The Church in Urbana

February 25, 2024 

On an Urbana street with plenty of mature trees, near the University of Illinois campus sits a three-story stone house which has a sign out front proclaiming it Meeting Place of the Church in Urbana. When passing by, I’ve long been curious about it. 

Website of The Church in Urbana lists three 45-minute sessions for Sunday mornings:  Lord’s Table Meeting, Devotional/Prophesying Meeting, and Worship and Ministry Meeting. I decided to check out the last one. Walking up to the front door a few minutes before that service was scheduled to begin, I stepped into a tiny entryway. The door to get inside, however, was locked.

Rather than walk around the building, I tapped lightly. Within seconds, a young woman answered and invited me in. She apologized as she explained that their final session was canceled for today because all the university students were away at a conference. (From the website I’d noted that the church seems to have a strong university connection.) Still curious though, I decided to quietly enter to catch the last few minutes of the second session.

To my surprise, as it turns out, those final minutes became focused on me! Inside a parlor-like room, fifteen people sat in chairs configured in a square, facing inward, and all were well aware that a newcomer had arrived. Of course, they were curious too. A man—perhaps the pastor—asked me to introduce myself, so I said my first name and that I was happy to visit this morning. That wasn’t enough of an answer. “Can you tell us a little more about yourself?” he prodded. Feeling awkward at being made the center of attention, I told Steve’s and my professions and that we’d lived in town for about twenty-five years and usually went to the Vineyard Church. The man then gave more information about their congregation, that they believe the Bible and that they encourage people to use their gifting to build up the church. He ended with a prayer and the meeting concluded.

When everyone stood to leave I spoke with a couple of the women for a few minutes. It appeared to be an international group, so I asked about the service being in English. Yes, they said. Several of the first languages are from India, Korea, and China. The church had begun in 1999. Children were elsewhere in the building. The back door being by the parking lot, a friendly woman explained, is the one they commonly use, not the street door where I'd come in. I was most welcome to return. 

So after fewer than fifteen minutes, this my shortest venture into a different church was over. I liked it.