어제는 강원도 원주 문막에 있는 새동네 교회를 다녀왔습니다. 아침 8시 반에 출발해서 1시간 반 정도 달렸습니다만 지번을 제대로 찍지 못하고 간 탓에 문막에 있는 새동네 교회가 아니라 옛날 새동네 교회가 있었던 곳에 도착했습니다. 하지만 거기는 아무런 건물도 없었습니다. 결국 잘못되었다는 것을 알고 연락을 해서 새로 도로명 주소를 전달받아서 급히 달렸습니다. 10시 28분, 모임 시간 2분 전에 감사하게 도착했습니다. 급히 교회당 입구를 찾아서 들어갔지만, 분위기가 여느 교회와 달랐습니다. 보통 교회들은 예배를 시작하고 나면 분위기가 조용하고 때론 엄숙하기까지 합니다. 하지만 입구에서든 예배실에서든 활기찬 모습은 계속되었습니다. 물론 그날은 공동체감사나눔 주일(추수감사절)이었습니다만, 목사님도 편안한 복장과 음성으로 모임을 인도하고 계셨고, 장내에는 정말 남자와 여자 어린이와 어른들 노인들 건강한 사람과 건강하지 못한 사람들까지 함께 편안하게 서로를 받아주는 모습이 참으로 인상적이었습니다.
막상 들어가보니 그렇게 차를 급히 몰아서 달려갈 이유가 없어 보였습니다. 말하자면 그날 특별 순서가 1시간 40분이 넘게 여유롭게 진행되었습니다. 공동체감사나눔 주일이니까 감사할 제목이 있는 사람들이 일일이 나누어야 하고, 기쁜 절기이니까 아주 어린 꼬마로부터 시작해서 청년들까지 순서대로 나와서 성경 구절을 외우고 찬양을 하고 연주를 하고 난타까지 하다 보니 시간이 흘러가는 것은 당연했습니다. 그뿐만 아닙니다. 현장에 있지 아니한 청년들이 영상 인사를 보내 왔습니다. 가까이 일본에, 멀리 아프리카에, 유럽에 있는 형제 자매들이 각각 두 사람씩 함께 인사를 보내 왔으니 말입니다. 하기는 예배현장에서도, 한국에서 25년 이태리에서 34년을 살았다는 분의 귀국 찬양도, 일본에서 공부를 마치고 귀국한 가정도, 한국에서 공부하는 아프리카 카메룬 부부의 인사까지 나누었으니 말입니다.
얼마나 앞의 순서가 풍성했던지 막상 제가 설교를 시작하러 강대상에 올라갔을 때는 12시 12분쯤 되었던가요^^ 메시지를 전하기 전에 청중들을 먼저 안심시켜야 했습니다.ㅋㅋ ‘강사가 배가 고파서 설교를 오래 할 수는 없을 것 같다’고 말입니다. 하지만 그런 새동네교회의 새로운 문화에 적응하지 못한 사람은 나 말고는 없었던 것 같습니다. 설교가 끝났을 때는 모두 예배실 사방으로 둘러서서 공동체 축도를 나누고, 다음에는 예배실을 테이블과 의자를 움직여서 식당 모드로 후다닥 바꾸었습니다. 거기서 자유로운 형태의 성찬이 진행되고 이어서 비로소 애찬을 나누었습니다. 100명이 넘어보이는 그 많은 성도들 가운데 농사를 짓는 유일한 가정에서 제공한 햅쌀로 밥은 지어졌고, 반찬은 아프리카에서 온 형제자매들의 특별한 양배추샐러드까지 더해져서 단촐했으나 특별했습니다.
마치 초대교회의 예배에 참석한 느낌입니다. 일단 형식에 얽매이지 않는 자유로운 예배 진행에다 다양한 배경을 가진 성도들의 이야기에 귀를 기울이는 사랑이 있었기 때문입니다. 식사가 대충 끝나고 나니 청년들이 커피와 차를 주문 받으러 테이블마다 다녔습니다. 그들의 섬김으로 다른 분들은 앉아서 대접을 받으며 대화를 나누었습니다. 저는 식사와 커피를 마시고, 나와 띠동갑 ‘소띠’ 자매들의 테이블로 자리를 옮겨서 대화를 나누었습니다. 하지만 동갑내기가 아니라 세상에 무서운 것이 아무 것도 없는 아줌마들, 나보다 24년이나 젊은 50살의 자매들입니다. 그리고는 주일 모임이 모두 끝난 것이 아닙니다. 반드시 애프터가 있어야 하는 대한민국 사람들입니다. 목사님 댁으로, 아, 참 거기는 ‘목사’라고 하지 않고 ‘형제’라고 불렀습니다 그 형제님 댁으로 자리를 옮겨서, 에스라성경대학원대학교를 수년 전에 졸업한 동문 한 분과 교수로서 몇 년 전에 은퇴하신 “용의 삼촌” 부부, 모두 일곱명이 서로의 소식을 나누며, 2차 교제까지 하고 돌아왔습니다. 그동안 3주 연속으로 다녀온 열린교회, 다우리교회와 마찬가지로, 새동네 교회는 초대교회를 생각나게 하는 새로운 교회였습니다.^^ 교회가 어떻게 교회다울 수 있는지 볼 수 있는 감사한 주일이었습니다.
