Not religious but love feeling at Church

Jackieboy

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Yes some aren't good at preaching for more than a short time. 40 mins is approx it can be longer.

My experince isn't limited to one denomination as I go to different ones on holiday and its always the same so maybe its a Scottish/English difference?

Once they are in the third year of secondary school, so from age 13 they don't have seperate teaching on a Sunday. There is though something for them on a weekday evening.

You haven't said when the children go to Sunday school, presumably that's as well as the service then?

I certainly wouldn't attend a church where the sermon was longer than 40 minutes - surely that doesn't leave much time for the rest of the service?

Also not sure what you mean by "separate teaching", doesn't that imply that the adults are taught as well? I think that many churches encourage families to worship together so no Sunday school is needed as it's the service itself that's considered important.

coolcait

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Yes some aren't good at preaching for more than a short time. 40 mins is approx it can be longer.

My experince isn't limited to one denomination as I go to different ones on holiday and its always the same so maybe its a Scottish/English difference?

Once they are in the third year of secondary school, so from age 13 they don't have seperate teaching on a Sunday. There is though something for them on a weekday evening.

You haven't said when the children go to Sunday school, presumably that's as well as the service then?

I think there might be an element of regional difference.

My experiences in Scotland mirror yours, across a number of denominations.

Jackieboy

coolcait wrote: »

I think a couple of people have alluded to this already, but I find a calming atmosphere in churches even when they are empty.

Even though I wouldn't describe myself as particularly 'religious', I've sat in many churches, of many denominations, over the years, and ended up feeling at peace with myself.

Whatever the reasons 'why' I end up feeling that way, it's a good feeling.

I always visit churches wherever I visit, as you say the sense of peace can be very calming. Personally, I enjoy services as well but see them as a bonus.

Lily-Rose_3

Jackieboy wrote: »

I don't think I'd be all that happy to sit through a 40 minute sermon myself! Some clergy are good at public speaking but, IME, they aren't in the majority.

Not all children who go to Sunday School are the children of people who are worshipping at the same time - my parents never went to church but I went to Sunday School for many years. For those who are, I still don't undertand why they'd want to do this away from their children. In your church, at what age to the children join the general congregation for worship?
.

Same. I'd be bored rigid. Ten minutes is plenty, and I have never been to a single Church in my life that has a sermon lasting 40 minutes. Not even half that actually. It's often around 10 minutes.

At my Church we usually have a hymn, a reading, a hymn, a reading, another hymn, another reading, a hymn, then the sermon. (10 minutes max.) Then a break for 5 minutes. Then one of the Church regulars will have their 5 minutes where they reflect on something in the Bible, and may ask us to look around something she has strewn around the Church (pictures or poetry or prose or verses from the bible etc,) then we have a couple more hymns and a couple more readings. Then we end and chat for 10-20 minutes with a coffee or tea.

The whole service rarely exceeds an hour. I would go doo lally tap if the sermon was almost three quarters of an hour!

Also never been to a Church with a creche. Sunday school yes, which they have occasionally. But mostly (as several have said,) the children sit in on the service. Seems odd (to me) to be putting your children in a creche every time you go into the service. Why would you not want your children involved?

Love the feeling of being in Church too. The Christmas carols are beautiful, the hymns are lovely, and the whole atmosphere is sweet. Sometimes I go to the Church on my own and just sit in the seats for 10-15 minutes. It's calming and relaxing.

We have about 50-55 people a week attending on average, (On Sundays,) some weeks 60, and around 8-10 people keep it going. Doesn't need more than that IMO. I have also been asked numerous times in the past to join in this and that; all kinds of groups and gatherings, but I am really not interested. I don't like group gatherings, and going to Church is enough for me.

I cannot commit to anything else, and have made this clear to them, many times. I was asked by several different people some 20 times or more over about 12 months before finally getting the message! They do ask for volunteers most weeks for something or other. They ask so often actually, that I can only surmise that the ones who ARE volunteering are bailing quite quickly, as they are constantly asking!

I know a few people who volunteered to clean the Church after the Vicar asked for volunteers (only 3-5 hours a month he said!) Before they knew it, they were being roped into loads of other things. They got so frustrated and unable/afraid to say no, that they quit coming altogether.

coolcait

Jackieboy wrote: »

I certainly wouldn't attend a church where the sermon was longer than 40 minutes - surely that doesn't leave much time for the rest of the service?

Also not sure what you mean by "separate teaching", doesn't that imply that the adults are taught as well? I think that many churches encourage families to worship together so no Sunday school is needed as it's the service itself that's considered important.

I think the length of the service depends on the celebrant as much as the denomination.

I've been to RC services where the sermon was a pithy 5 minutes - but managed to pick up the essential themes of the day's Gospel and readings in a memorable way.

I've been to services for other denominations where the sermon was as long as the entire RC service, but was also memorable (I have particularly fond memories of the sermons by a young American Methodist minister. They seemed like entertaining rambles, until he got to the end, and all the 'rambling' came together to make you sit up and think).

I've also been to services, of all denominations, where I couldn't tell you what anyone said :). Simply because it wasn't memorable.

As for the reasons why some churches have "separate teaching" for children, I've usually seen that explained as being a way to allow the children to take part in the service at a level which is appropriate for them.

I think that makes a lot more sense than having a beetle-browed priest break off from sermonising about 'suffer the little children to come unto me' to use his beetle brows to indicate that a questioning toddler should be removed from the church.

