Mystery Worshipper: Amanda B. Reckondwyth
Church:
St Andrew’s, Glendale
Location: Arizona, USA
Date of visit: Sunday, 4 May 2025, 9:00am
The building
A low, flat, brick building dating from 1961, painted white and set in what is known as ‘desert landscaping’ – rather barren. A separate classroom building is to the left. Inside one finds an attractive room with stained glass windows at the clerestory level and a pitched ceiling. Stations of the cross line the walls. The versus populum altar includes a mosaic depicting communion elements. Behind the altar is a tabernacle, and behind that is choir seating. Prie-dieux and lectern complete the picture.
The church
They seem to be a little thin on ministries judging from their website, but they do have a Feed the Veterans group that serves a hot lunch to veterans once each month. There are English and Spanish eucharistic services each Sunday, both in-person and via Zoom, with a bilingual service on the third Sunday of each month. I was told that the bilingual service is sometimes trilingual: English, Spanish and Navajo.
The neighborhood
They are on Camelback Road, a major east-west thoroughfare, at 63rd Avenue in the southwest corner of this Phoenix suburb. The City of Phoenix picks up again on the other side of Camelback Road to the south, and 67th Avenue to the west. The area is primarily working-class residential. I wouldn’t say there is anything particularly interesting about it.
The cast
The deacon took the service, as the vicar had been called away at the last moment. He was assisted by lay readers but no acolytes. The one person joining the service via Zoom took one of the readings.
What was the name of the service?
Third Sunday of Easter: Holy Eucharist Rite 2 (English).How full was the building?
There was room for 300. I counted 14 altogether. I was told that the English speaking congregation is thin, but that the Spanish speaking congregation is more lively. I believe that only one person was connected via Zoom.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
A gentleman wished me a good morning. A lady made sure I had a program handout. Another very pleasant lady, who I believe is the parish treasurer, introduced herself and said it was nice to meet me.
Was your pew comfortable?
A cushioned wooden pew – comfortable enough. I thought there was a bit too much space between the pew and the kneeler, though, making the ‘Episcopal squat’ a bit awkward to carry off.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Silent as a tomb. A lady set up the Zoom session on her laptop PC and projected it onto a screen for us all to see.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
‘Alleluia! Christ is risen!’
What books did the congregation use during the service?
A handout had everything we needed. The Prayer Book 1979 and Hymnal 1982 were in the pews, along with El Libro de Oración Común and the paperback hymnal Flor y Canto for the Spanish speaking service.
What musical instruments were played?
Pre-recorded choir accompanied by organ. I asked who the choir was, and was told that each hymn was by a different choir, both English and American. I spotted a drum set tucked away in a corner of the choir seating, but thankfully it remained tucked away.
Did anything distract you?
The Zoom session kept losing its connection and displaying error messages – they were too small for me to read them.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
A by-the-book and very dignified Rite 2 service – spoken, with no chanting. I didn’t recognize the opening pre-recorded hymn, but at communion it was ‘Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!’ and at the recessional ‘The Church’s One Foundation’. Inasmuch as the deacon officiated, we received communion from the reserved sacrament – standard wafer, which we intincted into a chalice.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
10 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
10 — I’m flipping all the cards even though the deacon spoke with a strong Hispanic accent (he’s from Puerto Rico) that I had to concentrate on following. He said that he hadn’t expected to be preaching this morning, but that the vicar had been called away at the last minute. He spoke from the heart, without notes. It was so refreshing to hear a sermon actually preached rather than read from a prepared text.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The deacon spoke on the first reading for the day (Acts 9:1-20, the conversion of Saul and the healing of Saul by Ananias) and the gospel (John 21:1-19, Jesus causes the disciples to catch abundant fish, and Peter’s confession of love). Sometimes we feel naked and afraid, as was Peter in the gospel passage. And sometimes we cause great harm to others, as did Saul before his conversion and name change to Paul. But Peter and Paul became two of the most important figures in the formation of the early church. Our faith can sometimes lead to disappointment, but if we persevere we will find what we are looking for. That’s what faith is all about. Ananias had doubts about meeting with Saul because of what he had heard about him. But he had faith that what God was telling him was the right thing to do. We need more of Ananias in this world. Our mission is not to question, not to judge, but rather to be agents of love and peace.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
Almost everything about this service was heavenly: so simple yet so inspiring despite the low attendance.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Well, the low attendance. And I can understand using a pre-recorded choir if suitable musicians cannot be found, but I wondered why we were not given hymn numbers and not asked to sing along.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I had a very pleasant chat with the deacon, the parish treasurer, and a Navajo gentleman about the makeup of the parish.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
There was none. It was too early for lunch, and I had already had breakfast. But on my way home I stopped off at my favorite neighborhood ‘greasy spoon’ diner for a late second breakfast.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
10 — I will be moving in June to a neighborhood close by, which is unfortunately rather barren of churches as far as I can discover. St Andrew’s appears to be one of the only mainline denominational churches within reasonable distance. I see great potential here despite the small size of the English speaking congregation. My Spanish is poor, but I would like to look in on the Spanish service to see how it compares. I will certainly worship here again once I am settled into my new apartment. Casting all humility aside, I think my joining this congregation might make a difference.
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 ?
How inspiring everything was despite the low numbers.