Yesterday, I visited Saedongnae Church in Munmak, Wonju, Gangwon Province. Leaving at 8:30 in the morning, I drove for about an hour and a half. However, because I had not entered the exact parcel address, I arrived not at the current Saedongnae Church in Munmak, but at the site where the old church used to stand. There was no building to be seen. Realizing my mistake, I called them, received the updated street-name address, and hurried on. Thankfully, I arrived at 10:28 a.m., just two minutes before the gathering was set to begin. Hurrying to find the entrance, I stepped inside, only to find an atmosphere quite unlike that of most churches. Usually, once a service begins, churches grow quiet, at times even solemn. Yet here, a vibrant warmth filled the air, from the entryway right into the sanctuary. It was, of course, their Community Thanksgiving Sharing Sunday (Harvest Thanksgiving), but the pastor was leading the gathering in casual attire and a warm, gentle voice. What truly impressed me was the sight of men and women, children and adults, the elderly, the healthy, and the frail, all genuinely embracing and welcoming one another in comfort and grace.
Once inside, it became clear there had been no need to rush so frantically on the road. The special service that day unfolded in an unhurried, leisurely manner for over an hour and forty minutes. Being a Community Thanksgiving Sharing Sunday, anyone with reasons for gratitude took time to share them individually. As it was a joyful festive day, everyone from tiny toddlers to young adults came forward in turn to recite Scripture verses, sing hymns, play instruments, and even perform a lively Nanta drum rhythm. Naturally, time just flew by. Nor was that all. Young people who could not be there in person sent video greetings: two brothers and sisters from nearby Japan, two from far-off Africa, and two from Europe had each prepared greetings together. Indeed, right there in the sanctuary, we also heard a praise song of return from someone who had lived 25 years in Korea and 34 years in Italy, celebrated a family returning after finishing their studies in Japan, and welcomed greetings from a couple from Cameroon, Africa, currently studying in Korea.
Because the earlier program had been so rich and full, it was already about 12:12 p.m. by the time I finally stepped up to the pulpit to preach. ^^ Before delivering the message, I felt the need to put the congregation at ease, saying with a laugh that because the guest speaker was quite hungry, the sermon could not possibly be long. haha. Yet, it seemed that no one struggled to adapt to this fresh culture of Saedongnae Church except me. When the sermon ended, everyone gathered in a circle around the sanctuary to share a communal benediction. Then, swiftly moving the tables and chairs, they transformed the sanctuary into a dining hall. A free-form communion service was observed, followed by the love feast (Agape meal). Among over a hundred believers, the freshly harvested rice was generously provided by the congregation's sole farming family, and the meal was accompanied by a special cabbage salad prepared by our African brothers and sisters—simple, yet truly exceptional.
It felt very much like being part of a service in the early New Testament church. This was largely because the worship was unbound by rigid formality, filled instead with the genuine love of listening to the stories of believers from all walks of life. As the meal drew to a close, young adults went from table to table taking orders for coffee and tea. Thanks to their servant hearts, the rest of the congregation could simply sit, be served, and enjoy conversation. After finishing my meal and coffee, I moved to sit with the sisters born in the Year of the Ox, sharing the same Chinese zodiac sign as me. But rather than being my age peers, they were fearless middle-aged women—twenty-four years younger than me, fifty years of age! Nor was the Sunday gathering over yet. As typical Koreans who simply must have an "after-party," we moved over to the pastor’s home—though, come to think of it, they called him "brother" rather than "pastor." At that brother’s house, seven of us gathered: an alumnus who graduated years ago from Ezra Bible Graduate University, a retired professor couple affectionately known as "Dragon's Uncle and Aunt," and myself. We caught up on each other's news and enjoyed sweet fellowship well into the afternoon. Just like Open Church and Dauri Church, which I had visited in the previous two weeks, Saedongnae Church was a fresh community that brought the early church vividly to mind. ^^ It was a deeply grateful Sunday, catching a glimpse of what makes the church truly church.
Gister het ek Saedongnae Gemeente in Munmak, Wonju, in die Gangwon-provinsie besoek. Ek het om halfnege die oggend vertrek en omtrent 'n uur en 'n half lank gery. Omdat ek egter nie die regte perseelnommer ingevoer het nie, het ek nie by die huidige Saedongnae Gemeente in Munmak aangekom nie, maar op die plek waar die ou kerkgebou vroeër gestaan het. Daar was hoegenaamd geen gebou te sien nie. Toe ek besef dat ek verkeerd gery het, het ek dadelik gebel, die nuwe straatnaam-adres gekry en vinnig aangery. Genadiglik het ek om 10:28 vm. aangekom—presies twee minute voor die byeenkoms sou begin. Ek het haastig die ingang van die kerkgebou gesoek en binnegestap, maar die atmosfeer was heeltemal anders as by die meeste gewone gemeentes. Gewoonlik, wanneer 'n erediens eers begin het, heers daar 'n stil en soms selfs plegtige stemming. Hier was daar egter van die ingang af regdeur tot in die saal 'n lewendige en hartlike atmosfeer. Dit was weliswaar hul Gemeenskapsdanksegging-sondag (Oesdankdag), maar die leraar het die byeenkoms in gemaklike kleredrag en met 'n sagte, rustige stem gelei. Wat my werklik diep beïndruk het, was hoe mans en vroue, kinders en volwassenes, bejaardes, gesondes en verswaktes mekaar almal met groot gemak en warmte aanvaar en verwelkom het.
