Why I Love My "Charlie-Brown Church"
My humble Sunday morning home has turned out to be a surprise blessing
They talked about it being a sacrifice.
Those of us who decided to be part of our church’s new satellite location would give up the comforts of our modern building, complete with banks of windows and a cool steeple, in a chi-chi Chicagoland suburb.
Instead we’d meet at a tired community center in the one-block downtown of a nondescript ’burb. We’d gather there for a year or two—until the nearby building we purchased underwent a transformation from a business into a church.
I felt called to this new congregation. So for the past year and a half my church home has been this “gymnatorium”—a hardwood-floored room with basketball hoops and gymnastics mats attached to the walls, as well as a big stage flanked by dark wood paneling and a heavy red velvet curtain. There are a few high windows covered with bars (no doubt to protect the glass from stray basketballs), occasional winged visitors, and one lonely bathroom stall off the main sanctuary that mysteriously always seems to be out of toilet paper.
It’s the kind of place where Charlie Brown and his gang might stage a rag-tag but heartwarming Christmas play.
And I love it.
Oh sure, the sacrifice part has certainly proven true. Every Sunday morning, church members arrive early to set up chairs and retrieve the sound system from the jail cell downstairs (the building used to be the police station). Our nursery exists in a tiny room just off the sanctuary, from which we often hear the cries of unhappy babies. One Sunday the sermon was briefly interrupted by a loud thwap, as one of our ushers killed an unwelcome wasp. And in the winter, we sometimes have to trick the thermostat into turning up the heat by placing a bag of snow or ice on the locked control box.
So why do I love my messy, Charlie-Brown church? Precisely because it’s messy. It’s a come-as-you-are church. And it feels much more like real life than some other churches I’ve attended.
There were times at the lovely main location when I felt as if I and my broken heart or spiritual questions mucked up the place. Times when I felt dissonance between Jesus’ teachings on humility, or his sufferings on Good Friday, or his frequenting of dusty streets and the pristine location where we were discussing his life.
At our current location, I’m reminded that while the Christian life includes love, joy, and peace, it also includes sweat, sacrifice, and humility.
Of course I’ve experienced times when beautiful church architecture has moved me. I’ve stood awestruck by towering European cathedrals, places whose very design surely was an act of worship. Places so huge and grandiose, they make me feel appropriately small. And God so amazingly big. And his love for me all the more precious.
While I’ve found inspiration in churches on that end of the wow-spectrum, I’m finding surprise blessings on this end of the continuum as well. This church helps me remember that we serve an approachable God. That he calls us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). That what we discuss while all dressed up on Sunday morning applies to the mundaneness of a Tuesday afternoon. That the God of the universe left the glories of heaven to walk this broken, humble earth to draw near to us and save us from our messy selves.
I had the privilege to visit Corinth recently. As my friends and I stood on the stone walkways the apostle Paul once trod, in view of ruins from temples built for kings and gods long gone, my friend Jean reminded us of Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians 3:16: We are God's temple; his Spirit lives in us. God doesn't need or demand some ornate edifice; somehow we, his broken, redeemed children, are enough to carry around his presence in our fallen world.
Each week at my Charlie-Brown church, we get a tangible reminder of this embodiment as we schlep chairs, retrieve info-center materials from Rubbermaid containers hidden underneath the stage, and occasionally bring our own toilet paper—essentially assembling our church every week. But mostly by our just coming together in God’s name.
I know we’ll all be thrilled once our new building is complete (especially the early-morning chair setting-up team). But I know I'll look back with gratitude for the surprising ways God met me in such a humble place. And then look forward with great expectations for how he’ll move and meet me in our new church home.
Blessings,
Posted at 3:33 PM on July 16, 2007.
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Thanks for sharing the simple truths of what it means to be a part of a church in transition. My favorite part was the conjuring up of the Charlie-Brown rag-tag Christmas play image, that is now stuck in my head with the theme song played by Silas who is sitting in the back left corner of my mind (blankie placed "just so" across his lap), and Snoopy dancing with his nose pointed to the sky moving back and forth to the music.
My girlfriends and I have found ourselves looking for the place where we call our church home. As we have met weekly to check out each new place, time has taken its toll as each gathering hasn't quite been what we are looking for. One person is more conservative than the other, or the preaching is too something-or-other to quite fit the tall list that I think grows excessively large each time we get out there again.
I appreciate the normal every day occurences that happen in a church without a building. Do you ever find that you are doing too much? I ask that because I have been an active member of a "homeless" church once, and found that I ended up leading everything- from youth group, to women's luncheons, to daily prayer meetings and then at last to worship- all at the very same time. It exhausted me, and as I slowly stepped down from different areas of leadership, I also took a step back to look at the church and saw things that I had been blinded to because I had worked so much. Ultimately, I ended up leaving there in search of a place where I could call home- a place where the whole church worked together to achieve the same good. In response to that experience however, I found myself more likely to shie away from the churches that met in small places and were a bit less established, for fear of allowing myself to be put back in that situation. So, this is a long way in asking- how do you avoid that?
