Denomination:
Non-denominational. Pentecostal in worship style.
The building:
It is a large church with spire that appears to have been taken over from
another denomination.
The church:
The Gate holds two services on a Sunday morning; the second is a repeat
of the first. They are involved in a number of ministries, including youth
prayer groups and social events, Christians Against Poverty, and Alternatives
(counseling and help with unplanned pregnancies).
The neighbourhood: The Gate is located next to the University of Dundee's
campus, very close to the city centre. Nearby on Perth Road are a number
of other churches.
The cast:
Worship leader was Layla Brown and the preacher was Gordon Stewart, senior
pastor.
What was the name of the service?
Second service (11.30am). I had wanted to attend the first service (9.30)
but had trouble finding the church. Perth Road is several miles long,
which I did not realise when setting off.
How full was the building?
Pretty full. A good 200 plus in attendance, with the ground floor fully
occupied and some people in the galleries.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
A handshake and brief "good morning" from two student types
on the door. They didn't look at ease, which suggested that it was either
their first week on the job, or welcoming is not their ministry.
Was your pew comfortable?
No. Wooden pews. Very uncomfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Very noisy. People talking, walking about, etc.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"Good morning and welcome to the Gate. I'm Layla Brown."
What books did the congregation use during the service?
Words to the songs were projected using a Litepro.
What musical instruments were played?
Worship band with keyboard, guitar, drums, etc.
Did anything distract you?
The empty case of what used to be the organ stood behind the worship group.
Painted green and framed by curtains, it now houses the projector screen.
The overall look was rather like a Punch and Judy set. There were also
some fishing nets strung up and a lot of expensive looking electrical
equipment and wiring on show.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
Free style of worship with modern songs, some dancing in the aisles.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
22 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
8.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The preacher's text was Isaiah 61 - the anointing to preach the good news.
A summary of how to receive, remain in, and use the anointing to spread
the gospel.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
One young lady came forward to give her life to Christ.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
We were asked to "say hello" to our neighbours when the children
were leaving for Sunday school. I shook hands with a few people, who clearly
didn't want to enter into conversation. I was then left to stand looking
stupid and embarrassed for some considerable time. The DIY collection
entailed walking up to the front and placing the offerings on a plate.
Unfortunately the aisles were so tight that it was very difficult to get
to the front. The worship leader was wearing the kind of top that a lady
of her size should steer clear of.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking
lost?
Nothing. A few people exchanged glances with me, but that was it. After
five minutes of embarrassment I left.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
The pastor mentioned refreshments but it was not clear where they were.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where
10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
6 – Good worship and teaching, but very unwelcoming. At one point
the pastor mentioned that the regulars should "act as hosts and not
guests," but his message did not appear to have been taken on board.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes in respect of the worship. No in respect of the welcome.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days'
time?
The Punch and Judy set.
The Mystery Worshipper project, which produced this
report, is run by ship-of-fools.com,
the online magazine of Christian unrest. The project has volunteer reporters
who visit churches of all denominations worldwide, leaving only a calling
card in the collection plate. For further reports, visit the Mystery Worshipper
at: http://ship-of-fools.com/Mystery
