Because of the parking fiasco, I arrived late and snuck into a back pew without an order of service. People did smile and welcome me nevertheless. In the very back pew I had a great view of the entire church. The beautiful windows, balconies, columns, and pipe organs are truly something to behold. While I did feel pretty far from the pulpit, I could still see everything clearly.
After a brief but beautiful choir performance, the Rev. Yvonne Schumacher Strejcek, Acting Associate Minister welcomed us all and asked the first-time visitors to raise our hands. Then we took a moment to greet one another. At this time several people who had seen me coming in late made a special effort to come to the back just to say hello and welcome. A truly nice gesture. I shook hands with the people in front of me and when I turned to my right to shake hands with my other neighbor, I was shocked to see what I assume to be a homeless man asleep. He was unshaven with a distinct odor, had a hoodie pulled over his head, and was surrounded by various bags of trash, silverware, cans, and other assorted half-eaten goodies.
I understand that Unitarian Universalist churches have an almost unparalleled attitude for welcoming all people into their midst, and perhaps maybe this man was a devout UU simply down on his luck, but I think there needs to be some monitoring as to who attends services. This man in particular mumbled and gestured eratically half of the service and slept the other half sprawled across the pew. I don't think the UU church is able to provide the kind of service that he required—i.e. a shelter, a counselor, medical care, food, clothing. I would think a truly caring congregation would take note of this man and make some effort to assist him.
Next on the agenda came the congregational announcements. It started with a collection for the Haiti earthquake and ended with a committee called INDUULGE explaining what they do and how to volunteer. The announcements alone felt longer than the days' sermon. I can't help but think there has to be a better way of promoting church activities.
The announcements concluded and I thought finally it's sermon time. No. It was time for 2 more choir songs and then the reading of joys and concerns while the choir hummed in the background. Being a large congregation, I think this is a smart way to do things rather than having individual people all come up and share their joys and concerns. Instead they were written in a journal and then read by the music director. While the humming and piano accompanied the thoughts and prayers being read—ranging from "congratulations to Michael and Anthony on 1 month together as a couple" to "I took the day off from work to garden and enjoy the sunshine"—I was trying to figure out what this scene reminded me of. Then it hit me—a show. It felt just like I was watching a musical, with perhaps even more music. 45 minutes in and we had heard well over 5 songs, with more to come even before the morning's (now afternoon) sermon started.
Rev. Strejcek sermon, titled "Those Who Believe in Freedom, Cannot Rest Until it Comes" was mostly about social justice and modern day racism. She praised the work done by the congregation and surrounding communities in combating racism but that it is still prevolent in all our societies and must not be forgotten about just because things have improved. For the most part, I followed her words without much enthusiasm until she eloquently recalled a conversation she had with a congregant, who said "I'm so sick of all the fighting over race. Who cares? We're all just people, right?" To which Strejcek responded as kindly as she could "But, don't you see how that attitude is coming from a place of privilege?" It was a fantastic and poignant point. I wish it was made earlier in her sermon instead of at the end and not embellished much.
To close out the sermon, we were all invited to stand for another music number called "Stand" and was featured at the UU General Assembly 2009 in Salt Lake City. I then made my exit as the choir launched into another song.
I can see why Arlington Street Church is flourishing and why it came highly recommended to me. The people are enthusiastic and friendly, the space is gorgeous, and the sermons, from what I saw, are current, secular, and meaningful. I think the reason why I'm not drawn to this congregation is simply the feel of it. I was unable to shake the feeling that I was watching a musical production. Everything felt saccharin sweet to the extent that if we were all asked to join hands and sing Kumbaya around the flaming chalice I wouldn't have been the least bit surprised. I realize how jaded this sounds—that I don't like a congregation because it is too joyous or hopeful—but when sitting next to a homeless man and being asked to sing six uplifting ballads followed by a sermon on racism it all became a paradox I couldn't ignore. I think services need to have a cohesive message and feel to them, but upon leaving Arlington Street I felt like I had eaten too much cotton candy. However, they are obviously doing something right judging by their numbers and the enthusiasm of all of their congregants.
Keep up the good work Arlington Street Church! You offer a haven to all walks of people and you provide thoughtful services without the need for any gods.
