors we had to sign in as a group. We were escorted to our seats by one of the ushers, all of whom wore white shirts, gloves and black pants. There were plain clothed security guards all throughout the building with the ear pieces you usually see in movies with F.B.I or Secret Service agents. The church was packed.
This is an African-American congregation. Their vision is Unapologetically Black and Unapologetically Christian. The choir had about 140 members all dressed in traditional African clothing. There was a 9 or 10 piece worship band with multiple pianos, bass guitar, drums, organ and other instruments. The music was loud, not overpowering, yet loud. The energy was high and it never really let up. Did I mention this was at 11am?
We started with opening praise songs and stood on our feet singing and clapping away. It was a tremendously emotional time for everyone. We were welcomed as honoured guests and received lots of hugs during the passing of the piece. Actually their senior pastor said, “if you don’t like hugs you’re in the wrong church and there’s the door!” and I felt oddly at home thinking of folks in my congregation Lyn United. Then we read the lesson for the day together with everyone standing from their bulletin that is 24 pages long and professionally produced in house. Now it was 12noon.
We then had a presentation from the Drill Team that performed a series of pieces akin to stomp dancing. It was simply amazing to watch these young people. Then there was a very serious ceremony marking the transition of 9 girls into adulthood. They had been mentored for some time about how to be a responsible young African-American woman with all the rights and responsibilities of other women. It was quite something. Then it was time for the offering and as we sang and clapped buckets, yes buckets, were passed around and then there was a second offering for the Resurrection Fund. It was now 1pm.
Then we got to the sermon. I’ve only seen black preachers on television. I’ve heard about them. Read about them. I’ve experienced only one other, yet nothing prepared me for this experience. I have never seen a preacher and congregation interact with one another in such a profoundly relational, yet respectful way. He had us standing and clapping our agreement. He had us looking at one another and giving a word of encouragement. He had us finishing his sentences. He had the band playing while he sang some a short piece of his sermon like lyrics to a song. There were people shouting their encouragement “Go Preacher!” there were “Amen!” there were “yeah, yeah I got you!” and people smiling and crying. And through it all, other than during the sermon, there was always music – sometimes just instrumental other times hymns, other times choruses, other times just the choir – yet always music through the prayers and other parts of the service. We received the benediction after an altar call and people were invited to remain at the altar if they wanted to join the church. It was now 2:20pm.
I hope you’ve been paying attention. We started at 11am and finished at 2:20 and it only felt like an hour! We later were told that they have three services a Sunday with three different sermons. The times of the services are 6am 11am and 6pm. In total there are about 6,500 people in worship on an average Sunday. Attendance at the service I attended was around 2,600 people. They have their own book room, live internet ministry, production team, credit union bank, outreach program, 12 pastors and 80 programs that run weekly. Trinity is an experience all to itself. If you’re ever in Chicago you need to go to Trinity, even if you’re not African- American!
Arriving at Trinity is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. We had a camera with us so it had to be checked in at the desk. As visitors we had to sign in as a group. We were escorted to our seats by one of the ushers, all of whom wore white shirts, gloves and black pants. There were plain clothed security guards all throughout the building with the ear pieces you usually see in movies with F.B.I or Secret Service agents. The church was packed.
This is an African-American congregation. Their vision is Unapologetically Black and Unapologetically Christian. The choir had about 140 members all dressed in traditional African clothing. There was a 9 or 10 piece worship band with multiple pianos, bass guitar, drums, organ and other instruments. The music was loud, not overpowering, yet loud. The energy was high and it never really let up. Did I mention this was at 11am?
We started with opening praise songs and stood on our feet singing and clapping away. It was a tremendously emotional time for everyone. We were welcomed as honoured guests and received lots of hugs during the passing of the piece. Actually their senior pastor said, “if you don’t like hugs you’re in the wrong church and there’s the door!” and I felt oddly at home thinking of folks in my congregation Lyn United. Then we read the lesson for the day together with everyone standing from their bulletin that is 24 pages long and professionally produced in house. Now it was 12noon.
We then had a presentation from the Drill Team that performed a series of pieces akin to stomp dancing. It was simply amazing to watch these young people. Then there was a very serious ceremony marking the transition of 9 girls into adulthood. They had been mentored for some time about how to be a responsible young African-American woman with all the rights and responsibilities of other women. It was quite something. Then it was time for the offering and as we sang and clapped buckets, yes buckets, were passed around and then there was a second offering for the Resurrection Fund. It was now 1pm.
Then we got to the sermon. I’ve only seen black preachers on television. I’ve heard about them. Read about them. I’ve experienced only one other, yet nothing prepared me for this experience. I have never seen a preacher and congregation interact with one another in such a profoundly relational, yet respectful way. He had us standing and clapping our agreement. He had us looking at one another and giving a word of encouragement. He had us finishing his sentences. He had the band playing while he sang some a short piece of his sermon like lyrics to a song. There were people shouting their encouragement “Go Preacher!” there were “Amen!” there were “yeah, yeah I got you!” and people smiling and crying. And through it all, other than during the sermon, there was always music – sometimes just instrumental other times hymns, other times choruses, other times just the choir – yet always music through the prayers and other parts of the service. We received the benediction after an altar call and people were invited to remain at the altar if they wanted to join the church. It was now 2:20pm.
I hope you’ve been paying attention. We started at 11am and finished at 2:20 and it only felt like an hour! We later were told that they have three services a Sunday with three different sermons. The times of the services are 6am 11am and 6pm. In total there are about 6,500 people in worship on an average Sunday. Attendance at the service I attended was around 2,600 people. They have their own book room, live internet ministry, production team, credit union bank, outreach program, 12 pastors and 80 programs that run weekly. Trinity is an experience all to itself. If you’re ever in Chicago you need to go to Trinity, even if you’re not African- American!
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