Day 39 (part 2)- Worship at New Life-- small groups, contemporary music, and high liturgy

“Nah, New Life has put the whole thing behind them.  They’ve moved on.”

That’s what my uncle’s friend Thumper told me when I asked how New Life addresses Ted Haggard and the controversy surrounding him.  Thumper elaborated, “They’re over it.  Only people who really care anymore are the media.  Everyone at New Life has just sort of let it go and moved on-- pretty much everyone around Springs has too.”  This turned out to be very much true, but it still kind of surprised me.  How could a church so easily get over something like the media storm that surrounded Pastor Ted?  I had the mental image of a slightly paranoid mega, one where the members knew that the eyes of the nation were upon them because of the treatment they had given their founding pastor at one of the most difficult points in his life.  I had expected that even saying the words “Ted Haggard” might get me kicked out.  I wondered if I would have to have a special “media escort” like Kevin Roose did (even though I’m writing for my personal blog, not for GQ).  No, New Life really seems to have put it behind them.  They really have moved on.

Aunt Jeannie had explained to me that Colorado Springs is very much a military town, so the population is somewhat transient.  New Life may have lost nearly a third of their membership over the past half-decade (from 14,000 down to just below 10,000), but with a steady stream of new recruits coming into the Air Force, they will always have a new group of soldiers in need of a church home.  The potential for short-term growth is constant, and the need for ministry is ever-present.  Also, this fairly rapid membership turnover may have assisted the church in moving past the Ted Haggard controversy so quickly.  Of course, I was a little uneasy looking at New Life’s website, as it is the only church I have encountered that doesn’t say a thing about their history online-- nothing about the church’s founding, not even the date that it started, and certainly no mention of Pastor Ted.  No, it seems that he has been completely sponged from their history, but I can’t say I blame them for wanting to put it behind them and push forward with their ministry.

The Neighborhood

As I said previously, the New Life neighborhood and the Saint James neighborhood are pretty much the same neighborhood: a comfortable, middle-to-upper class community on the outskirts of Colorado Springs close by Focus on the Family.  In the case of New Life, while the church is surrounded by undeveloped prairie land for roughly half a mile on three sides, it is close by several shopping centers and nonprofit offices, and it appeared that a new shopping center or apartment complex of some kind was actually being constructed just across the street.  Just to the north of the church is a wide sprawl of large, newly-constructed subdivisions-- prefab neighborhoods easily within five minutes, making New Life’s location pretty ideal.  With the size and visibility of the church and the proximity of these communities, it seems like membership growth would happen pretty naturally.

The Tent

The campus itself consists of three main buildings, the center of which is the large worship center that has a way of popping up like a mountain over the horizon, its blue roof crowned with a cross.  The campus also features a large tent-like structure (simply called “The Tent”) in which the Sunday evening worship services are held and a World Prayer Center around which the flags of many countries fly.  The Tent would be my destination this evening.  The New Life Sunday Night services are a rather recent addition (added in late 2009), and they are normally presided over by Pastor Glenn Packiam, but he was out this evening spending time with his family.  The service is very much designed to foster the same kind of ecstatic and enthusiastic worship you might find at a big tent revival, but with very contemporary music and very traditional liturgy-- one of the more striking contrasts I’ve experienced so far this summer and, surprisingly, one of the most inviting.  I have to admit that, if I were going to go hardcore contemporary, this is probably how I’d do it, but I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.

