We finally go to church on purpose

Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, Fresno, California
“Sorry to interrupt you,” Paula said. “You can take pictures of whatever you like.” I had been taking photos in the lobby at Pilgrim Armenian Church, and Paula wanted to introduce herself because she saw I was a visitor. I was happy to have photographic reassurance because plenty of people seem to think taking pictures in a sanctuary is the equivalent of making graven images to be worshiped. Or maybe stealing souls, I don’t know.

Instead of scolding us, Paula was one of many who made us welcome on our visit. It’s nice when we’re actually invited to a church; usually we find churches through internet sleuthing. We had intended to visit this church earlier, when we’d planned on doing a month of Armenian churches (Fresno has a large Armenian population). We’d been especially excited about visiting the church because we had visited the San Francisco church pastored by Nerses Balabanian in 2015. But Mindy got confused on her direction the one Sunday we’d tried to go, and we found ourselves at another Armenian church by mistake.

We’d still intended to visit Pilgrim, but our work schedules kept getting in the way. Mindy often had to be at work at Macy’s at 10:45 am, before Pilgrim’s worship service began. I was usually working hotel night audit starting from 11:00 pm Saturday to 7:00 am Sunday, and I had a hard time staying awake longer than the 8:00 am, at most a 9:00 am service. But as we were finishing up our jobs in anticipation of moving out of the Fresno area, we received an email for Pastor Balabanian’s wife, Sevan.

Sevan wrote that she had come across our blog. After twelve years at Calvary Armenian Congregational Church, they had come to Fresno just eight months ago. She invited us to visit their new church, and suddenly a visit to PACC shot up even higher on our priority list.

So on Sunday, we entered the sanctuary and sat as far back as we could (some of the back rows were roped off). We noticed teenagers wearing blue t-shirts, first almost a whole row of girls, then some boys sitting behind them. The organist played “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” using the chimes. Posted on the screen was the morning’s sermon title, “The Power of the Quiet Testimony.” We soon learned that Pastor Balabanian took quiet quite seriously.

As the organist finished playing, Pastor Balabanian stood before the congregation and gave a kindly reprimand. “I ask you to sit quietly and listen to the music. The organ prelude is not the time to fellowship, it is time to put things out of mind. Music is not for entertainment, but for worship.”

This subject has been an ongoing conversation for Mindy and me (but not in sanctuaries just before the worship services). Is it better for a church if people are silent and meditative prior to worship or is it better if there is lively conversation and laughter? We go back and forth on this, but Pastor Balabanian argued that fellowship, conversation, laughter, and hugs were all good things, but for another time and place on the property.

He then greeted the congregation with a joyous, “Good morning, I love you all!” People responded with return proclamations of love. “I always love to start with the Word of God,” he added, leading into a responsive reading from Psalm 39. (The Scripture was projected on the screen in English and Armenian, though only the English was read aloud. The same was true of the song lyrics.)

One of the worship songs was Amazing Grace sung to the tune of House of the Rising Sun. It brought back my days as a student and a leader in Young Life. After the service I thanked Kevin Kasper, the associate pastor and worship leader, for using it. He told me he’d appreciated a version of the song performed by the Blind Boys of Alabama, and one of the founding members of the group, Clarence Fountain, had died just days before. (Don’t quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure none of the Blind Boys are Armenian.)

We were happy to be there for a rather special day in the life of the church (though Pastor Balabanian said all Sundays are special). They were commissiong two missions teams. The teens we noticed in the blue t-shirts were leaving the next morning for Houston, Texas, where they’d be doing construction work. Later in the month, a team of adults would leave for Armenia.

The morning’s visitors included a group of women from Light-House Recovery Program, which aids women battling problems with addiction. During the sermon, Pastor Balabanian asked questions expecting a response from the congregation, and the women were frequent responders. People also introduced friends they’d invited to church, but we retained our anonymity.

