church auditions
well, okay. Maybe "auditions" is a bit harsh. But "shopping" seems worse, somehow.
I'm trying on churches in the area to see which one fits. I started today, and I started with the church that was the "natural" choice when I first lived in Akron in the 1980's: First United Methodist Church. It was an obvious choice back then, as I didn't own a car, I lived within biking distance of campus, and this church was also on the same side of campus, and within biking distance, AND it was Methodist.
Back then, I remember this church as very much a mainstream-type of downtown protestant church, with a smattering of college students in attendance as well as a fairly robust (meaning between 100 and 150 in attendance) adult population. It wasn't remarkable in any way, just a solid, middle-of-the-road, Methodist church with the same formal worship format as my dad's.
Three things appear to have changed since then.
1) it's a completely new building - the original church burnt to the ground in the '90's and they chose to rebuild. I don't remember for certain, but I think the sanctuary is generally the same layout: in a semi-circle format with the pews instead of a rectangle. It seems a little smaller than I remember, but I'm not certain of that.
2) The service, while still very much a traditional format with lots of organ, 3 hymns, etc., feels much more conservative/evangelical to me than I remember. Part of this may be their current minister, who appears to hail from one of the more evangelical seminaries; part of it may be the songs they chose to sing today. However, I have to admit, I'm VERY, VERY hard on ministers the first time I hear them - and, as I noted in my notebook at the time, this guy made me stop and think - but not in a way that I dismissed what he was saying out-of-hand, as I have done a number of times to ministers in the past (including the last TWO ministers at my dad's old church - the one he retired from and where my folks still frequently go....) It wasn't totally off-putting; in fact, I admit that I rather liked the challenge of considering what he said, but I will continue to audition churches before settling down.
2.5) The Music (technically part of the service, so it doesn't get its own number): This was inconsistent. Their organist is TERRIFIC and has a beautiful instrument and knows how to use it. The tempi for hymns was nice and brisk - Sam Wesley would have approved! Good music selection, etc. However, she's fighting a losing battle with that choir. They were about 13 in number, and evenly distributed, for once. Their soprano section was Horrid. Sigh. They did a lovely gregorian chant-type number for the anthem, and I understood about 2 words - and it was in English, and, remember that sanctuary configuration? well, there are only about 9 rows in depth and I was sitting in row 6. I should have been able to understand them at that distance. I shudder to think what comes across to hearing-impaired individuals (in other words, 85% of those attending). Sigh.
I have no immediate plans to join any church choir - I promised Mom and Dad I would be home for Christmas Eve for once, for one - and joining a church choir this fall would negate that. So...sigh.
3) The Congregation: Now, don't get me wrong. I don't remember them as being anything but lovely - but boy! I sure felt warm and accepted and appreciated, from the guy behind me who confided in me that he was happy that I sat where I did so he'd have someone to shake hands with (we did a passing of the peace right before the start of the service; an unusual placement, but I liked it!) to the couple at the far end of the row I was sitting in who invited me to come over and sit with them when I filled out the attendance pad, to the jar of Smuckers Triple Berry Sundae topping I got as a New Visitor present, to the many people who welcomed me after church before I ever made it out of the pew, to the people that waved at me as I left the parking lot. They were warm and accepting and lovely, without being pushy or insistent or intrusive (although a number of them hoped to see me back...I don't count that as pushy.)
So - the jury's out on this one. They may (and probably will) get a call-back audition - unless I find a church a bit more like the ones I belong to up in Cleveland Heights. Yes, I do belong to 2 churches (long story) - one is UMC, the other is UCC (Shawnthea's church). I AM toying with the thought of just going back up there...but we'll see what the area down here holds and how the winter is shaping up before I make that final decision. Hmmmm. It is rather like auditions at that - sometimes a director has a "ringer" in mind for a part, but goes through the open auditions as well, just in case. Instead, I'll try to look at Plymouth Church as the standard - and see if any of the churches I try down here would fit.
