Question Ladies: What Outward Standards are you Keeping?

[QueenEsther]

Originally Posted by lisafitzh2o

Just out of curiosity, were you raised to dress up for church? My dad's mantra was that if you take the time to dress up for a date, you'd BETTER put more thought into visiting God's house.

Maybe it's just here where I live, but it is like pulling teeth to get the young people to come to church in something besides jeans and t-shirts. Then again, I look at the parents and realize where it's coming from.

I remember ten years ago men wore suits and women dressed up....and the young people actually put some effort into how they looked for church. Now it's only those on the platform who dress up.

I'm NOOOOT trying to get a discussion started on how our church services should not be fashion show. We all know that. I'm just referring to people who dress up more when they go out to eat than they do for church.

I am not Thad but I know when I was a teenager I knew better than to even try and wear a jean skirt or tennishoes or flip flops to church!!!!! Now days it is so common to see them in church services. Our youth group in our church is pretty good about dressing up still on Sundays - most of them even for our mid-week service but there are still some who dress like they are going to the park. I don't get it! My grandparents (who were not UPC) left the church they had attended for years and years becuase it was getting too casual. THey said people were wearing their Jean shorts to church and drinking coffee in the service - they couldn't handle that!!! I couldn't either!

[Thad]

Originally Posted by lisafitzh2o

Just out of curiosity, were you raised to dress up for church? My dad's mantra was that if you take the time to dress up for a date, you'd BETTER put more thought into visiting God's house.

Maybe it's just here where I live, but it is like pulling teeth to get the young people to come to church in something besides jeans and t-shirts. Then again, I look at the parents and realize where it's coming from.

I remember ten years ago men wore suits and women dressed up....and the young people actually put some effort into how they looked for church. Now it's only those on the platform who dress up.

I'm NOOOOT trying to get a discussion started on how our church services should not be fashion show. We all know that. I'm just referring to people who dress up more when they go out to eat than they do for church.

yes, i was raised to wear a suit to church. I don't mind it sometimes but I think there ought to be one service where we can come casual especially in the heat.
i do think that young people feel better about themsleves and take church more seriously when they dress up. now, I too say it can become a competition thing but so can singing, preaching, music etc . it's just one of those things you have to Deal with on every level not do away with .

Lisa, this new group coming up are Totally different !!!what planet did they arrive from ?

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by lisafitzh2o

Just out of curiosity, were you raised to dress up for church? My dad's mantra was that if you take the time to dress up for a date, you'd BETTER put more thought into visiting God's house.

Maybe it's just here where I live, but it is like pulling teeth to get the young people to come to church in something besides jeans and t-shirts. Then again, I look at the parents and realize where it's coming from.

I remember ten years ago men wore suits and women dressed up....and the young people actually put some effort into how they looked for church. Now it's only those on the platform who dress up.

I'm NOOOOT trying to get a discussion started on how our church services should not be fashion show. We all know that. I'm just referring to people who dress up more when they go out to eat than they do for church.

I understand exactly what you are saying.... this is how I was brought up! I enjoyed dressing up and for several reasons I did dress up. 1. Mama taught me to look my best for God... 2. Yes, I wanted to attract the opposite sex so I would not dare to look like a slob at church... 3. I felt good when I took time for myself

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by Thad

yes, i was raised to wear a suit to church. I don't mind it sometimes but I think there ought to be one service where we can come casual especially in the heat.
i do think that young people feel better about themsleves and take church more seriously when they dress up. now, I too say it can become a competition thing but so can singing, preaching, music etc . it's just one of those things you have to Deal with on every level not do away with .

Lisa, this new group coming up are Totally different !!!what planet did they arrive from ?

You are so right about that. BTW are you familiar with Bro. Varnums' church in Belleview Florida??? I was so impressed with them, and I still am! What do you know about them? They were always "more strict" than the other upc churches....And they always seem to have a lot more power packed church services!!!

[Thad]

Originally Posted by QueenEsther

I am not Thad but I know when I was a teenager I knew better than to even try and wear a jean skirt or tennishoes or flip flops to church!!!!! Now days it is so common to see them in church services. Our youth group in our church is pretty good about dressing up still on Sundays - most of them even for our mid-week service but there are still some who dress like they are going to the park. I don't get it! My grandparents (who were not UPC) left the church they had attended for years and years becuase it was getting too casual. THey said people were wearing their Jean shorts to church and drinking coffee in the service - they couldn't handle that!!! I couldn't either!

now that is over the top IMO.

that sounds like rick warren type churches. some non -denom. churches now lead worship in shorts, flip flops while the audience eats cookies and drinks punch

[QueenEsther]

Originally Posted by Thad

now that is over the top IMO.

that sounds like rick warren type churches. some non -denom. churches now lead worship in shorts, flip flops while the audience eats cookies and drinks punch

Yes, I agree!!!!! I have heard of people having a breakfast bar and you fix your plate in the foyer and take it into the sanctuary to eat while the teaching is going on - I believe it was a non-denom church.

[lisafitzh2o]

Originally Posted by Thad

Lisa, this new group coming up are Totally different !!!what planet did they arrive from ?

Oh my goodness, I know what you mean!!!! My husband was the youth pastor for the past year and a half, and I'm tellin' ya I have no CLUE how to relate to these kids.

When I moved here in '95 it was still the cool thing to be on fire for God; the young people had to get to church early to get a seat near the front. Youth prayer meetings were hotter than ladies' prayer or any other group. Now, you practically have to PAY them to come to anything other than a Sunday night service. However, have a cook-out and they're coming out of the woodwork! Kids you haven't seen in months will show up for free food. Just don't ask them to stay for prayer meeting.

I wonder how much of this is influenced by video games (Play Station, X Box, etc.), cell phones, and instant messengers. They don't have to leave the house for anything. It's like we're interfering in their little world when we ask them to come to church. Hmmmm.....

[lisafitzh2o]

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

You are so right about that. BTW are you familiar with Bro. Varnums' church in Belleview Florida??? I was so impressed with them, and I still am! What do you know about them? They were always "more strict" than the other upc churches....And they always seem to have a lot more power packed church services!!!

Yeah, I remember them. Dad pastored in Ocala, just a few minutes from Bellview. I remember them from before they entered the organization. I used to do the music for the independent churches' camps and conferences. Those churches were ultra-ultra conservative! I haven't been back in years, though, so I don't know how things are now. I moved to the mountains of Tennessee and lost track of the rest of the world.

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by lisafitzh2o

Yeah, I remember them. Dad pastored in Ocala, just a few minutes from Bellview. I remember them from before they entered the organization. I used to do the music for the independent churches' camps and conferences. Those churches were ultra-ultra conservative! I haven't been back in years, though, so I don't know how things are now. I moved to the mountains of Tennessee and lost track of the rest of the world.

Lisa......................Ocala.................Hm m! Did you by any chance teach piano years ago in when you were in Florida?

[Tina]

Originally Posted by Thad

maybe I'll make a list

Uh oh... another THAD list.... Which list am I going to be on?


I haven't had time to comment.. been busy all day.... will be busy all week. Maybe if the thread survives the rest of the week, I'll have time to comment.