Catholicism, Part 2 (Visiting Church #18) The sanctuary of this Roman Catholic Church is grand without being ostentatious. Modern and airy, it seats several hundred, with pews arrayed in four sections, each group angled to face the front. Behind...
High Church (Visiting Church #17) The church has a contemporary service followed by a traditional one; we attend both. A Lutheran congregation, I expect a high-church experience (more formal and liturgical). However, their idea of contemporary is...
A Different Venue (Visiting Church #16) The church we visited this Sunday is a nondenominational gathering that meets in a public school auditorium. In some parts of the United States it’s unheard of for a church to meet in a government building...
A Glimpse into the Future (Visiting Church #15) Sunday we visited our third United Methodist Church. I enjoyed all three, even though this one’s in sharp contrast to the other two. Based on our experience, it’s an anomaly for their denomination...
A Pentecostal Experience (Visiting Church #14) This Pentecostal church receives us warmly. The greeter is an amazing ambassador and will interact with us several more times throughout the morning. He introduces us to the pastor’s wife and it’s...
A Husband and Wife Team (Visiting Church #13) The church has no website and its Facebook page is nothing more than a placeholder. Given this lack of presence on contemporary channels, our experience suggests they are a smaller, aging congregation...
A Patriotic Day (Visiting Church #12) Next on our list is another United Methodist Church. Their website has a helpful “what to expect” section. Described as “a quaint, country church,” visitors may “come as you are.” The facility reminds me of...
Nothing Out of the Ordinary (Visiting Church #11) I didn’t know this church existed until my wife stumbled onto this charismatic church during her online research for our adventure. Their Facebook page says they’re “a charismatic, faith-filled...
Technology Isn’t Needed to Have a Good Service (Visiting Church #10) It’s Father’s Day and we visit our fourth Baptist church in ten weeks. Like two of the others, this one is both a small congregation and an older congregation. They’re friendly...
Methodists Know How to Cook (Visiting Church #9) This Sunday we visit a United Methodist church with two traditional services. We go to the second and I’m expectant for what I will learn. Two greeters hand out nametags to the regulars; they offer...