I arrived a bit early, so I poked around New Life’s World Prayer Center.  A custodian was washing the windows and singing, and though he was having trouble staying in key, it was a cool feeling having his almost-audienceless solo permeate the prayer space.  At the unmanned information desk, I picked up a little information on Rice for Children, a NewMissions initiative seeking to combat world hunger and also spread the gospel.  Another handout in the building advertised several ways that New Life members could aid in the church’s international mission efforts.  While the short-term mission trips and donations listed on the pamphlet reminded me very much of Willow, I also noticed that, right at the top of their list, was “Sponsor a child from Compassion for as little as $38 a month.”  Compassion International’s main office is located just up the street from New Life, evidence that perhaps the concentration of so many nonprofits might raise awareness in nearby churches.  Of course, New Life has plenty of its own initiatives too.  Internationally, New Life has a bevy of partner ministries and church plants all around the world-- Germany, Afghanistan, South Africa, Honduras, Myanmar, Israel, Mali, Cambodia, Uganda, Nepal, Swaziland, India, Wales, Guatemala, and throughout the Middle East.  All of these countries (and others) had flags representing them in the prayer center, indicating that, while New Life was praying for them, they were also praying for New Life and for each other.  I liked that message of reciprocal prayer.

I headed over to The Tent, walking the length of the parking lot as I did so (since it was on the opposite side of the locked worship center).  Given the tragedy that occurred at New Life a few years ago in which a gunman opened fire in the parking lot, I can see why they would keep some of their facilities locked.  I also noticed that there was an ambulance on hand, but there was no security of any kind-- no guards, no nearby police car, nothing.  Strangely, the absence of security made me feel a lot safer, but that may just be a personal bias.  (In fact, I know it is.  Though I’ve never once been charged with a crime, I had a few unpleasant run-ins with the sheriff back when I was in college, so, even in a bad neighborhood, I’m far more comfortable in the absence of police.)  The Tent had a comfortable lobby area with a wide selection of snacks and drinks.  I noticed immediately that you had to borrow and return a mug for beverages-- no paper or plastic cups.  People were sitting on couches and talking a bit, and a friendly man in his mid-30s directed me toward a welcome station.  I explained my study to a greeter at the desk, and she informed me that all local mission work is done directly through the church’s small groups rather than by the church as a whole.  Homeless ministry, fundraising for international missions, sponsoring schools-- it’s all done by the small groups.  The church does make information available about possible mission efforts (particularly the international ones), but the small groups are the ones that really take the initiative and get things done.  I’ve got a good bit on my plate since I still need to finish the Focus on the Family entry, and I’m going to Temple Square in Salt Lake City this afternoon, and I’m driving the rest of the way to Seattle shortly thereafter, but at some point (possibly next semester), I’m going to research these groups more carefully and see what all they’re doing. 

Worship Setting

This was hands-down the trendiest sanctuary I have even seen.  With extreme lighting effects, a fog machine, and an average age of somewhere around 20, New Life’s Sunday evening crowd makes Mars Hill look old.  I don’t think there was a soul over 40, and most of the crowd seemed to be about college-aged.  The standard attire was probably a polo shirt, but there were plenty of t-shirts as well, and there wasn’t a tie in sight.  Most folks, male or female, were clad in jeans.  I can feel the entire Duke Divinity student body collectively rolling their eyes in disapproval, but I have to be honest: I kind of dug it.  It was the sort of big contemporary feel that I used to get at youth camps and conferences growing up, but this time around, I wasn’t getting into arguments over biblical interpretation (the constant refrain of my adolescence).  The room wasn’t very crowded at first, but people filtered in throughout the first few songs until there were about 300 or so present.  The stage was flooded in filtered lighting, making green, purple, and blue the most salient color palette around the upward-sloping walls and ceiling.  I was pretty nervous at first when I came into the sanctuary.  I didn’t want to get kicked out of two churches in one day, so I found myself not talking to many people and taking notes very much on the sly.  I was relieved when the service finally started.  A casually-attired praise band in their early 20s walked up on stage-- an electric guitarist, acoustic guitarist, keyboardist/singer, drummer, female singer, and a bassist/singer who acted as the worship leader.  The lights dimmed a bit, and words appeared on the screen as they led us in singing.

