What's Your Church/Place of Worship Like?

[CarrieH]

Our parish church is very 1970’s looking, with earth-toned upholstered pews and carpeting (ugh!). At least they painted the walls recently, but new carpeting isn’t in the budget at this time. Except for that, think oak, brass, and white, and you’ll have our decor. We have an altar at center, a large oak crucifix hanging on the wall behind the altar, pastel-colored St. Mary and St. Joseph statues in the usual places along with votive candles, and a beautiful Infant of Prague off to one side. We have a baptistry, no pool. It’s not the prettiest or fanciest church in town, but it’s “home” and I find it to be the most prayerful parish in the area – we’re the only church in town with Perpetual Adoration (beautiful chapel ). We have daily Mass twice each morning plus on Tuesday evenings and Friday noon, and we do many of the traditional devotions such as Mother of Perpetual Help, the 40 Most Holy Hours, etc. I’d rather have this environment even with the '70’s stuff than to be at the more glamorous church across town with all of their modernistic ideas and practices!

 

[CarrieH]

Our places of worship are simple, need no ornamental things.

We don’t “need” the ornamental things, but they are nice reminders of our faith. Thanks for sharing your perspective!

Peace to you and yours,
CarrieH

 

[Alexius]

What a beautiful little United Methodist sactuary! I like the unusual cross, too.

The stained glass reminds me of an Antiochian Orthodox Church I was in…

Hi

I am an Ahmadi a peaceful Muslim. Like all other Muslims my place of worship has nothing as described by you above. We pray there to One and Only One God, the words are the same as do any Sunni Muslim have for Salat. Our Kalima or slogan “There are no gods/godheads except the One Allah and Muhammad is neither a god nor we worship him, he is a ProphetMessenger of OneGod” in Arabic the words of Kalima are “la elaha ellullaho muhammad ur rasulullahe” I have given its meaning.

Our places of worship are simple, need no ornamental things.

Thanks

Yes, I was at a mosque once and it was very simple. It is like the Islamic faith and concept of God in Islam, very simple and too the point. Catholic and Orthodox Churches reflect their faith–very complex and comprehensive with every intricate detail added…

 

[Alexius]

I do not attend one church, but rather move around. The Ukrainian Catholic parish I have attended is small and very Latinized (Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Confession booths, no iconostasis). The main cathedral is magnificent: ukrcathedral.com/

A very small and elegante Orthodox Church that is close to my heart: churchofourlady.org/

There are many more, but I am blessed to have such a large amount of Eastern churches, many in the mid-west have to drive 50 miles to church on Sundays. I have a dozen or more within twenty miles…

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[Kitty_Chan]

Hi

I am an Ahmadi a peaceful Muslim. Like all other Muslims my place of worship has nothing as described by you above. We pray there to One and Only One God, the words are the same as do any Sunni Muslim have for Salat. Our Kalima or slogan “There are no gods/godheads except the One Allah and Muhammad is neither a god nor we worship him, he is a ProphetMessenger of OneGod” in Arabic the words of Kalima are “la elaha ellullaho muhammad ur rasulullahe” I have given its meaning.

Our places of worship are simple, need no ornamental things.

Thanks

maybe I watch too much tv but what about carpets to kneel on? There is candles or something its not a empty room. what is there??

 

[ASimpleSinner]

firstwichita.org/around_the_church/pictures/Chapel/index.html

firstwichita.org/around_the_church/Church_Symbolism/symbolism.html

firstwichita.org/around_the_church/church_front.jpg

Thank you for sharing that.

Just curious, from the perspective offered in the photos it looked almost as though the altar were against the wall… Is it free standing?

 

[Alexius]

How about this “church”:

prestonwood.org/ministries/sports.php

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestonwood_Baptist_Church

Complete with fitness gym, two bookstores and cafe…:coffeeread:

“I can get my Christmas shopping done while the pastor speaks and kill two birds with one stone…” --My testimony :dancing:

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. I’m sure there are many sincere followers of Christ in this church, but it is a shame that for them, church has become more like an alternative to Sunday Football and less about growing in communion with and worshipping the One true God…

 

[Alexius]

maybe I watch too much tv but what about carpets to kneel on? There is candles or something its not a empty room. what is there??

