Church from the Other Side
The Chapel has a weekly newsletter. Last week I wrote an article for it. And I wanted to share it with my blog family, just ’cause I know y’all would get the meaning behind my words:
“Church from the Other Side”
The room looks different when standing on the “stage.” (I don’t like that word, because nobody is performing on Sundays, but there’s no better word for it. Except platform. Let’s go with platform.)
The room looks different when standing on the platform. There are beautiful abstract paintings that line the back wall of the loft. Have you noticed them? And the room is simultaneously brighter and darker when on that platform. Brighter from all those “stage lights” (there’s that word again) and darker from how everything dims and fades into the background because of those lights.
Every so often I have the opportunity to stand on that platform and face the room. Despite the wash of light that hazes over, I can still see your faces. I can see old and new friends. Familiar faces. Faces that have quickly and effortlessly become my family of faith. I get to see you smile as you laugh at the latest “Randy Travis” appearance. I get to see you wipe tears falling from those “Good Life” moments. I get to see you close your eyes or raise your hands or watch the screen as we sing songs together. I get to see you slowly file through the line at communion, receiving grace soaked bread and juice. Then I get to see you head to the prayer chapel in the back corner and kneel before that mosaic cross, hands folded and head bowed. And I get to see you stand up, unprovoked, and sing “You Hold Me Now” with all your heart. And I get to pull that tiny headphone out of one ear and listen – I ignore my own voice, shut out the rest of the band, and I get to hear you sing. I get to hear you lift your heart and voice to Heaven.
And, you may think that we’re up there on that platform helping you meet with God, but at the end of the day, it’s you – my beloved church family – that helps me meet with God.
Thank you for letting me, in all my faith’s failings, do church from the other side,
~ Mandy Thompson
Director of Congregational Services
and Girl Behind the Guitar
Why did that make me cry?! Oh. Woman, you are beautiful writer.
…. Why *did* that make you cry?
My views of worship are very theologically fuzzy. Bear with me.
I think it makes me cry because I’ve never had anything like this. You know when… somebody… who… Los maybe… had that video or picture that asked, “Remember when worship teams used to look like this?”
I thought, … “Did they ever? Do they now? I would LOVE to have a worship team that looked like that.”
I KNOW (wrong, guilty) I’m missing an emotional connection… that worship is not just a “feeling” but,
I really really really want an emotional connection. The hymns are starting to break my heart. And not in a good way.
I get it. And that’s what makes the whole split-over-worship-styles so hard for me to look at. I know people want something “more” in their service, but I think it has more to do with the way worship is presented than about the actual method of worship – if I may be so bold as to say. For example, I know a lot of people my age who are discovering to a very liturgical form of worship and falling in love with it. They are drawn to the reverence – the respect – the transcendence… They feel like contemporary unstructured worship is too…touchy-feely. And not enough thinking and knowing and respecting.
God wants to meet with you – and He’ll help you find creative ways of knowing He’s there and expressing your heart to Him. Aren’t you glad that worship isn’t just limited to the 11 to 12 hour on Sunday mornings?
Isn’t it ironic? Can’t we find ways to do both at the same time? That’s another post for another blog.
As for your heart, I think there are ways you can find what your soul is longing for, without having to “divorce” your current spiritual family… Your iPod. Retreats. Conferences. Sneak out for a sunday night at the local non-denom church if you dare!
So… maybe you missed your calling as the best counselor EVER?
I hope not. Because, after going through an undergraduate in Sociology, and then a semester of Christian Counseling at seminary, I dropped out.
Doh! Nah, you are for sure in the right place. Maybe I’ll hire you to be my worship counselor.
hmmm…. now that may be a possibility!
This is a beautiful picture of the view we are afforded. Thanks, Mandy.
AHHHHHH… I CAN SO RELATE TO THIS. Yesterday as we were leading, I saw tears, laughter, and other emotions. “I thought, these people have no idea how they inspire me”. I get to see things differently. It truly helps me to see the big picture- for when I am worshipping with the masses in the congregation my response to worship is such a big part of what they are doing on the platform. Then I find myself leading with Shannon or accompanying another leader and once again I am so encouraged and blessed by the response to worship. ( it makes me excited for the sitting -in -the -congregation sundays that follow. Whew. I could write a lot about this. I firmly believe it is VERY important for worshipper to be off stage regularly. It is a necessary part of the full development of a leader. Love ya girl!
I knew you’d relate! And I love you too.
i get this..remembering when i would speak to womens groups and occasionally in front of the congregation…seeing everyone..seeng the ones who are hanging on your every word, those who are looking at thier watch, and those who just kind of looked grey to me…and knowing that God has put me in a position to allow HIM to speak through me. Always leaving those times, knowing GOD ministered to me through each of them, and somehow fanned my fire.
Love ya “girl behnd the guitar”
Mandy, I love this! Every time our choir leads worship, I know I’m going to cry. I just can’t NOT be touched by the things I see in the congregation, from the platform.
Thank you for those words. I have had much joy over the years from the other end of the room. I’ve spent a lot of time behind the controls of the sound system making sure that there are no audible distractions. I don’t get to see the faces of the congregation, unless something goes wrong. It is an act of service to work together with others to lead people in worship. And everything we do can bring people closer to God. Faith comes from hearing. It’s your job on “stage” to lead people in worship. It’s my job in the back to make sure people can hear well. And it’s everyone’s job to love each other and worship God as one body.
You’re so very welcome, Steve! We spur one another on, don’t we?
Hey Mandy, Can I repost this over on TWC? I love it!
Sure dude!!
yay. I just wrote an article for TWC! 
Sweet. It’s going LIVE now!
haha it’s officially syndicated!
When people are sharing their faith it’s the love that passes between them that bonds them into a community, a family, no matter which side of the alter their on, or what the setting is.
For people of religious faith my perception is that the words, and music, of faith serve as a conduit through which the love from their God flows to them.
Randy Travis goes to your church? Did I understand that right?!
Good article! I always wondered what those up there REALLY see.
hahah!!
No. We have a “personality” called Randy Travis who does our announcement videos… They’re always hysterical.
Wow this was a good piece girl! Nice!