Toe ek eers binne was, het ek besef dat daar eintlik geen rede was om so vinnig te gejaag het nie. Die spesiale verrigtinge van daardie dag het immers meer as 'n uur en veertig minute lank rustig en ongejaagd voortgeduur. Omdat dit 'n Gemeenskapsdanksegging-sondag was, het elkeen wat 'n rede tot dankbaarheid gehad het, dit rustig gedeel. Aangesien dit 'n vreugdevolle feesdag was, het almal—van die heel kleinste kindertjies tot die jongmense—beurtelings vorentoe gekom om Bybelverse op te sê, lofliedere te sing, musiekinstrumente te speel en selfs 'n lewendige Nanta-tromuitvoering te lewer. Dit was dus heeltemal natuurlik dat die tyd verbygevlieg het. En dit was nog nie al nie. Jongmense wat nie persoonlik teenwoordig kon wees nie, het videogroete gestuur: telkens twee broers en susters saam uit die nabye Japan, uit die verre Afrika en uit Europa het hul groete oorgedra. Trouens, selfs in die erediens self was daar 'n danklied van iemand wat 25 jaar in Korea en 34 jaar in Italië gewoon het en nou teruggekeer het; ons het 'n gesin verwelkom wat na hul studies in Japan teruggekeer het, en ook die groete ontvang van 'n egpaar uit Kameroen in Afrika wat tans in Korea studeer.
Die voorafgaande program was so ryk en oorvloedig dat dit al omtrent 12:12 nm. was toe ek uiteindelik die kansel bestyg het om te preek. ^^ Voordat ek die boodskap gebring het, moes ek eers die gemeente gerusstel: ek het laggend gesê dat aangesien die prediker honger was, die preek onmoontlik baie lank sou kon wees. haha. Tog het dit gelyk of ek die enigste een was wat nog moes gewoond raak aan hierdie vars kultuur van Saedongnae Gemeente. Toe die preek klaar was, het almal rondom die saal in 'n kring gaan staan om saam die gemeenskapsseën te deel. Daarna is die stoele en tafels blitsvinnig verskuif om die aanbiddingsruimte in 'n eetsaal te omskep. Daar het 'n informele nagmaal plaasgevind, gevolg deur 'n ware liefdesmaal (agape-ete). Tussen die meer as honderd gelowiges het die enigste boerderygesin in die gemeente vars geoeste rys voorsien vir die ete, en die bykosse is verryk met 'n spesiale koolslaai wat deur ons broers en susters uit Afrika voorberei is—eenvoudig, maar besonder smaaklik.
Dit het gevoel asof 'n mens 'n byeenkoms van die vroeë Christelike kerk bywoon. Dit was bowenal te danke aan die vrye vloei van die aanbidding, ongebonde deur starre vorme, en die opregte liefde waarmee daar geluister is na die lewensverhale van gelowiges uit uiteenlopende agtergronde. Nadat die ete min of meer afgehandel was, het die jongmense van tafel tot tafel gegaan om bestellings vir koffie en tee te neem. Danksy hul diensbare harte kon die ander rustig bly sit, bedien word en heerlik gesels. Nadat ek geëet en my koffie geniet het, het ek na die tafel van die susters geskuif wat in dieselfde Chinese diereriemjaar ('Os') as ek gebore is. Maar hulle was nie my eie ouderdom nie; dit was vreeslose middeljarige vroue—vier-en-twintig jaar jonger as ek, pas vyftig jaar oud! En daarmee was die Sondagbyeenkoms nog lank nie verby nie. Soos tipiese Suid-Koreane wat altyd 'n gesellige 'nasit' moet hê, het ons na die leraar se huis verskuif—alhoewel hulle hom daar nie 'leraar' genoem het nie, maar bloedweinig 'broer'. By daardie broer se huis het sewe van ons saamgekuier: 'n oudstudent wat jare gelede aan die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit gegradueer het, 'n afgetrede professore-egpaar wat bekendstaan as "Draak se Oom en Tannie", en ekself. Ons het nuus uitgeruil en 'n wonderlike tweede rondte van gemeenskap geniet voordat ons vertrek het. Net soos 열린교회 (Open Church) en 다우리교회 (Dauri Church), wat ek die voorafgaande twee weke besoek het, was Saedongnae Gemeente 'n vernuwende gemeente wat 'n mens sterk aan die vroeë kerk herinner het. ^^ Dit was 'n dankbare Sondag waarin 'n mens kon aanskou hoe 'n kerk werklik kerk kan wees.