If you plan to come to the Agape Church in Culver City arrive early! Despite its two large parking lots it took me 15 minutes of driving around in circles to finally follow the flags guiding me to the satellite parking down the road. There is a shuttle that will take parishoners to and from this lot, but I walked the two short blocks. Finally making my way inside at five-till-eleven, I see that the place is packed! Luckily I am meeting my cousins who arrived at 10:30 when the doors open for the service. I sit with them waaaay in the back corner of the church while others wait by for openings, or take a seat outside to watch the service through television monitors.

The Church Building
The Church looks like a gutted office building, or a warehouse in which they have put up some curtains and a stage to make it appear to be an actual, traditional church sanctuary. Still, the somewhat industrial environment does nothing to discourage people from attending, rather this is a profoundly popular church. So what about this place so effectively lures people in?

The Church Vision
This International Spirtitual Center, which one parishoner described as a "Science of Mind" church, has a very broad appeal, but it is not a Christian church. They believe that we are created with known gifts that we may stifle through fear and societal expectations, but that through self-affirmation we can realize our natural dreams and gifts, and by so doing, we are actually becoming the person God would want us to be. The philosophy links together emotions, God, and experiences, and asserts that we create emotions through our experiences which may ultimately create boxes which limit us to see ourselves in the eyes of the material world and our own fears rather than in terms of our great potential to attain a life that God sees as reaching our capacity. A very enriching vision.

The Message
This particular Sunday was the youth Sunday. While it was not typical of the ordinary service, you could see the impact of the church message in the young people . The children and youth perform songs, dances, and read poetry and bits of personal insight. Because the youth who deliver parts of the service are such natural performers, visitors are offered an understanding of the effectiveness of this institution. Unlike typical insecure adolescents, these young people are confident, self-assured, and driven and cannot wait to participate.

The message, delivered by Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith is consistent with the vision of the church and organization with which he is associated. He seems to inspire a kind of awakening allowing you to meditate into an inner voice that will push you to face your fears and obtain the confidence to attempt to try new things, and achieve your personal dreams. While there is not talk of Jesus, except peripherally among all of the major religious founders, the idea of living for today, planning for tomorrow, and being the very best person you can be as being an example of God himself is intriguing. However, it takes a position of self-interest and self-centeredness that is somewhat contrary to my Christian beliefs. Still, an environment such as this and messages such as these may be just what one needs to pull out of a slump and into progress and greater enlightenment. And that is without question a good thing, and may be just what the doctor ordered. Apparently for many, they are moved to tears through the service.

Music
It is definitely a clap and holler church, with words for songs (not hymns) on a projection screen, a drum set, guitars and professional singers being words of inspiration to our ears, and for some people, a little pep in their step as they dance in the halls.

Getting There

On October 15 I visited All Saints Episcopal church in Beverly Hills. I had meant to attend the Beverly Hills Presbyterian church and, having arrived 30 minutes before the service began, was disappointed to learn that, despite the "Parking Information Here!" sign, there would be no special parking accommodations for this beautiful church on the corner of Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Blvd, but that parishioners are instead sent to scavenge for street parking. Fortunately, on Sundays, lot parking is free. However, on that particular Sunday there was an Art in The Park event next door! After 25 minutes of driving on $3 a gallon I find a spot and enter the church at exactly 11:00. Curious about the incense, kneeling posts, and lack of urgency to get the service started, I glance quickly at the bulletin to learn that I did not enter the Presbyterian Church of Beverly Hills, but the All Saints Episcopal Church next door! I probably could have snuck out and in to the church I set out to attend, but believing this to be fate I sat tight, albeit tremendously self conscious about my lack of fluency in the language and customs of the Episcopal tradition.


The Review:

All Saints Parish
504 N Camden Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-275-0123
Worship Service: 6 PM Saturday; 8 AM Sunday; 9 AM Sunday; 11:15 AM Sunday
http://www.allsaintsbh.org/index.php

The sanctuary is medium-sized, ornate and traditional with a beautifully-smithed metal screened in chapel type area to the right of the alter, where the choir sits waiting for the service to begin. Thankfully, the bulletin explains every step of the service including how to receive communion, when to stand and kneel, how to respond to calls, and the Episcopal/Catholic version of the Nicene creed. The bulletin also demonstrates the church's creative methods of fundraising. One member offers to rent her beachfront property and donate the proceeds to the church, and another realtor offers her commission if you sell your property through her. This is a very committed congregation. They arre involved in community outreach efforts, particularly those involving justice, offer child care, and education and fellowship opportunities. A quick glance around also tells me that this is a gay-friendly, and therefore likely progressive, congregation.

The service begins with a Call to Worship and introduction of who I believe was a new choral director. He walks the congregation through the new arrangement of Holy, Holy, Holy to make sure we have it. Then a wonderful choir leads the congregation through the first hymn. Through the service there were many beautiful selections. The service is traditional, but seems to be forward thinking. The sermon was about technology, judgment and balance as a Christian in the modern world, though it was thought provoking, it was not terribly inspirational. However, this must have been an off week for the congregation exuded an energy of confidence, joy, power and faith. If I did not think there were something completely wrong about grading or ranking churches as an utter lay person and believer that church is usually good, even if it is not for me, I would definitely give this one an A+.