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What do you do in Church?

post #1 of 16
8/2/09 at 3:08am
Thread Starter 
As I have never been, atleast not in the past 10 years except for funerals/weddings. Something happened today and I feel the need to visit a church, but I have no idea what to do there.
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post #2 of 16
8/2/09 at 3:15am
sit in a pew, stand when everybody stands, and sit back and listen.

there's not a lot of doing besides singing. that is unless you're going to attend mass.
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post #3 of 16
8/2/09 at 3:22am
If you plan to go tomorrow morning, do some googling to find out what time the service is. Show up a few minutes early, and try to sit at the end of a row (probably somewhere in the middle of the sanctuary, as people are less territorial there). Listen to what the preacher has to say, stand up when everyone else does, and in a few designated moments of worship, take some reflective time for yourself.

If you're going on 'off hours', many churches keep a/the sanctuary open. You can either go up to the alter to pray, or just grab a pew for some time to yourself.

One of the 'robber barons', I think J.P. Morgan, went to church every day at lunch. If it was J.P. Morgan, it was probably Trinity on Wall St., which I think is near the old Morgan Bank office.

This is for Methodist/Baptists/Presby churches. I have no clue what Catholics do.
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post #4 of 16
8/2/09 at 3:32am
You can try to have a chat with the minister, preacher privately. I can't stand the confessional idea, when I talk to people I like to do it face to face, no matter what it is. I don't feel like I need to hide to say what I have to say, even if I get judging looks, so what. I'm talking about it to get it off my chest and feel better.
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post #5 of 16
8/2/09 at 4:51am
If you want to attend a Catholic Mass, here are two basic guides I found online: Guide Through the Catholic Mass Preview - Brief Guide to the Catholic Mass (PDF download) If you have not been baptized or received into the Catholic church, the only one thing that you cannot do is to receive Communion (The Eucharist). When people line up to receive Communion, just remain seated. Or, if you like, ask the Father to give you a simple Benediction (blessing). Otherwise, just try and follow what others do as they alternate between standing/kneeling and sitting. Masses during the weekday tend to differ from Sunday/Saturday evening Mass in the following: 1. Generally there is no collection (donation) for weekday Masses. 2. Generally there is only one reading instead of two during the weekday Mass. If you want to talk to a priest - regardless of denomination - many are used to getting called on by people who suddenly have had an emotional or spiritual experience and need to talk. That's what they do. Many even post hours and contact information on their homepages these days.
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post #6 of 16
8/2/09 at 6:31am
Getting a seat would be preferrable. Otherwise, you end up standing in the back next to the air conditioner and statues for an hour.
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post #7 of 16
8/2/09 at 11:04am
I prefer to play pretend with my little brother and his various toys as opposed to doing it in a church.
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post #8 of 16
8/2/09 at 11:09am
What type of church you feel compelled to go to will make a huge difference.
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post #9 of 16
8/2/09 at 11:09am
I just got back from a great nap during Mass (Catholic Church).
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post #10 of 16
8/2/09 at 11:33am
Immediately after Mass let out this morning, a torrential downpour caught me walking back to my car. Not even thirty minutes later, I'm back at my friend's apartment, and it's barely drizzling out.

Thanks, Jesus.
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post #11 of 16
8/2/09 at 11:59am
Every Sunday I worship at the altar of scrambled eggs and bacon.
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post #12 of 16
8/2/09 at 12:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
Every Sunday I worship at the altar of scrambled eggs and bacon.

Do you not receive the Sacrament of Bloody Mary?
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post #13 of 16
8/2/09 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro View Post
Immediately after Mass let out this morning, a torrential downpour caught me walking back to my car. Not even thirty minutes later, I'm back at my friend's apartment, and it's barely drizzling out.

Thanks, Jesus.



No good deed goes unpunished!
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post #14 of 16
8/2/09 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by free man View Post
As I have never been, atleast not in the past 10 years except for funerals/weddings. Something happened today and I feel the need to visit a church, but I have no idea what to do there.
In addition to what people have mentioned, you might pray. And if you haven't been to a church for a while, you might just go when no service is going on. You can sit or kneel, or walk around. What's important imo is that you bring whatever you have to God. This can be anger, gratitude, longing, fear, whatever. The point is to bring it openly.

Quote:
Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro View Post
Immediately after Mass let out this morning, a torrential downpour caught me walking back to my car. Not even thirty minutes later, I'm back at my friend's apartment, and it's barely drizzling out.

Thanks, Jesus.
I guess he felt you needed a further cleaning. The outside counts too. That's one lesson of the incarnation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
Every Sunday I worship at the altar of scrambled eggs and bacon.
And let this be a lesson to us all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by edinatlanta View Post
What type of church you feel compelled to go to will make a huge difference.
So true. Not only are denominations different, but so are particular churches w/in denominations. In general, I prefer churches run by religious orders: Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Oblates, etc.
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post #15 of 16
8/2/09 at 2:10pm
I wait expectantly for the sacrifice to happen.
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