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Even though New Song probably still ranks as my #1 music experience so far (based on how their band was so thoughtful about the lyrics and the songs were so well-suited to the service), New Life’s band was good.  Like, really good.  In fact, this was possibly the best contemporary I’ve ever seen, and I can explain why in two words, and they’re actually the same two words that gave me so much trouble at Resurrection: stage presence.  With their youth, the band were quite unassuming.  No one seemed to have the over-confidence that sometimes accompanies experience, and the worship leader’s comments in between songs were usually conversational and even a little self-effacing.  I got the sense that the band was very much part of the congregation, and conversely, the congregation also felt like part of the band.  I think that this is the main reason that the crowd were almost all singing (some even clapping along as well), and there were quite a few hands lifted up.  Even though this was very much a barebones instrumentation set-up and a very small band, their stage presence encouraged a feeling of inclusivity.

Also, unlike the constant smiles on the Willow musicians that I complained about a few weeks ago, this group seemed to understand that some of the lyrics they were singing were really quite dark and emotional, so they maintained the appropriate emotion when singing.

You broke the curse of death

For You, You are the Risen One

Heaven and earth will be made new

For You, You are the Chosen One

You rescue the prisoner

For You, You are the Saving One

You comfort the broken and the poor

For You, You are the Promised One

You are Messiah, the world’s true Lord

We lift You higher as we cry out

And then they actually cried out as they were singing.  This band was in sync with the emotions of the lyrics and with the emotions of the room, and that facilitated a very moving worship experience.  I know that we have to be careful about describing a worship experience as good or bad since it’s not supposed to be about us and our entertainment, but it’s easier to feel the Spirit when all the worship elements line up properly.  It helped that this band really seemed to be worshiping with us and leading us in song, not just performing.  It fostered a sense of real communal worship that made it easier to feel God (and after the morning I had, feeling God was a refreshing change of pace).  Also, I haven’t said this about a lot of churches so far, but this worship experience was . . . well . . . fun.  There was a sense of joy and exuberance in the room.  People were happy to be there, so there was a lot more moving around, and the general feeling of the room was pretty upbeat.  Of course, this didn’t detract from the seriousness of many of the lyrics.

There is no one else for me,

None but Jesus,

Crucified to set me free,

Now I live to bring Him praise.

In the chaos, in confusion,

I know You’re sovereign still,

In the moment of my weakness,

You give me grace to do Your will.

All my delight is in You, Lord,

All of my hope, all of my strength

All my delight is in You, Lord, forevermore.

I will admit that I’m being a bit selective with the choruses and verses I post here.  This song (“None But Jesus”) is a Hillsong tune, so a lot of the lyrics are pretty repetitive and a little bland, but I think I’ve pulled the really moving ones.  On this particular song, the female singer took the lead, and she had a great meditative alto voice that permeated the room.  I will admit to being a little annoyed when the bassist violated one of my personal worship leader taboos by raising his hand into the air rather than leaving it on his instrument.  In my book, that is a strict professionalism no-no, but given the mood being set by the singer’s solo line (which was amplified by the shift to red lighting and an increase in fog), I can look the other way this time.  It probably wouldn’t have disrupted the casual observer and was actually a pretty appropriate response to the vibe present in the sanctuary.

Here I am humbled by Your Majesty,
Covered by Your grace oh friend.
Here I am knowing I'm a sinful man,
Covered by the blood of the Lamb.
Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine,
Since You laid down Your life,
The greatest sacrifice.

Majesty, Majesty.
Your grace has found me just as I am,
Empty-handed but alive in Your hands.

Here I am humbled by the love that You give,
Forgiven so that I can forgive.
So here I stand,
Knowing that I am Your desire,
Sanctified by glory and fire.
And now I've found the greatest love of all is mine,
Since You laid down Your life,
The greatest sacrifice.

I took note of the heavy use of sacrifice language and the stress on humility.   Still, as I’m writing this now, I can’t help but notice that this song commits one of the main violations that critics of contemporary music often cite: a focus on the self.  Like much of the music up to this point, this song was focusing on the relationship between God and the individual, possibly at the expense of the community.  It was through the style of the praise band, not the lyrics themselves, that we were getting that communal feel.  The lyrics were beautiful and poetic, but they were really somewhat ancillary next to the general sense of uplifting that had arisen from the feeling of communal worship.  Of course, this is where the service took an unexpected turn.