Matter of Faith

John Mertens is running for U.S. Senate. He’s an Independent candidate here in Connecticut and has shown an interest in Connecticut’s religious community. He recently interviewed me about Creedible and about religion in the Nutmeg State. He also came to Creedible’s fundraiser and stayed for the entire event. I applaud him for taking time to consider the faith community here.

Here’s a snippet of from our interview. (Video produced by Ripple100)

First Congregational Church of Southington offers a fun, contemporary service/Tracy Simmons - Creedible

Yesterday I finally got to check out the contemporary service that I’ve heard so much about at the First Congregational Church of Southington. I could hear the praise band practicing as I walked up the steps to the church, where I was greeted with a woman with a firm handshake. Last time I came to this church no one greeted me, so I already was liking this service better than the last one I went to.

I take my seat and listen to the band warm up. It reminds me of home. I grew up in churches where contemporary praise bands always graced the stage.  This church, though, was better than the ones back home because it preaches a theology I can relate to. There something very cool about sitting inside of a historic church and listening to modern music. It’s so unusual here in Connecticut, and I like things that are unconventional.

I thumb through the bulletin and notice that there are no instructions on how the service is organized. I’ll just have to follow someone else and hope I don’t look too lost. I continue to look around and notice some folks are dressed in shorts. It’s such a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. I’m loving it. And there are Bibles in the pews, which also makes me smile.

Church starts, the band sings and I realize I’ve been going to a liturgical church too long because I don’t know these lyrics. Lucky for me the words are up on an overhead screen so I can at least pretend to sing along. Next the morning’s prayer comes on the screen, which we all read aloud together.

The pastor, Rev. John Collins, had me fooled. He was dressed like an editor I used to have – a thin, white button up shirt, black dress pants and a patternless tie. I misjudged him. He didn’t deliver a drab sermon like I thought he would. He had me laughing and completely engaged in his sermon. He preached about Luke 9:51 (the passage was up on the screen – way to save paper First Church!), which is where Jesus tells followers that they must give up everything to follow him. Collins talked to us about being completely present at all times. When someone talks to you, don’t let your mind wander, for example. It’s easy to be distracted, he said. It’s so true. When he finished his sermon he asked us to participate in a moment of silent reflection. I couldn’t even focus on being silent. I was thirsty. I was playing with my pen. My hair was in my face. Oh boy, I stink at being fully present and have some work to do!

I like this church and I especially like this contemporary service. It’s just what I’ve been looking for. I’ll definitely be back.

Boys in Hats performs at Creedible's anniverary/Rebecca Newman - Creedible

As I drove home from Creedible’s first anniversary fundraiser last night, I slumped down in my seat, turned on sad country songs and felt sorry for myself. “No one cares about Creedible,” I thought. “No one cares about me.” After months of e-mails and conversations with people I thought supported Creedible, only half of those who RSVP’d showed up. I was embarrassed that the bands had to play to a mostly empty sanctuary. I thought it was going to be a night of pats on the back, handshakes, thank yous and congratulations. Instead I spent most of the time telling the 20 people who there that I was sure it was just traffic and that everyone would show up any minute. Three hours later, it was still an empty room. Many of my own friends didn’t even show up.

Did I even cover my costs? I ordered food for 40, since that’s how many people said they would be there. I printed full color programs. I ordered Creedible greeting cards for folks to buy. Now those things are piled in my living room.

Rebecca Newman, Creedible’s photographer, knew I was disappointed with the turn out. She took me out for a cold beer and an uplifting conversation. The few people who did attend, she pointed out, are people who truly care and appreciate Creedible. She was right.

Boys in Hats were the first performers and played with such energy that you would have thought it was a packed house. Rev. Eric Anderson and Rev. Paul Bryant-Smith, both UCC ministers, make up the band. They’ve been loyal to Creedible since the beginning. They brought their families to last night’s celebration and I was honored that they stayed for the entire venue. Bryant-Smith drove all the way from Norwalk to show his support for Creedible. That commitment alone made last night’s event worthwhile.

Georgia Davis and her family were the second performers and were absolutely amazing. They weren’t even phased by the small crowd. “I’m here to support you,” Davis said. It was exactly what I needed to hear, although her words didn’t sink in until I was done having my pity party.

The final group was Redeemed. The band set up their equipment at 5 p.m. and stayed the entire evening. I apologized to them over and over again about the size of the crowd. But they didn’t care how full the sanctuary was. They only cared about giving back to Creedible. Their music was wonderful, and looking back, it was almost like they were singing just for me. How blessed am I that these wonderful musicians would give up their Friday night to show their appreciation for my website?

