When looking for a church, what do you look for?

[Teacher_Of_Truth]

Hello, just interested in what type of Church people are looking for?

 

[chevyontheriver]

Hello, just interested in what type of Church people are looking for?

I'm looking at the moment because I moved not long ago.

Do they have a place to come to pray any time of day? Is the church a place where they have actual prayer warriors?

Is the music somewhat classical and well done? I tire of music too contemporary. Also of poorly done music. I want a pipe organ. Call me a liturgical snob. I probably am.

Is the liturgy reverent and carefully done? I don't care for innovations, cuteness out of ministers, and the ever present quest for relevance that leads to clown services and the like.

I want a good homily. I don't care whether it includes a joke or not, but I want some insight into the Scriptures read.

We think I have narrowed it down to four churches. We've been moving around virtually during the days of the Wuhan virus. Now I'm going in person to check them out.

One is the local cathedral. Good music, a sense of reverent decorum, OK homilies.

One is an Ordinariate church, formerly Episcopalian and now Catholic. Great music, very reverent, long long but good homilies. My wife thinks the service is just too long.

One is the closest, has an option for prayer any time, has poor music, is not visually appealing at all, has charismatic leaning homilies and they are a prayerful place.

The last is very conservative liturgically, with some Latin. The music is very good. It's inner city. It is multiracial with Vietnamese and Hispanic liturgies in addition to English.

We can't yet decide. I think we will maybe take them in rotation. Depending on my wife's mood. We will have to join one at some point.

 

[Rescued One]

Biblical truth. If I had teenagers they'd want some entertainment. At my age, I miss the smaller churches and the old hymns, such as Oh, How I love Jesus, Take My Life and Let ot Be, Fairest Lord Jesus, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, etc.

Snow Covered Church in N. C.

 

[St_Worm2]

Beautiful picture sister (@Phoebe Ann)

 

[Albion]

Hello, just interested in what type of Church people are looking for?

It's an intriguing question, all right. For me, it has to be a dignified service, probably rather ceremonial but not necessarily. I don't want anything slipshod, unorganized, or raucous. However, it must also be doctrinally correct on the major doctrines of the faith; I don't mean something that's excruciatingly legalistic.

I'm answering this as if I had all the denominations of Christianity to choose from and was first looking; but in truth, I'd only go to one of my denomination's parishes if at all possible, so the range of types of services and so on is actually small.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Hello, just interested in what type of Church people are looking for?

I would tend to shy away from a parish or priest that's too modernist. I am not some fire-breathing radtrad but at the same time I do believe they have a point on some things. Modernism, for one.

And liturgy, for two. At a minimum, I want a reverential liturgy. This is something that has been handed down from ancient times to today and it should be respected on those terms.

I was in my thirties before I was really exposed to Gregorian chant. My background is coming from the hard-rocking evangelical worship style. All due respect to the evangelicals but that environment was never really comfortable for me. I've always had a sober view of the Almighty. For my own part, worship that includes an electric guitar with hand-waving just never seemed dignified. Ymmv

So I suppose what I look for is a sense of quiet, of peace. The Catholic parish at which I am now registered is staffed by clergymen who seem to possess similar sensibilities. As a result, the liturgy of the Mass is solemn and elegant. That's what I want now.

Fr. also has a real talent for storytelling. He's always able to connect the daily readings to some personal anecdote of his own and make it applicable to the listeners. He's a rather outgoing, extraverted type (ESTJ, perhaps?) and he's a gifted speaker and leader.

One is an Ordinariate church, formerly Episcopalian and now Catholic. Great music, very reverent, long long but good homilies. My wife thinks the service is just too long.

I believe you and I might have danced to this song before. But I have attended an Ordinariate parish on quite a few occasions. My journey to the Church included a layover in the Anglican world (ACNA). As a result, my appreciation for Anglican liturgy persists. At this point, I guess it always will.

The Ordinariate parish (relatively) nearby is done in a beautiful English gothic style. The times I've interacted with the clergy, there's a palpable sense of relief of being in a communion that they can have absolute confidence in. Obviously they're more conservative than the average Episcopalian priest so it's always a pleasure to listen to their homilies. One of them in particular seems to have a rule of never having a homily longer than ten minutes.

And since it's an Ordinariate, they receive the Blessed Sacrament by intinction. That was a welcome callback to my visit to the ACNA world.

 

[Tigger45]

Sacramental & liturgical. Orthodox homilies and have a sense of the sacred. The congregation needs to be generally friendly, passionate about the faith and charitable with those less fortunate. Preferably within the Anglican and Lutheran traditions.

 

[PloverWing]

I'd look for an Episcopal church, if there was one to be found. My search for a denominational home happened in my 20s, and the Episcopal church turned out to be the best place where I could thrive spiritually and serve God alongside others. (I can elaborate on that journey, if you want.)

No parish is perfect, but here are some positive characteristics that catch my attention when I'm looking at parishes:

- The church members have a passion for God and for doing God's work in the world.

- The church cares more for the welfare of its members than for the perfection of its liturgy. That is, while liturgy is important, if someone messes up during the service, the instinct is to say "Oh, I hope Jane is okay and doesn't feel too bad" instead of "Jane messed up the service! Bad Jane! We'll have to reprimand her so it doesn't happen again."

- The church has a passion for caring for the poor and for addressing the causes of poverty. Bonus points if this passion is implemented in church-sponsored actions.

- The church has members and leaders from multiple ethnic and racial groups.

- The church welcomes people of all genders, with no gender requirement for ministry or leadership.

- The church has good study groups (Bible study, book study, adult Sunday School, etc.). I think that may be hard to find in small parishes, but it's something I enjoy.

- The congregation likes to sing!

My current parish meets most (but not all) of these points. I have memories, from past travels, of visiting a parish in Ardmore, PA, one in Northampton, MA, and one in Provincetown, MA, all of which had a lot of these characteristics; in each case, I thought "If I lived here, I could be very happy in this parish."

 

[Joey Brown]

Hello, just interested in what type of Church people are looking for?

If the word is there. Are they interpreting the bible or maybe it should just interpret itself? That's what I think it should be. The word as our standard, not music or anything only physical but does it have the word

 

[1watchman]

A sound Bible-only fellowship is my interest, and that is what I have been with for many years. Religious ideas and innovations to make a pleasing sect might make one feel good, but the pure Word of God is our ONLY authority for the Faith as God intends for us.

 

[Tony B]

Hello, just interested in what type of Church people are looking for?

My ideal church, ie what I am looking for, is a group of Christians committed to following and pleasing Jesus in everything they do.

They will interact in the way normal families usually do, socialising together, keeping a check on the welfare of each other, helping each other out, and sharing their time and resources. They know how to laugh, jump for joy, and cry together.

They won't own a church building, or hold formal worship services or prayer meetings. Their reading of scripture is something they do individually, daily, and hold bible studies to address a specific need. They'll normally meet in their homes and public spaces.

Ideally they'll be supported by a pastoring couple whose credentials have been gained through the experiences of life. Their weekend get togethers with their flock are informal, with their Sunday (and/or Saturday) meetups being of a 'drop in' type.

Members are always inclined towards praising God, singing a hymn or praying for each other, and sharing a scripture, no matter where they are. They also keep their language clean, be considerate of each other, and wear modest attire.

They are free of any denominational and religious ceremonial bias.

They act like family.

 

[Jesse Dornfeld]

Don't need anything fancy.

Do they preach expositionally? Do they have music that is doctrinally sound? Are the people going to church there living for Christ and not the "passions of the flesh"? Do they strive for community within the body? Count me in.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I'm looking at the moment because I moved not long ago.

Do they have a place to come to pray any time of day? Is the church a place where they have actual prayer warriors?

Is the music somewhat classical and well done? I tire of music too contemporary. Also of poorly done music. I want a pipe organ. Call me a liturgical snob. I probably am.

Is the liturgy reverent and carefully done? I don't care for innovations, cuteness out of ministers, and the ever present quest for relevance that leads to clown services and the like.

I want a good homily. I don't care whether it includes a joke or not, but I want some insight into the Scriptures read.

We think I have narrowed it down to four churches. We've been moving around virtually during the days of the Wuhan virus. Now I'm going in person to check them out.

One is the local cathedral. Good music, a sense of reverent decorum, OK homilies.