Yes, there are prayer rugs (or rather a large prayer rug) and sometimes incense and candles. Also, in the front is where the Imam sits and where the prayer niche is located to point out the qibla (direction of prayers)…Scroll down the link to view the pictures: al-aqsaislamicsociety.com/gpage3.html

 

[paarsurrey]

maybe I watch too much tv but what about carpets to kneel on? There is candles or something its not a empty room. what is there??

Hi

Under instructions from some Hadith we don’t pray in darkness so candles/bulbs are to provide light also for security purposes as snakes or other harmful insects could disturb the prayer.

Since we don’t use chairs in the Mosques (except for the relaxation allowed to indisposed persons or very old persons) so the floor could be very cold in the winter, or very hot in the summer hence mats and carpets are provided though it is not essential.

Ornamental things are avoided as they could distract ones attention while every effort is made to give full attention to the worship of Allah.

Thanks

 

[dparker]

“and now for something entirely different…”

Our building is a converted health club. Seats 1400. Is packed to capacity most services. Interior walls/ceilings are blacked out. Central platform. Three large media screens. Lots of lights…strobes…smoke…

Christian music videos are on the screens before service starts. Five minutes before the service a five minute countdown begins counting down on the screens. Music slowly gets louder. Lighting slowly gets darker. As the countdown ends, the worship leaders (singers, multiple keyboards, multiple drums, multiple guitars) are in place and off we go…

The service is loud and intense. Lots of joyous praise…intense worship…dancing…jumping… Dress is very casual.

The weekly Saturday night/Sunday morning services are 2-3 hours each (four services total) with about an hour of that preaching/teaching. There is also a dual location a few miles away in a converted industrial park.

One Sunday night a month we have a special service called God Encounter. Service starts at 6:00 PM, but if you are not in line when the doors open at 5:15, you won’t get a good seat. It’s standing room only and those services can be 4-5 hours. Last Sunday night we got out at 10:00 PM and frankly, none of us wanted to leave.

It’s a bit different…but after “doing church” for 50 years, it’s a breath of fresh air for me. Probably half the church is under age 30. God is genuinely moving in very powerful ways…and it is exciting to witness it.

Crank your volume up and give them a click…

CelebrationChurch.cc

CelebrationMusic.cc

 

[Alexius]

“and now for something entirely different…”

Our building is a converted health club. Seats 1400. Is packed to capacity most services. Interior walls/ceilings are blacked out. Central platform. Three large media screens. Lots of lights…strobes…smoke…

Christian music videos are on the screens before service starts. Five minutes before the service a five minute countdown begins counting down on the screens. Music slowly gets louder. Lighting slowly gets darker. As the countdown ends, the worship leaders (singers, multiple keyboards, multiple drums, multiple guitars) are in place and off we go…

The service is loud and intense. Lots of joyous praise…intense worship…dancing…jumping… Dress is very casual.

The weekly Saturday night/Sunday morning services are 2-3 hours each (four services total) with about an hour of that preaching/teaching. There is also a dual location a few miles away in a converted industrial park.

One Sunday night a month we have a special service called God Encounter. Service starts at 6:00 PM, but if you are not in line when the doors open at 5:15, you won’t get a good seat. It’s standing room only and those services can be 4-5 hours. Last Sunday night we got out at 10:00 PM and frankly, none of us wanted to leave.

It’s a bit different…but after “doing church” for 50 years, it’s a breath of fresh air for me. Probably half the church is under age 30. God is genuinely moving in very powerful ways…and it is exciting to witness it.

Crank your volume up and give them a click…

CelebrationChurch.cc

CelebrationMusic.cc

Wow! That is different! I’m glad to hear that God is moving through your congregation!