The sermon was part of a series on I Thessalonians 4: 9 - 12 where Paul wrote, “aspire to live quietly.” Pastor Balabanian pointed out that this seems like an oxymoron to us, because we associate aspiration with grand things, not quiet. After all, “This is the United States of America, we are not silent!” Paul also wrote in this passage to “mind your own affairs,” which Pastor Balabanian said was not a natural thing for Armenians. Paul also wrote to “work with your own hands,” to use your gifts. Pastor Balabanian pointed out, “Whatever is given to you is not for you, but for you to give to others.”

At the conclusion of the service, Pastor Balabanian asked members to stay for the congregational meeting rather than go to the fellowship hall for refreshments. We decided to try to find Sevan, and when we did, she greeted us warmly and introduced us to her husband (who gave us both warm hugs). He needed to go to the meeting, so we went to the fellowship hall with Sevan.

We’ve learned to expect food at Armenian churches, and we were not disappointed. Though there wasn’t any traditional Armenian food (unless you count the sandwich rollups), we enjoyed apricots, watermelon, kettle corn, and two cakes -- one honoring the Texas missions team and the other honoring the Armenian missions team. We sat down at a table with a couple who had attended the church for years (even when services were conducted in Armenian, though they don’t speak the language.)

Armenians have a rich and vibrant tradition in the Fresno area, and Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church is certainly a part of that tradition, but we were happy that this place celebrates Jesus more than their heritage.

We go to church kind of for a t-shirt

Decision America California Tour, Fresno, California
It usually isn’t wise for people who work at a hotel to talk about who stayed there. But hey, I’m done working there at the end of the week, so I guess I can tell you that folks from the Franklin Graham’s Decision America Tour stayed as guests this past week.

When I checked in one of the truck drivers, he mentioned the thousands of pounds of t-shirts he transported. After he left, Sam, one of the other front desk clerks, pondered how much his truckload was worth if they were charging $55 a shirt like they do at concerts and sporting events.

On Monday evening, we had the chance to find out. We drove to the Fresno Fairgrounds and followed the signs directing us to public parking, but the lot was full. There was plenty of street parking in the neighborhood, so we found a spot and walked a few blocks to the amphitheater gate. As we crossed the street, we couldn’t help noticing the protesters holding simply baffling signs about Israel and abortion and one sign that read “Little Red Riding Hood had more discernment than Christians.” Mindy puzzled over the grammar of this for a long time.

We were greeted by ushers pointing us toward the booth for free t-shirts (which, for those of you who are less financially astute, is significantly less than $55) which already had a big crowd. There were quite a few other booths, including one for Spirit 88.9 radio, another for Samaritan’s Purse, and several food trucks. Another volunteer was making sure everyone who wanted it got a free bottle of water (this is Fresno, and it was a warm evening. The water was appreciated).

We found seats in the ¾ full amphitheater about ten minutes before the 7:30 pm start time. Right on schedule, Jeremy Camp, the tour’s musician, was introduced. Camp is a Grammy-nominated, Dove-winning Christian singer -- as any listener to Christian music radio knows, and he said he couldn’t refuse when Franklin Graham asked him to join the tour to “pray for the state, pray for the nation and proclaim the name of Jesus.”

People stood, and many sang along with the lyrics on the screen (lyrics at times accompanied by brightly colored abstractions.) After the third song, Camp asked a little a girl in the front what her name was, then told her, “Annalise, I love how you were dancing and singing for Jesus! Not everyone is going to have this same passionate jumping up and down experience.” He said that was okay, and he added, “There are a lot of kids here, and that is awesome!” He quoted 1 Timothy 4:12, the verse about not letting anyone look down on you because of your youth.

After about 20 minutes of music, Camp introduced Franklin Graham. Graham is the son of the great evangelist, Billy Graham. Several years before his father’s death, Franklin became the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. When he arrived at the podium, Graham referred to his heritage, saying, “Wow! What a night! It’s hot here! I was last here with my father for a crusade in 2001.”

He quickly moved to the reason for this tour of ten California cities: “Our country is in trouble. Your state is in trouble.” (There were sounds of agreement from the crowd.) “But there are things we can do. We can pray. We need to pray for our leaders, as God commanded us.” When he mentioned the names of Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein, there was scoffing in the crowd, but Graham said, “It doesn’t matter whether you like them or not, we are commanded to pray for them. If we pray, we can see change. God can turn this state around.”