One is an Ordinariate church, formerly Episcopalian and now Catholic. Great music, very reverent, long long but good homilies. My wife thinks the service is just too long.

One is the closest, has an option for prayer any time, has poor music, is not visually appealing at all, has charismatic leaning homilies and they are a prayerful place.

The last is very conservative liturgically, with some Latin. The music is very good. It's inner city. It is multiracial with Vietnamese and Hispanic liturgies in addition to English.

We can't yet decide. I think we will maybe take them in rotation. Depending on my wife's mood. We will have to join one at some point.

An update on my quest. In times of Covid it's hard to get to know a new parish when everyone has to keep distant and informal conversation just isn't happening. And that is a huge problem in getting to know anyone. But we have made some progress. Not enough to decide yet though we are looking at the closer one. Their homilies are solid, so far every one. And I can walk the two miles to and from the parish. They do have daily mass at their chapel at their school location too. I am still a liturgical music snob and I don't know how I am going to adapt. Their liturgies are otherwise reverent, even if the music is a low pass. They are prayerful.

 

[chevyontheriver]

My ideal church, ie what I am looking for, is a group of Christians committed to following and pleasing Jesus in everything they do.

They will interact in the way normal families usually do, socialising together, keeping a check on the welfare of each other, helping each other out, and sharing their time and resources. They know how to laugh, jump for joy, and cry together.

They won't own a church building, or hold formal worship services or prayer meetings. Their reading of scripture is something they do individually, daily, and hold bible studies to address a specific need. They'll normally meet in their homes and public spaces.

Ideally they'll be supported by a pastoring couple whose credentials have been gained through the experiences of life. Their weekend get togethers with their flock are informal, with their Sunday (and/or Saturday) meetups being of a 'drop in' type.

Members are always inclined towards praising God, singing a hymn or praying for each other, and sharing a scripture, no matter where they are. They also keep their language clean, be considerate of each other, and wear modest attire.

They are free of any denominational and religious ceremonial bias.

They act like family.

I like a lot of this even though I expect a liturgical form of worship, and a bishop in the line of succession from the apostles. Your first point about a group of Christians committed to following and pleasing Jesus in everything they do is a winner. I wouldn't want to belong to any other sort.

 

[jamiec]

Hello, just interested in what type of Church people are looking for?

A church like the Baptist church I attended years ago:

gracious
with a godly pastor
evangelical in the best sense
orderly
devoted to the Bible
with solid preaching
friendly even to strangers
free of cliques
with a church life not confined to Sundays
mindful of the wider Church, both home and abroad.

A beautiful liturgy would be a bonus, but I'm not that bothered about externals; I am a firm believer in the priority of inward godliness (in the most comprehensive sense) over external beauty - if one must choose between the two.

I much prefer sermons of half an hour or longer to 10-minute ones.

I prefer hymns, or else Psalms in metre, to Evangelical choruses; less "O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder", than "Jesus shall reign where'er the Sun"; Charles Wesley & Samuel Sebastian Wesley rather than Dan Schutte & his "My Little Pony" Mass setting. Yes, really - article with sound files here: https://www.ccwatershed.org/2014/08/27/dan-schutte-mass-of-christ-the-savior-2/

If you mean "What of kind of Church life are people looking for ?" - that is another story.

 

[chevyontheriver]

A church like the Baptist church I attended years ago:

gracious
with a godly pastor
evangelical in the best sense
orderly
devoted to the Bible
with solid preaching
friendly even to strangers
free of cliques
with a church life not confined to Sundays
mindful of the wider Church, both home and abroad.

A beautiful liturgy would be a bonus, but I'm not that bothered about externals; I am a firm believer in the priority of inward godliness (in the most comprehensive sense) over external beauty - if one must choose between the two.

I much prefer sermons of half an hour or longer to 10-minute ones.

I prefer hymns, or else Psalms in metre, to Evangelical choruses; less "O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder", than "Jesus shall reign where'er the Sun"; Charles Wesley & Samuel Sebastian Wesley rather than Dan Schutte & his "My Little Pony" Mass setting. Yes, really - article with sound files here: https://www.ccwatershed.org/2014/08/27/dan-schutte-mass-of-christ-the-savior-2/

If you mean "What of kind of Church life are people looking for ?" - that is another story.

