I did something today that was probably ill-advised although on the surface it would seem pretty innocuous. I started off the day by attending one of the most successful mega-churches in the world, Hillsong, Sydney, downtown campus, and ended the day at a community of Jesus followers that was so obscure that the neighbors around the gathering place were unaware they were even there (Small Boat Big Sea). The obvious twisted symbiosis that these organisms share when juxtaposed with one another is quite striking. This little entry is just my way of "thinking out-loud"
Hillsong: I woke up at 6:30 and headed to a bus stop 45 minutes early to catch a free bus provided by Hillsong for it's downtown attenders that I found out about on there website. They have 3 morning service and one evening service on Sunday and one on Saturday night, I chose the 8:05 am service cause I had stuff to do at 9:30 am. I had guess where I thought the bus would actually stop because none of the locals or paid central bus station professionals new anything about the church pickup location. Eventually, some Hillsong perishers wandered up and we waited about 20 minutes together without anybody acknowledging my existence. After we were picked up there was a passenger in the front to tell me how exciting it was to be at Hillsong today cause we were going to hear about the Vision of the church. When we arrived at the church we were met with a umbrella brigade that got us in the door dry (it was raining hard) where about five thousand greeters shook my hand and welcomed me while the smell of coffee from the coffee bar and the modern interior with numerous plasma displays captivated my ofactory and eyes.
Contrast:
SBBS: I am in Sydney to work so after taking pictures of Federated marketer's at the beach, I meandered up to the Fairlight area of Manly beach and arrived about an hour early for....church. There was a lady about 30 years old holding a guitar sitting on the front steps of a old Baptist church that is now the William Street Art Studio. She said Hi and said she was just waiting for her husband to arrive with the keys to the church and while we were standing there, various people drove or walked by and informed us they were all running a bit late and would be there soon, they turned out to be the musicians in charge of "worship" that night (No one in Australia cares that much about time or promptness I am finding out...not even Starbuck's employees). So me and Row (the lady on the steps) stood there conversing like old friends about church and life and kids and we were soon joined by her husband who was toiting their 15 month old daughter on one hip and a coos coos salad he had made for tonights gathering in his hands.
Hillsong: We stood in the lobby waiting for the ushers dressed in uniform (every one that was "staff" had on black slacks and the black Hillsong heart shirt) to drop the ropes blocking the way to the sanctuary and there were a lot of hustle and bustle going on as people found out in the lobby figuring out where they needed to be or do or go with kids and teens and people were ordering latte's and asking questions at the information desk; the place was a buzz. As I looked around I couldn't help to notice how culturally diverse Hillsong was. I found out later the locals call it the immigrant church and that was pretty cool. Soon the ropes came down and we entered the chilly, dark, technologically advanced sanctuary of Hillsong, downtown campus. It was really impressive. Six huge screens and a stage full of beautiful and talented people were ready to lead us in worship with big smiles on there faces while the video director and 6 cameramen chose just the right camera angles of musicians, instruments and singers to fill the screens accented with graphics and lyrics for us to follow along with, it was quite stirring and I found myself with my hands in the air lost in worship.
SBBS: Once we had the doors unlocked Dan, Row's husband, gave me the choice of just hanging out and listening to the musicians practice or helping him setup. I chose help setup. So just like one of the family, I carried plates out, poured water and wine in glasses (they thought it was funny how many glasses I filled with water, oops) and generaly got to meet people as they came in carrying whatever homemade dish they brought to pass for that night.
Hillsong: After worship, a pastor got up and welcomed us and talked about how excited he was that it was Vision Sunday, we were instructed that a video had been put together by senior pastor Brian Houston and that he would be sharing with us the vision of the church. A offering was taken up with the traditional plate passing while the pastor warned us that the video would most likely blow us away so we were asked to please refrain from texting or emailing our friends so they would get an equal chance of being blown away as well. The video was one of the best videos I have ever scene. It was moving and inspiring and it really made you want to do "something". It interweaved the lives of three families and how God had touched them through Hillsong and the video was laced with commentary from world renown speaker and Hillsong Senior Pastor Brian Houston saying how he always wanted to start a church that made a difference and that is why along with there campus's in Sydney, London, Kiev, Cape Town, Stockholm and Paris they were going to expand there ministry in New York City and I was informed that I was a part of this by financially giving and getting "plugged in" locally. Getting involved was as easy as attending an upcoming conference or if I was talented in the arts let someone know and if I wasn't I could clean bathrooms or serve coffee. I was in and out of the service in roughly 50 minutes and I was back on the bus heading back to my hotel ready to get on with my busy day. I will say this, I talked a couple that goes to a conservative Lutheran church back in Owatonna to go with me and Tim L. to Hillsong and the husband ended up raising his hand for a re-dedication of his life or to accept Jesus as his savior I don't know which but the service had a definite impact on him.
SBBS: After everyone was gathered many people literally greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek while kids ran around our feet chasing each other. Then, a little one page bulletin was handed out that said "welcome" and it informed me what this whole night would be like in a paragraph of text. One of the people who attended this gathering is Michael Frost who is a seminary professor and world renowned Christian speaker but he wasn't at the gathering that night and actually rarely taught but always attended. When I said I heard about their group when I heard Michael speak in Minnesota most everyone rolled there eyes irrelevantly and in tounge in cheek fashion said, "oh yeah, michael is a big deal." Come to find out every week at SBBS, it is someone else's turn to lead. Every Sunday someone different is in charge of the four L's. Which they call their Rhythm. Here is what they say about it:
Our Rhythm
We encourage one another to live by a simple rhythm - Look, Listen, Learn, Live. So we regularly think:
Look – How can I be attentive to God and to others this week? What have I seen or heard of God’s work in my world?
That night they chose the song "Hands" by Jewel and Row and the band performed with the help of some little girls who inpromtu got up and sang the chorus, followed by a short discussion of the meaning of the lyrics as we ate a meal together. After the meal the kids were in charge of clean up with the guidance of the person in charge that week for set up (Which was Dan)
Listen – To whom can I make myself vulnerable this week & in what ways have I opened myself others?
Sarah Chose the Rob Bell Nooma video called "Luggage." And talked a little about her journey into a life of forgiveness.
Learn – What have I learned from God’s Word this week & in what ways am I seeking to embody that learning?
Nick P. a seminary graduate, spoke on a passage from acts and then we broke into small groups to discuss. I must say, the conversation was lively and people were respectful and attentive to whoever was speaking.
Live – How can I make myself available to God for his purposes this week?
This is most interesting. Normally at this point someone shares how God is teaching them to be like Jesus and people in the group give input and affirm that person or if appropriate offer guidance. This night the person who was on the docket to speak got water in there house and couldn't attend.
We started at 5:30 and didn't break it up till 8 P.M.
In the end they said they would be talking over thier collective "Vision" next week on Saturday over breakfast together and they would decide together where they would be going this next year "and no, the world famous Michael Frost would not even be in attendance.
After saying goodbye like I would see them next week I trekked back down the hill to catch the Ferry back to Sydney and I could help feeling like my head was a atom that has been in a particle accelerator all day. Can Jesus' bride so strikingly different depending on which profile I see. And where do the thousands of traditional denominatiolly driven churches like Bethel or trinity in little old Owatonna fit into this brave new world? I am not here to make up your mind for you, you are just going to have to be living in the question with me.
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