Graham said, “We need to pray for Governor Brown, that he will be saved. Pray for Nancy Pelosi, that she will be saved.” (Curiously, when he mentioned President Trump, he didn’t mention praying for his salvation.) He encouraged everyone in the crowd to stand, join hands with the people next to them, and to pray for the leaders of the state and the country, reminding the audience that Christians are commanded to do so in 1 Timothy 2:2.

He urged Christians to vote and to run for local office. He said Christian voices need to be heard. “I’m not telling you who to vote for, but vote for candidates that support Biblical principles. Not that they necessarily live by them, but support them.” (I don’t remember those kinds of addenda being noted by any Christian leader pre-Trump.) “We sense we are losing our freedoms as our government becomes more secular, turning to science and public opinion polls rather than Scriptural principles.”

He opened his Bible to read the story of Nicodemus visiting Jesus from John 3. This was more of a straightforward Gospel message, urging people to put their faith in Christ. “Being a Catholic can’t save you, being a Baptist can’t save you, being a Presbyterian can’t save you…” He went through several other denominational affiliations, making the point that what we really need isn’t religion, but a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

He told his own story, “I was raised in a Christian home with great parents...When I grew older, I tried to fill my life with parties, girls, alcohol...But I was sick and tired of being sick and tired… I deserve God’s wrath, but I am forgiven because on the cross, Jesus took the sins of mankind and on the third day God raised Him from the dead, and He is here in Fresno.”

He urged people to pray along with him to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior and asked people who wanted to pray with him to stand. Dozens of people, including whole families, did stand. “For those standing, I’d like to lead you in a prayer. Prayer is just talking to God. And remember this, if you remember nothing else: ‘God loves you.’”

Volunteer chaplains moved around the amphitheater with literature for those who’d stood, and Graham said that if anyone hadn’t stood, they could text the word “Decision” to the number on the screen to have that material sent to them. The information on the screens was in both Spanish and English.

After the message, Jeremy Camp came out again for several more songs (many people, including at least one group who’d come in a bus from a retirement community, left during the singing). As I left, a chaplain asked if I’d received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and I assured her I had, long ago. Many more people (probably not all associated with The Billy Graham Association) offered us tracts as we headed for the exit. We took some, and Mindy got a shirt that we plan to give to Sam. I wonder if I should tell her I paid $55.

We go to church in a movie theater

Celebration Church University Campus, Fresno, California
Have I whined to you lately about our current schedule? My work schedule was supposed to include most weekends off, but that didn’t happen, so I’ve been working most Saturday nights (11:00 pm to 7:00 am Sunday). Because of that, I have trouble staying up to get to worship services that start later in the morning. Mindy is scheduled to work most Sundays from 10:45 am to 7:00 pm or so -- making even the few local Sunday evening services difficult. In other words, our jobs aren’t ideal for writing a blog about visiting churches.

And that’s why we were excited when we learned about a Sunday worship service at 8:30 pm. We’d gone to the movies (Isle of Dogs, two thumbs up though there’s nary a church in it) at the Maya Cinemas in Fresno, and among the film promotions, we found a flyer reading, “Live Your Best Life. Make A Difference. Celebration.” The church service is at the movie theater.

8:30 pm is ideal for our schedule. Do you know who else that time is ideal for? College students!

Celebration Church in Fresno has four campuses: Fresno, Clovis, Madera (with a Spanish language service), and this one called the University Campus. The theater is in a little shopping mall right next to the Fresno State University campus, an easy walk from dorms and apartments. (We recently visited Mad Duck Craft Brewing Company in the same mall for our bar blog).

As we approached the theater we were greeted by sign holders (“So Glad You’re Here” and “The Best Is Yet To Come”). I’m not sure what people seeing A Quiet Place thought of the signs, but we knew they were greeters for the church service. The sign holders directed us to a greeters table where we were given green bracelets to distinguish the churchgoers from the paying moviegoers. On the way to theater 13 (of 16), Tyrell greeted us. He was volunteering at a table with signups for water baptism and small groups.

