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Wine and Hymns

“Sing songs. Drink wine. Be joyful. In public.”

This is the unofficial motto for a special activity I have been organizing in Waco over the last several months. We call it, “Wine and Hymns” and it is a wonderful, simple, encouraging event.

It's really pretty simple: Church members and friends are invited to a local wine bar on a weeknight; I bring song books with familiar and singable hymns labeled by numbers; a gifted pianist friend brings an electronic keyboard. Everyone makes themselves comfortable at the wine bar, ordering the food or drink of their choice. When settled, we call out song numbers for the pianist to play while everyone sings. Throughout the evening there is lively music, fellowship, laughter, and sincere worship of God.

Here is a short list of what I love about Wine and Hymns:

1. We make music! The subtitle of our event is, “A Joyful Noise” and that is exactly what we make in our evening together. Unlike programmed congregational singing on Sunday mornings (which is also a very good thing!), the music at Wine and Hymns has spontaneity and playfulness, with the crowd calling out songs and our pianist experimenting on the keyboard. There is so much joy in our singing and it is all sent out in loving worship to the living God.  For me, this event is a great compliment to the liturgical worship of my Christian tradition.

2. We drink! This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but in Texas it is. Trust me.  Christian culture in the South, not to be confused with Christianity, asserts that churchy people should be total abstainers. Let’s be clear about this -- lots of Christians in Texas drink! But they see it as a sneaky thing they do when Jesus isn’t looking.  I don’t think that we should approach God this way. Hosting a worship event in a bar is my way to challenge habitual thinking in our community and offer alternate models for living the Christian life.

3.  We feel good! Worshipping God is a means of centering ourselves and finding joy. It should feel very good. Wine and Hymns is held in the evening at a cozy, inviting spot.  There is good food being served and we sit around tables or in comfy arm chairs with our friends. It is all so enjoyable even before the singing begins!  I think this feeling of well-being puts us in the heart of worship.

4.  We are in public!  I mean two things by this. First of all, I mean that we are being the church away from our building called “the church.”  Worshipping God at the wine bar challenges the idea that God lives in our chapel only, or that the Kingdom expectations on our lives should only apply in some locations. Intellectually, we know better but in daily living it become so easy to compartmentalize and limit God to the church house.  Wine and Hymns is a nice antidote.  Secondly, I mean that on these nights we are all out together socializing in an encouraging way rather than staying cooped up in our individual homes.  God desires us to be in community and wants us to bless each other. I think that happens best when we actually hang out together!

5. We spend money! The wine bar we use for Wine and Hymns is a local business in downtown Waco, an area that struggles to attract people on weeknights.  Bringing a large group of people who buy food and wine is a financial blessing to this establishment and adds life to our downtown area.  That is all kinds of good. Surely this is an example of being light and salt.

6.  We surprise people!  When we start singing our hymns, you should see the look on the faces of people who are at the wine bar but not there for our event.  It’s Texas, so folks are not openly aggressive toward Christians. But they certainly don’t expect to find a bunch of us singing in a bar (see #2 above).  I like surprising people in this way because it reminds me of the surprises I see God offering us all the time. God is unexpected, offering life, grace, and mercy at the must surprising times. It feels right to worship God in this way.

What do you think of “Wine and Hymns”? Would this work in your church? What would you do if you walked into a bar full of people singing hymns and drinking wine?