Mystery Worshipper: Amanda B. Reckondwyth
Church:
West Side Church of God, Glendale
Location: Arizona, USA
Date of visit: Sunday, 31 May 2026, 10:00am
The building
A rather pleasant looking modern building. One enters a small lobby furnished with some very comfortable armchairs, a coffee bar, and a welcome table. A painting on the wall caught my attention: it depicts various titles given to Jesus, in English and in Spanish, arranged in the shape of a cross. Inside, the sanctuary is pentagonal in shape. A raised platform holds musical instruments. Kneelers are located in front of the platform. To the right is a very large wooden cross.
The church
Although officially called the Church of God, they sometimes append the words (Anderson, Indiana) to their name to distinguish them from other bodies that call themselves the Church of God, most notably the Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma), with whom they are in schism. They sponsor ministries for men, women, seniors, young children and teenagers, all described in detail on their website. (Interestingly, the Community Outreach link on their website appears to be a dead link.) They also sponsor a variety of social events and spiritual gatherings. There is one service each Sunday in English, and one in Spanish.
The neighborhood
Glendale is a sprawling westerly suburb of Phoenix. The church is situated on Bethany Home Road (I love that name, especially because I have a niece named Beth Ann) at 79th Avenue. The area is primarily middle class residential. Across the street from the church is Heroes Regional Park, offering a wide variety of recreational opportunities. As Bethany Home Road crosses 83rd Avenue it becomes Cardinals Way, named after the Arizona Cardinals football team. At 91st Avenue and Cardinals Way one finds State Farm Stadium, home to the Cardinals, also known as the Mother Ship because of its flying saucer-like appearance.
The cast
The interim pastor, nattily dressed in a red and blue checkered shirt, gray slacks, and brown shoes, preached. The worship arts pastor, less nattily but still respectably dressed, gave the welcome and opening remarks.
What was the name of the service?
Worship in English.How full was the building?
The pentagonal shape of the room made it difficult to count chairs, but I’d say it was approximately half full. Mostly an elderly crowd, with some middle age folks and just a scattering of young adults. Everyone was smartly dressed in their Sunday go-to-meetin’ duds. As the church is part of the holiness movement, which among other things advocates modesty in dress, Miss Amanda had chosen one of her more conservative outfits – although their website states that there is no specific dress code and that they want everyone to be as comfortable as possible. If truth be told, I could have been a little more relaxed in my choice, but I did fit right in.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
The welcome was one of the warmest and most sincere I’ve ever received anywhere! A gentleman in a cowboy hat and boots held the door open for me and said, ‘Hello, welcome.’ I was wondering if he would remove his hat when he entered the sanctuary – he did. A woman at the welcome desk introduced herself and asked if I had been there before. She gave me a little welcome kit containing a box of mint candies, three lollipops, a pen, a notepad, and some devotional literature. She also introduced me to several other people, and made sure I knew where the coffee bar was. Inside the sanctuary, almost everyone made it a point to introduce themselves, shake my hand, and say, ‘Welcome. Glad you came.’
Was your pew comfortable?
It was a cushioned conference room style chair, and yes, it was comfortable enough.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Out in the lobby, before the service, I helped myself to some coffee, which was dispensed from one of those do-it-yourself cartridge type machines. Cartridges of various kinds, flavors and strengths of coffee, as well as tea, were available. I chose a cartridge marked ‘Pick-Me-Up Breakfast Blend.’ It was OK, but it was not of the strength that would pick me up at home when I went out to breakfast. There were also muffins available, but I did not sample those. A gentleman brought in several baskets of strawberries and a bag of tomatoes. I was told that I could take any of them home with me if I wished. Not wanting to leave fresh fruit in my hot car, I determined to help myself to some strawberries after service – but read on! Inside the sanctuary, people visited happily among themselves, and the welcome greetings flowed freely, as mentioned above.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
‘Good morning. We’re so glad you’re here.’
What books did the congregation use during the service?
There was a handout with announcements and sermon notes. The Holy Bible, Today’s New International Version was in the seats. Words to the songs were projected.
What musical instruments were played?
Grand piano, acoustic guitar, electric bass guitar, drums enclosed in the obligatory Plexiglas shield. The pianist (who was the worship arts pastor) and the acoustic guitarist sang.
Did anything distract you?
One young gentleman was wearing a full animal costume – I think it was a lion. I couldn’t imagine why.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
I’m not sure what calendar the Church of God follows – it may be the Hebrew lunisolar calendar – but they were celebrating Pentecost today, whereas most of Western Christianity celebrated it last week. The service was definitely on the happy-clappy side. The music was folksy Christian rock of the Hillsong variety, and the people were clapping, swaying, and waving their arms to beat the band. There was also a geriatric mosh pit of sorts that formed in front of the platform.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
55 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
9 — The interim pastor is elderly and in poor health – he walked slowly and with a cane – but he preached a clear, inspired, heartfelt sermon that held everyone’s attention throughout. Occasionally an ‘Amen,’ ‘Yes,’ or ‘Praise God’ could be heard from various people. However, I refrain from giving the interim pastor a 10, as he appeared to ramble just a bit every now and then.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
There had never before been, and will never again be, a moment like Pentecost. The Holy Spirit within us is the most important thing in our lives. It enables us to live a life of holiness in service to God. The disciples in the upper room were expecting something to happen – and it did! There was sound, sight, and speech. The sound of the rushing wind was the sound of God’s breath breathing life into the Church. The sight of tongues of fire was the power that Christ had promised his disciples that they would receive. Speech – the ability of the disciples to speak in various languages – meant that the Gospel is meant for the whole world, not just for an elite group. But we cannot just sit quietly on all of this. There’s more to being a follower of Jesus than going to church and witnessing ceremony. Have we received the Holy Spirit? How have our lives changed as a result? It’s not a question of the Holy Spirit being available – it’s a question of are we called to the Holy Spirit? Our answer must be, ‘Yes, God, I’m all in!’ Had Pentecost not occurred, chances are that we would not know Jesus. A life in Christ can happen only through the Holy Spirit.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
One of the songs included the lyrics ‘On the morning you rose, all creation held its breath.’ I was reminded of a poem by my favorite poet, Emily Dickinson, in which she describes ‘a certain slant of light’ that appears on winter afternoons. She wrote:
When it comes, the Landscape listens –
Shadows hold their breath
It is one of my favorite lines in all of her poems.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The only thing that stooped to that level was a remark the interim pastor made about ‘the unbelievers among us.’ I couldn’t help wondering to whom he was referring – surely not to Miss Amanda!
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
After the sermon and the concluding prayer, the praise band took up their positions once again. I slipped quietly out the door and to my car. Sad to say, I noticed that all the strawberries, of which I had hoped to take some, were gone.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
I don’t think any after-service refreshments were offered. As mentioned, I had helped myself to coffee beforehand.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
0 – Don’t get me wrong. I’m not judging the service. I’m only referring to the likelihood of my returning. They seemed like a lovely bunch of people, and they clearly enjoyed being with each other and worshipping in the style of this service. But as I mentioned to one of the gentlemen who greeted me, I am more accustomed to liturgy.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?
The painting in the lobby in the shape of a cross.