We found seats in the mostly empty theater, and as 8:30 approached the rest of the seats filled up quickly, mostly with what looked like college students. I noticed several people bringing in coffees and waters that didn’t seem to come from the snack bar. (I didn’t notice anyone bringing in popcorn or soft drinks). It was nice to see people greeting each other happily, many hugs.

The song leaders warmed up (I appreciated that one was wearing a Nirvana t-shirt). We first sang David Crowder’s “How He Loves” (“He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy”) and then “Reckless Love.” (Sometime I want to take time to consider the violent imagery in contemporary Christian choruses, but not today.)

A young woman named Andrea led in prayer (“Thank you for this space”) and welcomed first-time visitors, encouraging them (us) to fill out an “I’m New Here” card. She introduced the speaker, Andrew. The guitarist, who’d been strumming gently in the background since the singing time ended, continued to play quietly. After a minute or two, Andrew hushed the strings.

Andrew began his message by stating their mission as a church, “To help people live their best life. There may be things we disagree about, but a fulfilled life, that’s what we’re fighting for.” He read John 10:10, where Jesus says He came to bring us abundant life. He said God has given us a recipe for a fulfilled life, and one of the ingredients in the recipe is relationships -- the focus of the message.

When he said, “It was God’s idea that we shouldn’t do life alone,” I heard those around us encourage him by saying, “Word!”

“Come on, man!”

“Truth.”

Andrew pointed to the importance of vulnerability in relationships. He noted that the things he was talking about that night were things he needed to work on in his own life.

He concluded pointing people to the most important relationship in life, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He encouraged people to pray along with him to begin that relationship.

There were brief closing announcements, for a small group gathering nearby and upcoming baptisms. Everyone was invited to have some pizza, which was served right outside the theater. While theater seats aren’t ideal for chatting, many people were sticking around to chat outside. The weather was pleasant and as was the conversation.

I worked in movie theaters during college, seminary, and for a while after we were married. I feel at home in a movie theaters, so Celebration Church meets at a time and place I love. Even better, it’s ideal for college students. This campus of the church began services in February, and the volunteer “the Dream Team,” who greeted and facilitated the service, seemed quite pleased with how things are going so far. So are we.

Mindy goes to chapel alone (very quietly)

Saint Anthony of Padua, Fresno, California
When we visited a Quaker meeting a few years ago, we weren’t surprised that it was mostly silent. Last month, we participated in a prayer path on Good Friday that (except for background music) was a contemplative time. This church visit was even quieter.

Also, this post won’t have many photographs. You’re going to need to use your imagination (but I won’t ask you to close your eyes; then you couldn’t keep reading).

Imagine it’s 8:00 on a beautiful spring morning. You're expecting to meet your work friend, but school kids are being dropped off. You drive around the building until you find a fairly empty parking lot.

As you walk around the main church building, you notice a border of blooming white roses. You remember the story your friend told you about the time a white rosebud fell on her shoulder while she was in the chapel where you’ll be meeting, and how that rosebud had seemed like a gift from heaven at a time when she needed that touch. You walk through a memorial garden with statues of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Anthony of Padua, and others.

You pause to take a picture of the door into the office, then go inside to ask how to get to the chapel. She seems a little concerned about why you’re there, what with taking photos of the building (without the pastor’s permission). You explain that you’re meeting a friend, and she points you through the door to the chapel.

It’s a small room with two windows in a white-painted cinderblock wall. Three rows of wooden chairs with kneelers face a monstrance in the front of the room. A woman in the front row has her head bowed and a booklet in her hand. You look around as you settle into the silence of the room.

There’s a statue of Mary in the front right-hand corner and one of Jesus on the left. The carpet’s red. On either side of the table in front, gilded angels stand on bases against the wall. There’s a painting of the Last Supper you haven’t seen before on the wall above the monstrance, and you notice there’s a cat next to Judas.

Your friend comes in, sees you, whispers hello, and settles into a chair next to you. She prays, sometimes kneeling and sometimes sitting. Others enter, cross themselves, kneel (sometimes facedown), pray. The windows are shut, and the blinds are closed; the air in the room is very still. You pray, then take a few notes, hoping you're not disrespectful by doing so.

