LCMS - Dress code

vle045 · Dec 19, 2007

I really would like to visit an LCMS church after the holidays. But I don't want to offend or stick out like a sore thumb.

Is there typically a dress code? Do people wear their "Sunday best"?

We go to Catholic Mass where is is perfectly acceptable to wear jeans and a sweater...

CaliforniaJosiah · Dec 19, 2007

vle045 said:
I really would like to visit an LCMS church after the holidays. But I don't want to offend or stick out like a sore thumb.

Is there typically a dress code? Do people wear their "Sunday best"?

We go to Catholic Mass where is is perfectly acceptable to wear jeans and a sweater...

There is none, but I'll share with you MY approach....

My Dad is a pastor and active in ecumencial affairs, so he always encouraged us kids to worship elsewhere, too. But he conveyed a very deep sense of RESPECT for others and to not, even unintentionally, offend. As my Mom would stress, when we are a GUEST in the house of another, we must RESPECT them and their house....

So, if I know I'm going to a church, first thing I do is check out the website - because they'll tend to answer a lot right there. You may see what their expectations are about dress, even what their worship service is like, communion policies, etc. But if it's not TOTALLY clear (and it's usually not), ASK. I'll call the church office. I might say, "I hope to be a guest in your church on Sunday. I usually wear long khaki pants, a collared long sleave shirt and maybe a tie. Is that going to be okay? Would you recommend I dress in some other way?" The secretary will usually be very frank and helpful (Christians REALLY DO want to be helpful).

BTW, I NEVER take Communion in another church - even one of my own denomination - without PRIVATELY speaking with the pastor BEFOREHAND, even if by email. And I do as I'm counseled - like it or not. It all has to do with respect.

BTW, in MY LCMS church, adult guys wear everything from shorts and a T-shirt to fine suits and ties - no one seems to notice or care.

I hope that helps....

Pax

- Josiah

PS Don't forget to post back how things went....

.

DaRev · Dec 19, 2007

One should dress in such a way as to be appropriate to meet the Lord. Neat, clean, and modest attire is the norm.

vle045 · Dec 19, 2007

LOL at "modest"!

I am definitely modest... especially in a church.

But last weekend as Mass, my hubby was shocked to see one of the women handing out the Eucharist was wearing a SHEER white shirt with her bra completely visible through the shirt.

After Mass... he asked me about dressing modestly in a church and why would she wear something like that.

DaRev · Dec 19, 2007

Women should not be 'handing out the Eucharist' anyway.

vle045 · Dec 19, 2007

in RCC, LCMS or both?

DaSeminarian · Dec 19, 2007

vle045 said:
in RCC, LCMS or both?

In any church.

vle045 · Dec 19, 2007

I have never heard that and I can't imagine why, but they do at our church.

I do not know the terminology (all this is new to me) But in our Church, the Priest does his thing... says his Prayer and whatnot... Then it gets split up and several people, women and men stand in different spots throughout the Church to keep the lines going.... The Church is really big.

Apologies for not knowing terminology....

filosofer · Dec 19, 2007

DaRev said:
Women should not be 'handing out the Eucharist' anyway.

[FONT= "Book Antiqua"]
That depends on the congregation.

If the woman had worn a vaguely transparent top/t-shirt and no bra, now that would have been in bad taste. But believe it or not, sometimes that happens, and should be addressed. How it is handled makes a world of difference whether this is first timer and ignorance or regular attender.

[/font]

Lupinus · Dec 19, 2007

My take is anything neat and tidy and modest. Doesn't have to be a great suit and tie, but not rags either. Sometimes I will wear nice slacks and a button down shirt, sometimes I will a nice pullover and slacks, sometimes even a nice and neat pair of jeans.

But my church is a mixed bag, we have those in suits, and we have some who come in normal everyday cloths. No one really looks down for being less dressed then they are though.

I do find that vespers seems to be a rather casual affair at our church though as far as dress goes.

DaRev · Dec 19, 2007

filosofer said:
That depends on the congregation.

No, it doesn't. Women should not be 'handing out the Eucharist.'

Lupinus · Dec 19, 2007

DaRev said:
No, it doesn't. Women should not be 'handing out the Eucharist.'

Wat he said

Aibrean · Dec 19, 2007

A lot has to do with the church itself and the people within. I would dress up a little (like nice khakis and a nice shirt) just to get a feel for what everyone else wears so you don't feel out of place (just like the first day on the job).

