I’ve been sharing some of my experiences as a first-time guest in worship in a variety of congregations since 2010, including
- My Visit to Naples Church of Christ (October 2010)
- My Visit to Next Level Church (October 2012)
- My Visit to Family Church (December 2014)
- Visiting 50+ Churches in Dallas – Fort Worth (February 2019)
- Reopening for In Person Worship: 5 Congregations (April 2021)
- My Experiences with 14 UCC Congregations (June 2023)
- Happy New Year! Celebrating Visits to 12 Churches (December 2023)
Last week, I was the guest minister at Central Lutheran Church in Dallas.
Today, my wife and I visited Mayflower Congregation United Church of Christ in Oklahoma City for the first time.
While we had never attended before, we felt we knew this congregation a bit through their former Senior Minister (1985 – 2020), The Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers. He has been featured on So What Faith several times, including
- Review of Saving Jesus from the Church (December 2010)
- Review of the Underground Church (March 2012)
- Saving God from Religion (March 2020)
When we arrived on the Mayflower campus the temperature outside was in single digits with a wind chill well below zero. While there was limited exterior signage to guide newcomers, we found the main parking lot behind the church and followed others in through a primary entrance. In the hallway leading to the sanctuary, we noted then utilized a sign bearing a QR code leading to the bulletin. After doing so, we entered the sacred worship space and found seats in a pew near the middle of the sanctuary and on the aisle.
In the ten minutes between our arrival and the start of the service, we removed our coats, reviewed the bulletin, and watched as people gradually entered and secured their seats. The only person to greet us during that time was the congregation’s current Senior Minister, The Rev. Dr. Lori Walke.
Walke came to Mayflower in 2012 to serve as Associate Minister. Following Meyers’ retirement, she moved into the role of Senior Minister.
This morning’s worship service was easy to follow using the online bulletin, and Walke’s message on listening to women as a key element of reproductive justice was timely since the congregation is hosting the Focus on Abortion Storytelling Exhibit in their Fellowship Hall from January 8 through January 22, 2024.
Folks were pleasant and primarily engaged us as newcomers during the passing of the peace.
So What?
Today was quite the unusual day to visit a church while many stayed home due to the extreme cold. And, by the time the service was finished, snow was falling.
I’m grateful for the ministry of Mayflower Congregational UCC and thankful for the opportunity to worship in this community of faith today.
Note: In addition to the above referenced blog posts about visiting churches, I have visited many additional congregations as a formal mystery shopper or mystery guest to experience and provide feedback on improving the guest experience.