The picture of Jesus between the windows on the wall to your right has a caption that reads, “Jesus I trust in You.” You think about that, and about the Last Supper and Communion, and just a little about different churches’ beliefs about the Eucharist. You’re just a little drowsy but mostly very peaceful.

It’s quiet.

A few people leave; a few more come in. There are about a dozen people in the 12 x 12 room, but it doesn’t occur to you that there were 12 disciples with Jesus at the Last Supper.

A few minutes after 9:00, you and your friend are ready to leave. She shows you where to sign the guestbook, and the two of you go out a back door toward the parking lot. She had to park a block away because of school traffic, and your car’s in the opposite direction. You say goodbye and walk to your own car, past the white roses and the saints’ statues. And you (silently) rejoice.

We go to church alone on a Friday

Fresno First Church of the Nazarene, Fresno, California
The mariachi music coming from the wedding at the house across the street was quite loud, but otherwise, the neighborhood surrounding Fresno First Church of the Nazarene seemed quiet. As we walked into the church lobby, we could hear the music from the outside and also worship music from inside the sanctuary.

The lobby was empty except for the chairs in the comfortable seating area beneath a lovely stained glass window. We looked at the display wall covered with remembrances of the church’s history (including a plaque from May 5, 1985, commemorating the church’s 75th anniversary). We peeked in the sanctuary; no one was inside, but we did see stations set up for a meditative journey.

To our right as we entered the back of the sanctuary, we saw a table covered with votive candles and a sign marking it as the first table, “Preparation.” The Mary and Martha passage from Luke 10 was written on a piece of paper, with encouragement to take time, like Mary did, to slow down and reflect on Jesus, then to light one of the candles. Protestants don’t get nearly as many opportunities to play with fire as Catholics.

Taped arrows on the carpet directed us to the next station, “Reflection,” which contained Scripture about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. (The remainder of the stations focused on different days of Holy Week). The “Reflection” station encouraged us to make Jesus King in our lives.

At the next station, “Communion,” we jumped several days ahead in the week, to Maundy (or Covenant Thursday). The table contained pita bread and a cup of grape juice with instructions encouraging us to remember Christ’s sacrifice as we dipped the bread in the cup and ate. The bread was soft and fresh, and the juice was sweet.

A few feet beyond the communion table was a cross, the fourth station, representing that very day, Good Friday. The paper on the lectern next to the cross had the most widely quoted verse from the Bible, John 3:16, along with the following verse as well (“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him”). The paper noted that people in the world are pretty good at condemning others, but that isn’t why Jesus came. The paper encouraged people to write an ongoing struggle or sin on one of the index cards next to the paper, then lay it at the foot of the cross.

While I was standing by the cross at the front of the church, I noticed a woman enter the room with two children. I thought how wonderful for a family to be able to walk the path, going as fast or slow as needed. The children spoke quietly with the woman as they read at each station, then sat and (I assume) prayed silently before moving from one station to the next.

The fifth station was labeled “Quiet” and marked the Saturday of Holy Week when Jesus was left in the tomb. That station’s instructions noted that Jesus died to make a way between God and people, and encouraged people to write the names of those who needed to know Jesus on the paper table covering and to light a candle for them as well.)

The final station was Easter, “He Is Risen.” It was jumping the gun a bit on that Good Friday, but I felt satisfied, knowing that the story ends so well. While I was standing at that station, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” began to play; and I needed to stay for the whole song. It is perhaps my favorite.

When we exited the sanctuary and returned to the lobby, Chris Archer, the church’s pastor, greeted us. We told him how much we appreciated the chance to meditate on work of Christ in this creative fashion. The sanctuary was open from 3:00 pm until 8:00 (we were there between 5:30 & 6:00). Chris said some of the older folks from the church had come when the sanctuary opened; he expected more people to come after work or dinner.

Chris told us he’d been at the church for three years and invited us to return on Easter. Knowing churches, we knew there would be many more people on Sunday, but we appreciated the opportunity to go to church when we could be alone. Because we weren't alone at all.