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Dramatic
Worship
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Churchgoers sometimes complain about boring sermons and bland worship services. But reporter Jim Melchiorre found one congregation in Pittsburgh where performances are replacing preaching, and attendance has tripled in two years. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
“Are you ready to follow me? The deny yourself, pick up your cross and
follow me kind of ready?”
Sunday worship at the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh is
dramatically different.
(Actor): “Why don’t we just take a layer or two off?”
Each week, actors re-create scenes from Scripture.
(Actor): “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips.”
Based in a rented cafeteria, Hot Metal Bridge doesn’t advertise yet has
tripled its attendance in two years. United Methodist pastor Jim Walker
is a co-founder.
The Rev. Jim Walker, Co-Pastor of Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community: “We
thought it was a good place to reach young adults, reach the
counter-culture, reach poor people … all the people you don’t usually
see in church.”
At Hot Metal Bridge, people sing – a lot. They shout out prayer
requests. They baptize – on this Sunday, three were planned and two
spontaneous.
The Rev. Jim Walker, Co-Pastor of Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community: “We
started to meet people on the street who were different from us; they
had orange hair, purple hair, blue hair, and we just loved them as Jesus
would love them.”
Hot Metal Bridge does its share of community work – such as making
lunches for homeless people, some of whom are members. But the big thing
here is the welcome.
Doug Stadnik, Hot Metal Bridge Homeless Outreach Director: “If other
churches reject you, come here. We take everybody.”
The Rev. Jim Walker says: “When we see all those different faces,
hopefully, for a moment, we get a glimpse of what heaven might be like.”
(Actor): “No, I’m not ready at all. But I’m willing.”
TAG:
Fellowship is so important at the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community that it continues well after the worship service ends – with lots of food. Once a month, the congregation gathers for Bagel Sunday; other weeks, everybody gets together for a full lunch.
For more information on the
Hot Metal
Bridge Faith Community, call 412-481-4010.