I saw you liked my post from a year ago when I was looking too. I ended up at the more local charismatic leaning Catholic parish. They opened up their chapel for prayer from Wednesday AM to Thursday PM (used to be 24x7 before Covid) and my wife and I pray for an hour there each week in silence before God. We've gotten otherwise involved and are getting to know people. The music has picked up a tad with the lesser Covid restrictions allowing for a choir of up to ten people now. Music is still not great, but I don't hate it. There is a lot to like about this place and as I get to know people I am impressed with the depth of the faith of so many of them.

My second place pick was the Ordinariate parish. I could have seen joining that one too. Small, congenial, great homilies, communion at the communion rail, times for prayer through the week. I drop in from time to time.

I'll drop in from time to time at the Latin mass parish too. And the cathedral. All of these four prioritize good homilies. I picked the most ordinary one, but it has many strengths that I'm still discovering.

I really liked your list. I'd substitute Catholic for Baptist but otherwise fully agree. And I do like the hymns rather than Dan Schutte music. Gack. Way back in the day my college roommate and I would go to the St. Louis University Midnight Mass in the 'underground church' and hear all of that music when it was brand new. Thought it was the hottest stuff in music. I've gotten over it. More to my liking is found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFFMw0cxUkGfqcjo_7f9Rg

jclarke527 has many great recordings of music at my old parish, the place that turned me into a liturgical music snob.

 

[jamiec]

I saw you liked my post from a year ago when I was looking too. I ended up at the more local charismatic leaning Catholic parish. They opened up their chapel for prayer from Wednesday AM to Thursday PM (used to be 24x7 before Covid) and my wife and I pray for an hour there each week in silence before God. We've gotten otherwise involved and are getting to know people. The music has picked up a tad with the lesser Covid restrictions allowing for a choir of up to ten people now. Music is still not great, but I don't hate it. There is a lot to like about this place and as I get to know people I am impressed with the depth of the faith of so many of them.

My second place pick was the Ordinariate parish. I could have seen joining that one too. Small, congenial, great homilies, communion at the communion rail, times for prayer through the week. I drop in from time to time.

I'll drop in from time to time at the Latin mass parish too. And the cathedral. All of these four prioritize good homilies. I picked the most ordinary one, but it has many strengths that I'm still discovering.

I really liked your list. I'd substitute Catholic for Baptist but otherwise fully agree. And I do like the hymns rather than Dan Schutte music. Gack. Way back in the day my college roommate and I would go to the St. Louis University Midnight Mass in the 'underground church' and hear all of that music when it was brand new. Thought it was the hottest stuff in music. I've gotten over it. More to my liking is found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFFMw0cxUkGfqcjo_7f9Rg

jclarke527 has many great recordings of music at my old parish, the place that turned me into a liturgical music snob.

Another musician well worth following:

My favourite hymn site on YT:

 

[GodLovesCats]

If I could visit local churches, I would look for a contemporary setting with at least one screen for worship lyrics and Bible passages, comfortable chairs, speakers and microphones to hear the pastors, and the NIV Bible being read. At traditional churches, I have no idea what lyrics to sing and can't hear what the pastor is saying, so this is all more important than making friends for the purpose of learning about and praising God. Unfortunately I can't choose my church if I ever go to one again.

 

[Albion]

At traditional churches, I have no idea what lyrics to sing

You get a hymnal to use, which makes it easier than a movie screen with lyrics does. I'm betting you could read it like everyone else does, and sing along, especially since the organist or pianist makes it even easier.

Ican't hear what the pastor is saying, so this is all more important than making friends for the purpose of learning about and praising God.

Sure, you can! This isn't the Middle Ages anymore.

 

[GodLovesCats]

You get a hymnal to use, which makes it easier than a movie screen with lyrics does. I'm betting you could read it like everyone else does, and sing along, especially since the organist or pianist makes it even easier.

Sure, you can! This isn't the Middle Ages anymore.

Hymn books are the problem. They show three lines of text between the treble and bass notes and I can't read the small font size. Reading words on a slideshow screen is the only way I can know what to sing.

No, I can't. I was able to hear what the pastors said in only one church. The difference was all the pastors wear body microphones. It is one of the few places where I did not need to wear my hearing aids.