Next week - I'll try one in Cuyahoga Falls. At least, that's the plan!
I'm trying on churches in the area to see which one fits. I started today, and I started with the church that was the "natural" choice when I first lived in Akron in the 1980's: First United Methodist Church. It was an obvious choice back then, as I didn't own a car, I lived within biking distance of campus, and this church was also on the same side of campus, and within biking distance, AND it was Methodist.
Back then, I remember this church as very much a mainstream-type of downtown protestant church, with a smattering of college students in attendance as well as a fairly robust (meaning between 100 and 150 in attendance) adult population. It wasn't remarkable in any way, just a solid, middle-of-the-road, Methodist church with the same formal worship format as my dad's.
Three things appear to have changed since then.
1) it's a completely new building - the original church burnt to the ground in the '90's and they chose to rebuild. I don't remember for certain, but I think the sanctuary is generally the same layout: in a semi-circle format with the pews instead of a rectangle. It seems a little smaller than I remember, but I'm not certain of that.
2) The service, while still very much a traditional format with lots of organ, 3 hymns, etc., feels much more conservative/evangelical to me than I remember. Part of this may be their current minister, who appears to hail from one of the more evangelical seminaries; part of it may be the songs they chose to sing today. However, I have to admit, I'm VERY, VERY hard on ministers the first time I hear them - and, as I noted in my notebook at the time, this guy made me stop and think - but not in a way that I dismissed what he was saying out-of-hand, as I have done a number of times to ministers in the past (including the last TWO ministers at my dad's old church - the one he retired from and where my folks still frequently go....) It wasn't totally off-putting; in fact, I admit that I rather liked the challenge of considering what he said, but I will continue to audition churches before settling down.
2.5) The Music (technically part of the service, so it doesn't get its own number): This was inconsistent. Their organist is TERRIFIC and has a beautiful instrument and knows how to use it. The tempi for hymns was nice and brisk - Sam Wesley would have approved! Good music selection, etc. However, she's fighting a losing battle with that choir. They were about 13 in number, and evenly distributed, for once. Their soprano section was Horrid. Sigh. They did a lovely gregorian chant-type number for the anthem, and I understood about 2 words - and it was in English, and, remember that sanctuary configuration? well, there are only about 9 rows in depth and I was sitting in row 6. I should have been able to understand them at that distance. I shudder to think what comes across to hearing-impaired individuals (in other words, 85% of those attending). Sigh.
I have no immediate plans to join any church choir - I promised Mom and Dad I would be home for Christmas Eve for once, for one - and joining a church choir this fall would negate that. So...sigh.
3) The Congregation: Now, don't get me wrong. I don't remember them as being anything but lovely - but boy! I sure felt warm and accepted and appreciated, from the guy behind me who confided in me that he was happy that I sat where I did so he'd have someone to shake hands with (we did a passing of the peace right before the start of the service; an unusual placement, but I liked it!) to the couple at the far end of the row I was sitting in who invited me to come over and sit with them when I filled out the attendance pad, to the jar of Smuckers Triple Berry Sundae topping I got as a New Visitor present, to the many people who welcomed me after church before I ever made it out of the pew, to the people that waved at me as I left the parking lot. They were warm and accepting and lovely, without being pushy or insistent or intrusive (although a number of them hoped to see me back...I don't count that as pushy.)
So - the jury's out on this one. They may (and probably will) get a call-back audition - unless I find a church a bit more like the ones I belong to up in Cleveland Heights. Yes, I do belong to 2 churches (long story) - one is UMC, the other is UCC (Shawnthea's church). I AM toying with the thought of just going back up there...but we'll see what the area down here holds and how the winter is shaping up before I make that final decision. Hmmmm. It is rather like auditions at that - sometimes a director has a "ringer" in mind for a part, but goes through the open auditions as well, just in case. Instead, I'll try to look at Plymouth Church as the standard - and see if any of the churches I try down here would fit.
Next week - I'll try one in Cuyahoga Falls. At least, that's the plan!