 

[BrianH]

“and now for something entirely different…”

Our building is a converted health club. Seats 1400. Is packed to capacity most services. Interior walls/ceilings are blacked out. Central platform. Three large media screens. Lots of lights…strobes…smoke…

Christian music videos are on the screens before service starts. Five minutes before the service a five minute countdown begins counting down on the screens. Music slowly gets louder. Lighting slowly gets darker. As the countdown ends, the worship leaders (singers, multiple keyboards, multiple drums, multiple guitars) are in place and off we go…

The service is loud and intense. Lots of joyous praise…intense worship…dancing…jumping… Dress is very casual.

The weekly Saturday night/Sunday morning services are 2-3 hours each (four services total) with about an hour of that preaching/teaching. There is also a dual location a few miles away in a converted industrial park.

One Sunday night a month we have a special service called God Encounter. Service starts at 6:00 PM, but if you are not in line when the doors open at 5:15, you won’t get a good seat. It’s standing room only and those services can be 4-5 hours. Last Sunday night we got out at 10:00 PM and frankly, none of us wanted to leave.

It’s a bit different…but after “doing church” for 50 years, it’s a breath of fresh air for me. Probably half the church is under age 30. God is genuinely moving in very powerful ways…and it is exciting to witness it.

Crank your volume up and give them a click…

CelebrationChurch.cc

CelebrationMusic.cc

 

[BrianH]

Thank you for sharing that.

Just curious, from the perspective offered in the photos it looked almost as though the altar were against the wall… Is it free standing?

chapel against wall
sanctuary free standing

 

[justinthemartyr]

yes, “feeling” and “sensationalism” can be confused with “good church”.or “good worship”.

 

[Kitty_Chan]

paarsurrey Alexius

thanks.

 

[Alexius]

paarsurrey Alexius

thanks.

No problem!

 

[Kitty_Chan]

I dont have a particular place of worship, but I attend several depending on where I am traveling.

At my cabin there is a very plain church of the Gospel variety. Worn wood doors, old pews and a cross at the front, its heated with a wood stove in the winter.

Home is a newer but basic Baptist church.

Also, we go to the races and they have a service there. Could be in a tent, generally a sponsor borrowed one, local churches send over their bands or singers.

Even attended a interesting church service in a bar, where the preacher sat on a stool and spoke into the pa system.

Then theres the churches of my family friends.

 

[war_eagle]

What is your church/meetinghouse/synogogue/place of worship like?

Getting smaller every day. We started our church about a year and a half ago with about twenty-two people meeting in a member’s backyard.

Since then, we bought a couple of acres with an old Grange Hall on it and have grown so much and so quicky that, at this rate, we’re going to need a new building within three years.

Does your place of worship have an altar at center, or pulpit, or both?

Pulpit.

Does your place of worship have any religious imagery at all, or is it plain?

We have a large cross behind the baptistry.

Cross, crucifix, resifix, or other image of Christ?

Baptismal font, baptismal pool, or baptistry?

See above.

Does it have liturgy to a certain extent?

No.

What do you enjoy most about your place of worship?

Outside of the preaching and teaching, the fellowship.

How often do you have communion/Eucharist?

About once a month.

What does your church look like?

It’s a pretty non-descript white building. We’ve tried to dress it up, but it didn’t really work.

Like I said, we’re growing so quickly that we’re going to need a new building soon, anyway. We’re very fortunate, in that we have several wealthy benefactors (our church is located in a very wealthy area) and so money really isn’t much of an issue.

I’ve asked a cousin of mine in Alabama to send me some of the pictures of our old church because when we do design the new church, one of the things I want to copy is the lobby/fellowship area of that church. It had large oak beams and a large fireplace that I always thought was a wonderful place to sit and fellowship. I remember my dad’s men’s Sunday School class used to hold it’s classes there.

 

[lizaanne]

WanderAimlessly has already beat me to it with some lovely photos of our parish, but I’ll add this one as well…

te-deum.blogspot.com/2007/06/marriage-at-assumption-grotto.html <<beautiful photo of the altar with a wedding - click on the photo to enlarge

te-deum.blogspot.com/2007/05/memorial-day-2007.html <<priests in black vestments on Memorial Day - just stunning!

~Liza

 

[Metaron]

Ugh… it reminds me of the Protestant community my parents used to drag me too before I became Anglican (now Catholic).