Posted by: Melody on July 17, 2007
There is so much truth to what you are saying. We forget that the people are the church, not the building. We set the tone. We all like the exterior to be wonderful and well manicured but what builds a church is love, commitment, loyalty, and unity. God doesn't dwell in brick and mortar. He dwells in the hearts of men and women. The church is more apt to hold together with your attitude...people working together to build the kingdom of God.
Posted by: Joanne on July 18, 2007
I loved this article.
For the last three years I have been attending an architectually beautiful building that often pulls people in who may drive by--and looking for a church. But most leave after the first visit. Why? I have a lot of answers that I won't get into, but one I will mention is that people are searching for God. They want to know how God relates to their own life. They want to feel comfortable and in the presence of something awesome. Guess what? A building does not do much to fill those needs. God is awesome, not man made buildings.
Let's get back to loving God, not that beautiful edifice. Let's show people how beautiful God is through our joy and the words we say and the songs we sing.
Thanks for the artilcle. I'll pass this one on.
Posted by: Kathy Esqueda on July 20, 2007
How you've reminded me of my own church home! We are a plant church, and my family also felt the need to join the new venture in my hometown and leave the mother church behind. We loved the old church, but were excited to be part of something new.
Our temporary church home is the auditorium of my old high school, with childcare in the cafeteria. Our sound system, toys, resource materials and coffee pots are all stored neatly in rolling "cabinets," which also fit perfectly into a trailer that is pulled behind a truck each week. Teams rotate the unpacking and repacking of our "church." We are soon closing on actual land to build a permanent home on, with architectural renderings already in the works.
And so it's been for 1 year and 4 months. It's strange to worship in my old school, which is about to be my oldest son's "new" school. But now, I consider it more "my church" than I do "my school."
Churches in transition certainly bring out truly unique experiences!
Posted by: Beth on July 20, 2007
Before I joined our church, a steam pipe had exploded, so the members were without a home for two years while repairs were made. Then I joined and a couple of years later, the new pastor was fired, and we were without a pastor for two years--a different kind of homelessness. In many ways, it was a beautiful time. We rejoice to have our new pastor, of course, but our congregation grew in christianity during that time. Yes, some people carried a lot of responsibilities, but most did so with grace, particularly those who gave the glory for their successes to God.
Posted by: Laura on July 20, 2007
Thanks for your great commentary Camerin.
When I went through similar experiences, we called it "following the cloud." We met in YMCAs, hotels, other churches, hotels and finally a school cafetorium before finding a place to lease where we could develop the facility and leave things in place. Now after six years we're facing the loss of our lease.
I think the thing to keep in mind is that it is God's church, so our comfort isn't really first on his priority. Being available to the lost is. Yes, we got tired; some gave up, making it even harder on those who stayed.
We've had one merger, and received another small congregation who lost their pastor. The end of the story it not yet visible, and of course there'll be no "end," but we keep following the cloud and looking forward to what He has in mind for us in the future.
Posted by: Lois on July 20, 2007
HI, I think you understanding of what a church is a little off. You probably thought it was the people, but the people are fallible, it's really Jesus who's with us and in us. Sometimes church people do a awful job at showing this to one another, but God who is everything to us, is where our eyes need to be. I know because He has shown this to me. You need to find a church that preaches the Bible, Jesus crucified, died, & buried, but 3 days later arose.
God bless you
Posted by: denise on July 21, 2007
WOW! i wish I could print the original blog and the comments to add to our church's worship bulletin. My husband is the Pastor, leads the Men's Ministry, Prayer time, & is our Worship Leader.
We are a small church, the only church wihin our city in California. I was surprised when God called my husband to Pastor this church. He has had no formal training, and he is in his late 50s. Talking retirement.
Our's is small. It is run down. It has people who are tired of serving. I have become "Melody" from the first comment. I am the Pastor's wife. I, by default became the Women's Ministary Director. I do the administrative stuff. I do the worship powerpoint. WHY? Because no one else can or will. We are a small church, approx. 20 families, mostly Seniors, and all seem content to be spoon-fed vs. becoming involved in a real study of God's Word. In 1-1/2 years I am discouraged by their lack of desire to become involved in their own spiritual growth, the growth of the church. We have no growth because we have no ministries within the church. We have no ministries within the church because we have no people to be leaders. What is a Pastor & his wife to do?
We faithful go every Sunday. 2 weeks ago my husband had to 'work his day-2-day' job so someone filled the puplit. I did not go to church ... I feel sad that this is not a 'church of my choice'. Am I a hyprocrite?
Yes, our's is a Charley Brown church. God is faithful to His promises and the Body of Christ is coming together to help us replace our roof, and possible do some other needed repairs. We desire to have a safe, welcoming church for the community to come to. Right now it is a tired-run down building. Those who came before us do not appear to have been good stewards of what God entrusted them with. Please pray with us as we seek God in what we are to do. Please also pray the people within our church will have an deep, PERSONAL awaking and step UP and out of their comfort zones and BECOME the church. Joann, you were right -- the church is NOT the brick & motar, the church is the PEOPLE within shinning the face of Jesus' love & compassion.
Blessings,
LouAnn
Posted by: LouAnn on July 21, 2007
I wept as I read your article because that's exactly what we're going through right now and it's amazing how God is working. We are the satelite church and are meeting in what used to be a work out gym! Tomorrow will be our 8th Sunday to meet. We had 155 our first Sunday and 190 last Sunday. Our building will only hold 225 so we're excited about soon having to have 2 services. And our pastor reminds us that the building is not the church, we are. He says it's time for us to be the church! How neat to find fellow Christians who are experiencing God in a new and awesome way. It's about time we quit putting God in a box and just turning Him loose on His creation!
Posted by: Jo Ann Taylor on July 21, 2007
Wow, I find myself getting teary eyed, I am a Pastors wife at a small church where we all get our hands "dirty". And that is what a body is supposed to look like, we all work together. Your right its not about brick and mortor, but we are all called to be servants. I am saddened by the idea that one is supposed to go to a big beautiful church and be spoon fed by one person, get up and leave, come back next Sunday for someone to spoon feed us again and think we are doing something for God. Who ever said that being a Christian was supposed to be about our comfort? Certainly not Jesus. We are too laxed in this culture, what about dying for our faith, as our brothers in sisters in the Lord in other countries are doing, risking their lives just by gathering together, whispering their praises and worshiping at a whisper because of persecution? Come on American Christianity!!! We ARE the luke warm church in Laodicea! Get out of the comfort zone and do SOMETHING to build the Kingdom of God.
Posted by: Josie on July 21, 2007
Lat Sunday my husband and I went to a church which was so untraditional and in a borrowed hall and everyone came in casual clothes but wow! was there a feeling of God's presence and that those who met there were all wanting to draw people to Christ. It was a church that was alive and full of love and I came away feeling I was acutally taught from the scripture and had something to chew on instead of a fancy sermon and the usual traditional way. I can appreciate very much the thoughts of Cameron and as someone has said it is not the building it is the people. I am longing to go back altho' I am not living in that area.
Posted by: Linda on July 21, 2007
Love the blog and the comments. The church I attend is small - about 200 members - but is so family centered. Our theme is "Love is spoken here". I work in the office 2 days a week - and it just feels so like home. People drop by to chat, use the copier. borrow tables for their garage sale, and on it goes. The whole atmosphere is so Jesus centered - His Presence can be so felt whenever the doors are opened.
Posted by: Barb on July 21, 2007
Your sharing of the Charlie Brown church experience was a down to earth reality. Like you said, it was a "come-as-you-are" a church.
God will be in their midst when His beloved children worship Him in one voice and in unity of love.
Posted by: Tan Ruth on July 22, 2007
I love your story. I too am part of a start up church. We meet at a middle school in the "cafetorium" and while we don't have basketball hoops, we do ocassionally have Friday's leftovers on the floor. I would not change a thing about my church. I can take ownership in this church for it is MY church that I help set up and tear down every Sunday. I am able to do what I desire to do - as little or as much as I desire. I am thankful for my Pastor and the hard work that he and his family put into our church. I am thankful for my "cafetorium" church.
Posted by: Tracie on July 23, 2007
When my husband and I were on our Great Church Search (after a traumatic event caused us to leave our old church), we went to many different churches. One we kept bypassing was a pretty little church on a corner. It kind of looked like the church on "7th Heaven" and we were intimidated by it. We thought that a church that pretty was probably a little too "stuck up" for us (you wouldn't believe how many of the churches we attended at this time were VERY stuck up).
I have to add that we were homeless at the time, so we were limited in our wardrobe and appearance, as most of our stuff was in storage. We were also very hurting emotionally.
We finally decided to try the pretty church. As soon as we walked into the building we were greeted so warmly that I knew we were "home". The people were so down-to-earth and loving. Not only that, they were so HUMAN! There were elderly in their Sunday Best, younger people in jeans, a man with crutches, a man with only 1 arm, etc. We also noticed that it was a relatively small congregation, so we felt like family.
That was in 2000, and we are STILL going to that pretty little church. Our 2 girls were born in 2002 & 2005, and have been going since day 1 (all the old ladies who sit in the back the girls call their "church Grammies" and the music leader is our older girl's Godmother).
It is absolutely correct, as mentioned earlier, that a church is the PEOPLE, not the building.
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