Creedible Blogger Chuck Redfern drove a long way to be at the event, Rev. Dearthrice DeWitt served as the MC and spent his birthday with us last night. Gus Spohn from Yale Divinity School came all the way from New Haven. Karin Hamilton from The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut drove more than 100 miles to support Creedible. Amy Desmarais of Ripple 100 came from New Haven. John Mertens, an Independent candidate running for U.S. Senate, spent the entire evening at the event. And a small group of my friends dedicated their Friday night to helping me make sure the celebration ran smoothly.

So what if there were only 20 or 25 people there? It was great music and those who attended are reminders to me about why Creedible is important and why I can’t give up. Maybe next year we’ll have 40 people attend. Maybe not. It doesn’t matter. As long there is a handful of people in this state who believe in what I’m doing, and believe in the importance of the religion beat, then I’m happy.

So thanks everybody, for an excellent birthday party. And thanks to St. Andrews ELCA for hosting us!

Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Southington

You may recall that when I first moved to Southington I tried to visit Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church but had the wrong worship time written down. So I tried again, and this time I made it right on time. I’ve been wanting to visit this church, not only because it’s Episcopal and I’m familiar with that denomination, but because the church building is adorable. It’s dark wooden and stone exterior, white trim and Episcopal-red doors remind me of a cozy cottage that belongs in the middle of a forest.

My goal on these missions is always to blend in, but I turned a few heads when I got out my camera phone and snapped a picture of the church. I pretended I was just sending a text message and followed the crowd inside. It was certainly cozy, just like I thought it would be. But it was also rickety and very quiet. I was afraid to move, as it seemed the pews creaked with every breath I took. I fumbled through the bulletin as I waited for the service to start.

Robin Williams once called the Episcopal Church, “Catholic Light.” You can go to any Catholic church and know exactly how to follow along. The Episcopal Church is similar, but each parish does things a little different. The congregation began singing as the clergy entered the room and I had no idea where to turn in the hymnal. I didn’t even know it was time to get out the hymnal.  I looked around and copied what everyone else was doing, and of course by then the song was over. We sat back down.

Rev. Dr. Suzannah Rohman began by welcoming us and delivering the weekly announcements. I like starting with announcements. At my old church in Waterbury announcements came right in the middle of the service, which seemed out of place to me. I immediately liked this pastor. She reminded me of one of my favorite college professors and I felt right like I could learn something from her, even though she seemed a little off on this particular day (I visited this church about two weeks ago and am behind on my blogging). She stumbled through the acclamation and began reading the wrong prayer. She laughed it off and started again. I say who cares if you’re reading the wrong prayer – if you feel lead to read it, go with it. That’s one of the only things I don’t like about liturgical churches. Organized, pre-written prayers seems so…impersonal. It also bothers me that there aren’t any bible’s in the pews in Episcopal parishes. Printing the readings in the bulletin seems like a waste of paper, but I digress.

Rohman’s sermon was about the realities of death and suffering. She said we live with illusions of immortality. Shattering those illusions, she said, is the first step toward seeing a new way of life so we can experience life as a gift that we should use well. She’s right.  Have you ever had a life-changing experience that makes you realize how precious life is? I have, and that high lasts a few weeks or months and then I’m back to living life like normal.  You have to make a conscience effort to live like life’s a gift and that and it should impact everything you do. That’s why you have to pick your battles. Easier said than done, I know.

It was a good sermon that gave me something to chew on. Again, I was one of the few young people there, but like Ralph Lord Roy commented on my last blog – it is summer and that means fewer people are in the pews.

I think I’d go back to this church, but I’m not done exploring just yet.

For about two years I went to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Waterbury and I loved it. But let’s face it, I go to places of worship for a living so the last thing I want to do on Sunday mornings is drive 30 minutes to church. Since I live in Southington now, I’m hoping I can find a church here in my own neighborhood – preferably in walking distance. Lazy? Maybe so, but to me there’s something spiritual about walking to and from church. The quietness is a time to pray and to reflect. There are two churches within walking distance from me – St. Paul’s Episcopal and First Congregational.  I already tried going to St. Paul’s but had the time wrong. I walked to the church and arrived just as everyone was saying goodbye to one another and going to their cars. Embarrassed, I kept walking, pretending I was headed somewhere else anyway.

Last weekend I tried the congregational church. I went to the 9:30 a.m. service, which seems like a perfect time for church to start – not too early, not too late. Although it was a beautiful building and the people seemed nice enough (though no one said hi), I think I was the only one under 30 years old there (except for a few teens who were dragged there by their parents). It’s not that I have anything against gray-haired church-goers, but I already have a grandma. What I need is some friends who are my age and who I can connect with spiritually. Is there such a thing? Do 20-somethings still go to church? Or do they watch sermons on YouTube and call it a day? I noticed in the bulletin that the church has a contemporary service at 11:30 a.m. I feel like that’s so late in the day, but maybe I’ll check it out anyway. I want cool, hip, Christian friends and maybe cool, hip, Christians sleep in, right? I’ll keep you posted.

This week, though, I think I’ll try the Episcopal church again. Stay tuned.