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JMcKenrick
Posts:13
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| 05/02/2006 2:51 AM |
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I finally worked up the courage to email a UCC close to me but wasn't listed as ONA. I got my reply and it was welcoming. The pastor himself replied. He said he personally agrees with the UCC's welcome to LGBT people but he also said the there are some conservatives that attend there who wouldn't feel comfortable around an openly gay person. Though that doesn't bother me, I will tell anyone if they ask me but I'm not so gay that anyone can tell. So I think I'll go this Sunday and give it a try. I have a question though. I grew up in the catholic church, then went to a pentecostal church for awhile too. How is the UCC similar and how is it different from these two denominations. I know there is no definite answer but could you ust give me an idea? Thanks and looking forward to Sunday!
Your Brother in Christ,
Josh |
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baronsabato
Posts:78
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| 05/02/2006 5:55 AM |
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Josh, let me tell you right now that I am so happy for you and I hope everything turns out well. I remember when I first finally decided to go back to church; it was a scary, and weird experience, but you know what? I felt strangely confident, a lot more confident than I usually feel. I really believe God was there, guiding me to that church, and helping me introduce myself to the congregants there. I really do hope you enjoy the service, and that you find God there some way or the other.
Interesting question about how UCC churches compare with different denominations. Well, as you know, each congregation is different, but UCC congregations are typically fairly "low church"; that is, they don't have all the liturgy and ritual of Catholic, some Anglican and some Lutheran churches. Even so, we do place some emphasis on responsive readings and the sacrament of communion, which reminds me more of the Catholic tradition, while maintaining a little bit of that evangelical Protestant spirit. Also, in my experience, everyone is welcome to receive communion, but you may want to clear that up with one of the members there first just in case.
I hope you enjoy the service, and I hope the church helps you feel welcome. Remember, God is with you always, and I will keep you in my prayers this week! |
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"the whole irreducible point of the faith,
God thrown in human waste, submerged and shining.
We have grown used to beauty without horror.
We have grown used to useless beauty." |
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MattC
Posts:10
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| 05/02/2006 1:44 PM |
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| Good luck man. I'm in the same position. I'm thinking about going on sunday. |
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Linda
Posts:92
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| 05/03/2006 12:19 AM |
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I was brought up Catholic and am now UCC. The differences in the worship service definitely took some time for me to get used to. There is a lot less ritual in the UCC. The differences I am most appreciative of are in structure and doctrine. In the UCC, Jesus is the head of the church - not the Pope. We are encouraged to read the Bible, study, think, pray, and discern for ourselves how best to follow Christ- different than the Catholic Church in which it is easy to simply blindly believe and follow doctrine, and disagreement is met with "this is the teaching of the Church"- the church equivalent of "because I said so". Since I joined the UCC I feel more genuine in my faith and less bound by man-made rules. The church no longer mediates between me and God; the church is now simply a support in my relationship with God.
Good luck on Sunday. I hope the congregation continues the welcome that the pastor has begun.
Linda
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lisa
Posts:27
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| 05/03/2006 10:48 AM |
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This is wonderful news, that you were wiling to try a new church. I know it can be scary. Now that a sunday has past, I'm wondering how you felt about the experience. I really pray that you felt welcomed and felt some sense of the presence of God. I know that God accepts you, just as you are, and wants you welcomed in the church. I think some others did a great job of explaining the differences between the experience of a UCC and the experience of a Catholic worship service. Churches known as Pentecostal, I believe, usually take the Bible quite literally, and their services tend to be more open to Amens, oral prayers by everyone, and other demonstrations of the Spirit moving within the congregation. Literally, someone who is pentecostal is listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that describes the UCC very well! Again, I pray that your experience on Sunday wasa good one, and that you will keep on trying. Let us know how it went.
Lisa
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