We're (Probably) Not Headed To The Movie Theater

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to walk through the Regal Cinemas near Central Park to consider a theater as a location for Christ Covenant's Sunday morning worship service and ministry.  It was arranged by Bonnie Smith, a national Regal employee who served for years as an EPC Women's Ministry leader but is now helping put churches and special events in Regal theaters around the country.  I got to meet Matt Foster, the local manager of the theaters.  Both are GREAT folks and would be wonderful to work with.

We walked through all the auditoriums with lights on and began to consider doing ministry in that setting.  There was a lot that I liked:

• It was less expensive than Salem School.
• The space was newer and jazzier.
• The location is more accessible and known.
• We could do GREAT video clips and art pieces.
• Surprisingly, I could see the setting for our Children's Ministry as much improved there.
• Bonnie's organization had expertise and help in making this change work well.

But for all of that, the Steering Committee has decided that this location would be low on our list, and we will continue praying and looking for something better.  What was the problem?  The architecture of a movie theater would significantly alter the corporate worship experience in a way that was counter to our stated vision and values in two major ways.  Let me explain them.

God-directed Worship as a Community- As I walked into the theater with the lights on I was immediately struck by how the room "sounded."  Everything we said turned tiny and was absorbed.  It was designed to be that way, so that people talking during the movie are less noticeable.  Fine during a movie, but for us as a worshiping community, it would work against our sense of being "the Body of Christ" together as we worship.  Those moments when our Worship Team drops out and we sing to our Savior a capella would be swallowed up and gone.

At Christ Covenant, we believe that worship is about participation, not observation.  Our leaders have no desire to do something "to" the congregation: impress, manipulate, entertain or the like.  Our goal is to provide the congregation with meaningful ways to express together the adoration and surrender that the Living God is worthy of.  That's a mouthful, so read it again.

Unfortunately, the cinema setting would work against that, so we will continue praying and looking, until the Father opens up a location better suited to staying true to our vision and values.

Life Together - The next thing I noticed was how long the rows of seats were - 28 across in one auditorium - and how high and "surrounding" each seat was for it's occupant.  Again, this is perfect for helping a movie-goer focus on the film without surrounding distractions.  And I could see how those seats would help people focus on the message that I had been working on all week.  But the long rows of insulating seats would work against our vision and, core values at Christ Covenant that is so focused on transformation through relationships.

We're often into the third verse of the first song before everyone is in their seat and singing.  When we come to the greeting time in our service, there is a roar of conversation as people are up and out of their seats, speaking to people, crossing the aisles, heading over to someone they recognize, talking to a visitor about the Children's Ministry or walking with them to the Hospitality Table for a coffee.  I am thankful beyond words for the welcome that our visitors tell me they receive and for the experience we have of being glad to be together as a congregation.  We want to promote and support that because it is central to what we believe Jesus wants Christ Covenant to be.

That experience would die if you had to stand on a seat and wave to a friend from school four rows over, or cross 13 bodies to shake hands with a visitor.

So for now we are still praying and looking.  Sometimes decisions are clearer if you know who the Father has called you to be.