There were three things that specifically bothered me Sunday (and "bothered" might be too strong a word... I think it just demanded my attention).
1. Intercessory Prayer - consists of 30 minutes (used to be 15, but now our musician doesn't arrive until 1 and service starts at 12:30, so they extended prayer for 15 minutes... not so we can pray more, but so we can stall.
). During intercessory prayer, the prayer leader prays really hard and loud and strongly - like a good Apostolic would. And the congregation listens, some pray along very softly. The only person that appears to feel the spirit is the leader. Everyone has to stand, which sucks. The pastor, of course, isn't in prayer, and the choir is in the fellowship hall preparing for service, I guess. The PT is also over there, and they don't come in until prayer is just about over. In fact, when they come in, that's the prayer leader's signal to end prayer.
2. When the PT got up to do P&W, they stood in the pulpit area, as usual. It struck me this time because their elevated positioning felt like a performance instead of a corporate worship experience. I mean, no matter how you put it, they are indeed singing TO us (and Jesus, if you insist). Coincidentally, as Jonathan described, I thought to myself "I wonder how it would work if they just sang from their seats with their mics, and we all sang together?" A change that radical would probably have to wait for me to pastor. LOL
3. The very nice, comfortable chairs on the side designated for my pastor and his wife. It never bothered me before. In fact, I'm ashamed to say that I insisted that she sit there (she was more comfortable in her regular seat). Now, I find myself hating it. When she finished leading P&W, her adjutant poured her some water, she drank it while the adjutant fanned her. Then she put the glass down, and the adjutant refilled it, and took her seat. (Now to be very clear, pastor's wife is very humble and does not require or want all that attention. She just accepts it because it's what she thinks is supposed to happen. I mean, she can pour her own water and fan her own self. Geez).
SMH.