OK - I exaggerate. The sermon was the week after the brow-inspired toddler removal. Folk remembered. They remember still, all these years later :rotfl:

Torry_Quine

Lily-Rose wrote: »

Same. I'd be bored rigid. Ten minutes is plenty, and I have never been to a single Church in my life that has a sermon lasting 40 minutes. Not even half that actually. It's often around 10 minutes.

At my Church we usually have a hymn, a reading, a hymn, a reading, another hymn, another reading, a hymn, then the sermon. (10 minutes max.) Then a break for 5 minutes. Then one of the Church regulars will have their 5 minutes where they reflect on something in the Bible, and may ask us to look around something she has strewn around the Church (pictures or poetry or prose or verses from the bible etc,) then we have a couple more hymns and a couple more readings. Then we end and chat for 10-20 minutes with a coffee or tea.

The whole service rarely exceeds an hour. I would go doo lally tap if the sermon was almost three quarters of an hour!

Also never been to a Church with a creche. Sunday school yes, which they have occasionally. But mostly (as several have said,) the children sit in on the service. Seems odd (to me) to be putting your children in a creche every time you go into the service. Why would you not want your children involved?

Love the feeling of being in Church too. The Christmas carols are beautiful, the hymns are lovely, and the whole atmosphere is sweet. Sometimes I go to the Church on my own and just sit in the seats for 10-15 minutes. It's calming and relaxing.

We have about 50-55 people a week attending on average, (On Sundays,) some weeks 60, and around 8-10 people keep it going. Doesn't need more than that IMO. I have also been asked numerous times in the past to join in this and that; all kinds of groups and gatherings, but I am really not interested. I don't like group gatherings, and going to Church is enough for me.

I cannot commit to anything else, and have made this clear to them, many times. I was asked by several different people some 20 times or more over about 12 months before finally getting the message! They do ask for volunteers most weeks for something or other. They ask so often actually, that I can only surmise that the ones who ARE volunteering are bailing quite quickly, as they are constantly asking!

I know a few people who volunteered to clean the Church after the Vicar asked for volunteers (only 3-5 hours a month he said!) Before they knew it, they were being roped into loads of other things. They got so frustrated and unable/afraid to say no, that they quit coming altogether.

Known here as the hymn prayer sandwich service. The service lasts about 90 minutes which isn't unusual at all.. children are in for the first 30 minutes.
10 minute is very short when you think that he preacher is reading the passage

coolcait wrote: »

I think the length of the service depends on the celebrant as much as the denomination.

I've been to RC services where the sermon was a pithy 5 minutes - but managed to pick up the essential themes of the day's Gospel and readings in a memorable way.

I've been to services for other denominations where the sermon was as long as the entire RC service, but was also memorable (I have particularly fond memories of the sermons by a young American Methodist minister. They seemed like entertaining rambles, until he got to the end, and all the 'rambling' came together to make you sit up and think).

I've also been to services, of all denominations, where I couldn't tell you what anyone said :). Simply because it wasn't memorable.

As for the reasons why some churches have "separate teaching" for children, I've usually seen that explained as being a way to allow the children to take part in the service at a level which is appropriate for them.

I think that makes a lot more sense than having a beetle-browed priest break off from sermonising about 'suffer the little children to come unto me' to use his beetle brows to indicate that a questioning toddler should be removed from the church.

OK - I exaggerate. The sermon was the week after the brow-inspired toddler removal. Folk remembered. They remember still, all these years later :rotfl:

Some things covered in sermons are not appropriate for young ears.

coolcait

Torry_Quine wrote: »

...
Some things covered in sermons are not appropriate for young ears.

That's a fair point too, although - as with TV and film - sometimes children are oblivious to the adult messages.

After a sermon which was basically about sex (it covered the meaning of betrothal and marriage in the Bible, and divorce and new relationships today), there was much muttering about the fact that the sermon was delivered in front of 'weans'.

A casual enquiry to several of the 'weans', at the time, as to what they thought about the sermon, elicited the consensus opinion that it was about "Mary and Joseph and Jesus and stuff".

None of the 'weans' seemed particularly interested in the sermon - much less the 'stuff'. The 'weans' I know, including the two who are the fruits of my labours, don't even remember it now.

They do remember the old man who gave that sermon - because they had to stay and listen to it because the children's liturgy co-ordinator was sick. Also - more importantly from their perspective at the time - they got crème eggs.

tea_lover

coolcait wrote: »

Also - more importantly from their perspective at the time - they got crème eggs.

If the children at our church got chocolate and the adults didn't there'd be outrage :rotfl:.

Our services usually last from an hour to an hour and a quarter. Sermons average 10-15 mins (well, 15 mins would be the max really). Children are generally in with us, but do go out for some of the service, for maybe 1 service in 3.

This has been my experience for all the churches I've been part of.

Always interesting seeing how other people do things

Jackieboy

tea_lover wrote: »

If the children at our church got chocolate and the adults didn't there'd be outrage :rotfl:.

Our services usually last from an hour to an hour and a quarter. Sermons average 10-15 mins (well, 15 mins would be the max really). Children are generally in with us, but do go out for some of the service, for maybe 1 service in 3.

This has been my experience for all the churches I've been part of.

Always interesting seeing how other people do things

Your experience sounds similar to mine but it is interesting to compare.

Jackieboy

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Some things covered in sermons are not appropriate for young ears.

You obviously go to a much racier church than I've ever been to!:rotfl:

ETA

Just reread your post. What passage would the preacher be reading - in the churches I know the Bible readings are separate from the sermon and, as others have said, given by members of the congregation. Is that why they don't do it like that in your church?