This one will be a little out of order as I am just being overwhelmed with the things I need to catch up on, this one should be pretty quick. Last Sunday we visited the Washington Heights evangelical church.
http://www.theheightscommunity.org/locations/washington-heights/#.U45eIYm9LCQ
I could just sum it up in a few sentences saying that it was just another Alpine Church or Genesis project but I think it may be appropriate to give it the fair review.
ATMOSPHERE: 6/10
Not a bad feel here. Coffe and cookies were served in the lobby before the service. Everything was pretty much the same old "Rockin' for Jesus" vibe we seen in Alpine Church and the Genesis Project. There was a live band to play the repetitive, redundant, unoriginal Christian rock songs (I tell you, some of these are just bad.... And have some hilarious phrasing that if taken out of context can amuse the dirty mind).
COMMUNITY: 8/10
Those we spoke to were nice enough. We were greeted warmly and given "first-timer bags" which later we would find out would act like a homing beacon for some of the more tenacious members, eager to answer any questions we may have.
That was one thing I was reading as I was skimming over some of the pamphlets in the goodie bag, they seem to be open to questions, though we didn't test this ourselves, one advertisement for one of their weekly events for a bible study had claimed "we aren't afraid to address the hard stuff. ALL ARE WELCOME and no question is off the table." I had toyed with the notion of taking up the offer but this wasn't the day nor the event advertised so I remained an observant.
MESSAGE: 1/10
Same ol' same ol'. We are flawed and broken and there is nothing we can do for ourselves to fix it. Only through Jesus, etc etc. The message was very guilt ridden. I acknowledge that no one is perfect but that doesn't mean I'm like to throw my hands up and say "I'm hopeless," if I have a problem I can't solve on my own I seek help from seine I know, love, and trust, not seek comfort in the super natural.
Something I found extremely disturbing here in this church, that I see so often in other churches is the crosshairs on the children. There was a short clip played on the big screen with a bunch of cute little kids of varying ages between ~4 to 9 who were pleading to be taught the "Truth". Addressing the audience directly they said "please! We need YOU! Not the person next to you, but YOU! Please help us find the way." This was for me a deeply disturbing propaganda film guilting people to arms against the forces that lead your kids astray, I cannot endorse this.
SERVICE: 3/10 candles
The three candles here were for the coffee, I could have done without the rest of this visit. Essentially the same happy, clappy, Christian experience from Alpine then they upped the anty with the child indoctrination campaign. I won't go there again.
