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richrthr
Posts:102
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| 07/21/2007 6:08 PM |
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| Alas! Don, I can only draw upon my own experiences when I speak of the UCC - but I daresay there's a good amount of folk who would find the more subdued services comforting - that's what makes the UCC so unique - a democratic, accepting, diverse haven of quality christians where it is just as acceptable to have a joy-filled church service as it is to have a more traditional one! |
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Richard Kiraly
Garden of Grace UCC
http://www.gogucc.com |
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Kara McKay
Posts:15
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| 07/22/2007 1:15 PM |
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It sounds like the church here is closer to being like St. John's than it is to Garden of Grace. My comfort zone falls somewhere in between -- I like low stress involvement, but I also like a little formality.
Richard, it sounds to me like we had very different Catholic experiences. St. Michael's, the church I attended as a teenager, was very laid back and we were fortunate to have had a succession of very progressive priests. That's what threw me off when I became an adult and moved away from home -- I was really shocked to find out that my experience was not at all representative of the Catholic experience for most people.
The thing that most drove me nuts back then was that St. Michael's was a very physically affectionate congregation. These were the sort of folks who weren't content to shake your hand during the Sign of Peace. Oh, no, they had to shake your hand, hug you, and just generally maul the heck out of you in the name of fellowship. I'm not a demonstrative person, and I'm very uncomfortable with having people in my personal space, especially if I don't know those people. I'm really glad that my new church is a hand-shaking sort of congregation.
Kara |
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richrthr
Posts:102
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| 07/23/2007 7:02 AM |
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Kara:
Whoever heard of a laid back Catholic Church? Just Kidding. Mine was in the San Bernardino Diocese of Southern California, and my own church was rather isolated and very "small town." I am glad to hear that there are some positive experiences to share out there with regards to the Catholic church!
I understand about personal space - and respect that everybody does not find it comfortable to hug "strangers." Fortunately my own church is small enough where there are no true strangers - yet I think that hugs and handshakes are equally distributed in our church. I think that the welcoming attitude takes many forms - from proferring additional information for the new member(s) to invitations to church functions, or just simply inviting them to sit next to me - or introducing them to other members.
This is not something I observed of the Catholic church. of course I recognize that I am limited to my own experiences - but have heard similar comments from many other Catholics and former Catholics. |
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Richard Kiraly
Garden of Grace UCC
http://www.gogucc.com |
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Searching
Posts:30
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| 07/23/2007 6:59 PM |
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| I'm a hugger :) |
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richrthr
Posts:102
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| 07/27/2007 5:38 AM |
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| Hugs are great! Especially in the winter when it is cold! Now if only those hugs came with a cup of hot cocoa! |
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Richard Kiraly
Garden of Grace UCC
http://www.gogucc.com |
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Searching
Posts:30
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| 07/27/2007 7:29 AM |
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| Kara, I do understand about the personal space thing - I try very hard to be respectful of people who are not huggers. My husband is like you, he needs his space! It's a turn off to him when a stranger grabs him and hugs him, too! The way he handles it, is to put his hand out first, lets them know right out front that he's a hand shaker not a hugger :) Funny, though, I never thought of a Catholic Church being affectionate, I always thought of them as very subdued and orderly! Just goes to show you, every place is different. |
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Pastorbogy
Posts:121
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| 07/27/2007 12:01 PM |
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| Isn't it funny how we expect churches to be like MacDonald's, following the "corporate script" in compliance with the sign out front? |
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richrthr
Posts:102
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| 07/30/2007 6:21 PM |
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| It's the "McCatholic" Church! |
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Richard Kiraly
Garden of Grace UCC
http://www.gogucc.com |
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Searching
Posts:30
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| 07/30/2007 7:07 PM |
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| Hey guys, I was reading on another thread about the UCC being "anti-evangelical", which Andy corrected saying that the UCC isn't, but apparently is considered a liberal church. Would you say leaning toward Progressive Christianity? I'm still on the fence about Progressive, only because it's very new to me. I have heard some of Spong and Borg, and agreed with some of it, but remember, my roots are Southern Baptist, my husband's roots are Pentecostal - LOL. We haven't attended any church for the past 3 or 4 yrs, now. I need some clarification because that verse of Jesus spitting out the "lukewarm" keeps haunting me. |
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Don NIederfrank
Posts:41
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| 07/30/2007 9:31 PM |
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Searching,
The people in the pews some years ago self identified as 1/4 conservative, 1/2 moderate, 1/4 liberal. The leadership in the denomination tends toward the liberal end of the spectrum as do the persons from local congregations who attend Conference and Synod meetings. So the 'public face' of the denomination is progressive, but I wouldn't assume that is the thinking of any individual member or congregation. What you more than likely will find is an openness and tolerance of a diversity of doctrine that you're probably not used to in the SBC.
But others can chime in with their opinions, too. |
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Dios habla todavia |
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richrthr
Posts:102
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| 07/31/2007 6:32 AM |
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| Personally, I am about 77.312% Liberal. The exceptions usually relate to monogamy, self-respect, respect for others, christian-like behavior. Unfortunately, I do find myself agreeing with some conservative policies/ideas/beliefs. |
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Richard Kiraly
Garden of Grace UCC
http://www.gogucc.com |
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dudley
Posts:1
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| 06/11/2008 6:15 PM |
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| I was a Roman Catholic all my life. I think God has led me to become a Protestant and Presbyterian. What started as a study on the Protestant Reformation has led to a conversion to Protestantism for me. I began doing an extensive study of the Protestant Reformation from the perspective of Protestant writers and Theologians. I centered a lot on the reformers Luther, Calvin and Knox. I studied Luther's Doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone and I began concentrating on the Reformed Theology of Calvin and Knox. I then read the Westminster Confession of Faith and the short and long catechisms of the Presbyterian Church. I started to attend services at a few Presbyterian churches in February 2007. I am now a confessed Presbyterian. I do believe the table of the Lords Supper should be open to all believers. I agree with the UCC position of the sacrament.I now believe in the Presbyterian reformed teaching of The Lord's Supper. That it was instituted by Jesus the same night he was betrayed, to be only a symbolic remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his death and for our spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, and as a bond and pledge of our communion with him, and with each other.
Dudley |
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Dudley |
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