Sunday in a Theater

Walking into the Tivoli Theater one Sunday morning last fall, I had to fight the urge to head directly to the concession stand for a small popcorn and a cherry coke, my usual movie fare.  Instead, I smiled at the greeter standing near the door, entered the main theater and found a seat towards the back.  There was a platform with a microphone up front, and what sounded like a swing band playing beneath the red velvet curtains.  Trying not to be too obvious about it, I looked around at the forty or so people there that morning.  A few of them chatted in small groups, but many looked like they had happened in off the street, much like me.  We were all here for the first-ever service of U City Family Church, newly planted in this theater on the Delmar Loop.  Now, for a Catholic girl in a Catholic town, there are a few interesting things about that last sentence.  I had no idea what a “church plant” was.  I had certainly never attended a Sunday service in a movie theater.  I didn’t know what to expect.  And I couldn’t have imagined that I’d be back in that seat every Sunday morning since.

U City Family Church was founded last year by Brent and Rebecca Roam. Brent is a St. Louis native and comes from a family of pastors, although his path took some divergent turns before landing back here in his own church.  When you meet the Roams, you can tell right away how much they love this city and want to create a spiritual home for people here.  I was drawn to the neighborhood when I moved to St. Louis almost four years ago for the diversity, the community of people, the excitement of the loop, the sense of place.  This new church seems to capture much of what I love about University City.    

It’s a powerful thing to be a part of a new church - by definition, it’s new for everyone.  Each person comes looking for something, responding to a postcard or a call from a friend about the church opening on the loop.  One family did an internet search for “diverse church u city” - you just have to love that!  U City Family Church is creating an opportunity to be a part of something, no matter your faith background, where you live or what brought you here.  And it’s starting to come alive in some very important ways. 

Engaging minds.  Encouraging hearts.  Empowering hands.  This is the motto of U City Family Church, but already these tenants feel like so much more than words on a page.  The message is what keeps me coming back each Sunday.  My mind is engaged, and my spirit is following.  How many times have I heard the story of the loaves and the fishes?  Many.  But I’ve never heard it the way I did this winter.  There is time at every service to sing, to pray, to just sit quietly, to think about what you’re hearing in God’s word.  Through the community that is building, our hearts are encouraged and we are able to encourage each other.  And the church has gotten its collective hands dirty two Saturday mornings at Kingdom House, a settlement house just south of the city that provides an amazing number of services.  With paintbrushes and mops, by sorting clothes and stocking pantry shelves, U City Family Church is out there.   Serving others, building community and having quite a bit of fun.

How could I have known all of this would come into my life when I walked into the Tivoli that Sunday last fall?  I found what I didn’t even know that I was looking for – a diverse community, an attitude of giving, and most importantly, an offering of God’s message that has touched my spirit and resonated in my life.  Something I never expected when I walked into that darkened theater and wondered what the heck kind of church was happening here!

You can find more information about U City Family Church on their website and join us on Sundays at 10:00am in the Tivoli Theater.  No matter where you’re coming from, I guarantee someone will be standing at the door to greet you with a smile.