I myself typically wear khaki pants and a nice shirt every Sunday because I don't like dresses. My fiance and brother wear a nice shirt and blue jeans...there are several other members of the congregation that wear blue jeans.

jcj3803 · Dec 20, 2007

I have visited a number of different congregations / denominations and from experience, a pair of dress chinos (any color) and a longsleeve dress shirt for men seems to work pretty much everywhere. I'd think a pair of dress slacks and a buttondown blouse or twin set would work for women.

Good Friday, Easter, Christmas Eve and Day tend to bring out the suits and dresses. Red for Reformation Sunday. Churches whose members are older tend to dress up more for all services.

LilLamb219 · Dec 20, 2007

I tend to see what the others have indicated about their churches within my congregation. I personally don't wear a lot of skirts or dresses to church except for special occasions. I just don't have a lot of clothing really and that's one reason. I tend to wear black dress pants or my beige or brown ones with a nice blouse or sweater.

ricg · Dec 20, 2007

My own view is that we are coming together to worship our King. How you you dress up to visit the President or Queen of England? Should you be more casual when you encounter our heavenly Sovereign?

That being said, what I observe on a weekly basis indicates others have differing points of view, so I doubt you'll feel like an outcast if you're wear "dressy casual" attire. The church should welcome anyone who comes, no matter how they're dressed, but that's no excuse (in my mind) for me failing to properly honor the Lord in my appearance.

latebloomer · Dec 23, 2007

Some congregations are more conservative than others regarding dress. In my congregation, I see everything. I figure it's a dressy day if all the ushers have ties. For men, anything from suits to nice slacks and a nice shirt or sweater to jeans or shorts in summer. For women, anything from suits, either skirts or slacks, to dresses to nice pants and a sweater to jeans. Our Saturday night chapel service (for those who can't make it to Sunday) tends to be very casual, lot more jeans, very few suits. A lot of people go straight there from church.

For a first time visit, I'd wear something nice and check out what the others are wearing. In the end, it doesn't matter so much what's ON you as what's IN you.

TCat · Dec 24, 2007

I would suggest "business casual, nice collared button down and slacks are generally appropriate anywhere.

ricg said:
My own view is that we are coming together to worship our King. How you you dress up to visit the President or Queen of England? Should you be more casual when you encounter our heavenly Sovereign?

That being said, what I observe on a weekly basis indicates others have differing points of view, so I doubt you'll feel like an outcast if you're wear "dressy casual" attire. The church should welcome anyone who comes, no matter how they're dressed, but that's no excuse (in my mind) for me failing to properly honor the Lord in my appearance.

I guess it depends on your point of view, if I were visiting a king or queen and the occasion called for formal dress then I would dress that way. If I were visiting a beloved relative, my Abba, then while I would dress acccording to the standards of the occasion I would keep in mind that I was really dressing to conform to others around me not to impress my beloved father who loves me and sees not my outer appearance but my inner heart and is not concerned about what I look like but where my heart is in realtionship to Him.
I spend a great deal of time in my private daily worship time, generally dressed in my pj's, God is not offended at all.

Tofferer · Dec 24, 2007

I wore slacks and a Seattle SeaHawks sweatshirt (bear in mind that it had Bugs, Daffy and Taz dressed up as SeaHawk players, but whatever). Nobody cared.

MarkRohfrietsch · Dec 24, 2007

When I was young, (in a large rural Ontario, Canada parish) every one dressed up. Men always in suits and ties, women always in dresses, and always with their heads covered. Most of the Charter Members had been dead a 100 years or more, but all the names in the congregation were the same. As time went on others moved into our community dress became more casual.

There was a time when I looked down on those who "dressed down" (I remember on Christmas Eve, a family who had moved in across the road from the Church came in with their Children wearing black rubber boots with red toes and heels, the kind we wore in the barn (they weren't farmers, and the boots were clean). I was in my late teens, and was so scandalized that to this day those boots are the only thing that I can remember from that service. How truly blind I was.

I still dress up when few do (old habits), but when someone comes in that is dressed or looks different I say a silent prayer of rejoicing, and promptly greet, welcom, thank them for coming and invite them back!

LCMS - Dress code

Veteran

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Veteran

Well-Known Member

Veteran

Veteran

Veteran

Senior Veteran

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Honest. Maybe too Honest.

Senior Member

The Lamb is gone

Regular Member

An Autumn Lutheran Rose

Daily surrender

LCMS - Lutherie

Unapologetic Apologist

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency