User:Boman1

From The Peopling of New York City

Hey my name is Robert Hargraves, but you could call me Bobby. I attend the Macaulay Honors College at the College of Staten Island

Journal: Church Visit

On Sunday, March 9, 2008, Richie, Suren, Gary, and I attended Christ Assembly Lutheran Church. Driving to the church, Richie and I scanned the neighborhoods surrounding the church, noticing the large apartment complexes and small, compact houses. We had entered Park Hill on Staten Island, in which our church was located right in the middle of it. The church was not how I had imagined it. Made with red bricks and with only a banner indicating that it was the Christ Assembly Lutheran Church, from the outside, it looked like an old mix between an apartment building and a department store. Inside we met up with Professor Rice and her husband. Together we entered where the service would be taking place.

We arrived promptly at 11:00 for the service, but because of the Sunday school, it was delayed a few minutes. We attempted to sit in the back row, so that we would not get in the way of any of the regular members’ way, but no sooner did I collapse into my seat did one of the older women asked us to get up and seat ourselves in the front row. It appeared that they were very proud of having visitors attend their church. They supplied us with songbooks, so that we could sing along with the choir and participate in the events that would be occurring throughout the service.

As we were seated, I began to scan the church, analyzing the décor as well as the people inside. The walls were a bland white, the windows had red curtains draped over them as to not allow any sunlight through, and to the side was a set up for a band, containing drums, bongos, pianos, and guitars. The people in the church ranged from all ages. There were little babies in carriages, to come teenage boys with their mothers, to some elderly woman (who surprisingly were the life of the party).

We began the service by standing up and singing along as the choir and the other members of the church entered. As we stood and were clapping our hands, singing and moving along to the jovial rhythm, the elderly women began to move towards the stage and started dancing. They were all dressed in very formal, what appeared to be tribal wear, which were very colorful and had included a large, matching head cloth to be wrapped around their hair. They sang and danced as they praised the Lord, singing all his songs and shouting “Amen” to the heavens. I was really enjoying myself.

They did two money collections from all of its members. The choir sang out and they vowed not to stop until they had collected five hundred dollars. The members of the church were more than willing to walk up and donate their hard earned cash to their beloved church. The four of us even placed in some money, with Gary being the highest bidder amongst us at five dollars (only because he was pressured by one of the older women to go up and donate money and a five dollar bill was the lowest denomination he had in his wallet).

The main theme of this specific service was to “Check you life”. We were told to not use unnecessary violence towards other, either in warfare or in our own homes. We were taught that with the help of God, we could overcome our battles without aggression and hostility. It was a very interesting and informative sermon. It was a trip that I thoroughly enjoyed and an experience I will never forget.