Where I somefrom Sunday morning is Sunday school and is much more laid back. Sunday night is when the choir sings and you have all out church.
That's the way it was when I was growing up. I think that was pretty much standard across the UPC.
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
Yes...I remember for years that being the case - of course I also remember in the early years, driving 45min one way to service, then choir at 3:00, and night service at 6:00, then 45min ride back home - I truthfully do not miss that hectic schedule - especially the older I get.
Many of the churches around me do not have a Sunday night service anymore, unless they are having a revival or something. They now have a Sunday morning Sunday School at say 10:30 a.m., and regular service at 11:30 a.m. - then the rest of the day is "free".
Some folks are of the opinion that "less" services are a sign of the times (negatively of course) - while I applaud Pastors for being willing to change services - some even to Sat. evening to reach people - throwing tradition aside which for some is nearly impossible.
I know folks who work 6-days a week and Sunday is their only "off" day - so it is hard to get folks to "work" on their only day off - especially if there is a significant drive involved - it's life - and while assembling together is Biblical and very important - most of life in this world takes place outside of the four walls of the Church.
This reminds me of the story of the lady who was cooking a roast using her grandmother’s recipe. It called for cutting the roast in half.
She was wondering about that so she asked her mother and her mother said “well, that’s how my grandmother did it, how my mom did it and that’s how I do it.”
Tradition.
The lady decided to ask her grandmother and the answer was a bit different. Grandma laughed and said, well when I was small, my mom’s oven was too little to cook a whole roast in one pan, so she cut it in half and cooked it in two pans.
That was how I was raised, so even though I got a larger oven when I had my family I still did it the way my mom did it.
Pentecostals and Sunday night are a bit like that.
In the very early days, the churches were far apart by their standards as they walked or rode in buggies just as often as they went in cars to church in large parts of the country. Remember that America was far more rural in those days.
People would travel a long way to church on Sunday morning, have Sunday school, then eat the lunch they packed “on the grounds” then have their larger service after the afternoon of relaxation before making the long trek back home that evening.
As affluence seeped into the rural parts of the country in the 1940’s and 50s, and as churches opened in smaller communities, people didn’t have to travel for long periods of time, but the feeling of community that had developed was still appreciated.
That turned into two services on Sunday, with large attendance in the evening.
It is tradition. It developed out of the early period of the Pentecostal movement. It is starting to change. We are less connected culturally to our church. That has a huge part to play in the change.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
This reminds me of the story of the lady who was cooking a roast using her grandmother’s recipe. It called for cutting the roast in half.
She was wondering about that so she asked her mother and her mother said “well, that’s how my grandmother did it, how my mom did it and that’s how I do it.”
Tradition.
The lady decided to ask her grandmother and the answer was a bit different. Grandma laughed and said, well when I was small, my mom’s oven was too little to cook a whole roast in one pan, so she cut it in half and cooked it in two pans.
That was how I was raised, so even though I got a larger oven when I had my family I still did it the way my mom did it.
Pentecostals and Sunday night are a bit like that.
In the very early days, the churches were far apart by their standards as they walked or rode in buggies just as often as they went in cars to church in large parts of the country. Remember that America was far more rural in those days.
People would travel a long way to church on Sunday morning, have Sunday school, then eat the lunch they packed “on the grounds” then have their larger service after the afternoon of relaxation before making the long trek back home that evening.
As affluence seeped into the rural parts of the country in the 1940’s and 50s, and as churches opened in smaller communities, people didn’t have to travel for long periods of time, but the feeling of community that had developed was still appreciated.
That turned into two services on Sunday, with large attendance in the evening.
It is tradition. It developed out of the early period of the Pentecostal movement. It is starting to change. We are less connected culturally to our church. That has a huge part to play in the change.
Speaking of a roast, my Pastor likes to say, about every other Sunday, that we ought not be in a hurry. We shouldn't worry and let that roast in the over just burn. Don't hurry through service. Normally this is said when you can feel the service is winding down and he isn't getting the response in the altar he wanted, so he is trying to pump the primer and get people to "push farther" in the spirit.
I'm usually thinking, "I don't have a roast in the oven, but if I did...wouldn't it be wasteful and poor stewardship to just intentionally let food burn because this guy doesn't think we prayed enough?" I mean I'm all for a good move in teh altar, but if "God isn't moving" I really hate the whole cheerleading garbage and pumping people for an emotional response.
I know thats w hole different soapbox, but the roast comment reminded me of it.
This reminds me of the story of the lady who was cooking a roast using her grandmother’s recipe. It called for cutting the roast in half.
She was wondering about that so she asked her mother and her mother said “well, that’s how my grandmother did it, how my mom did it and that’s how I do it.”
Tradition.
The lady decided to ask her grandmother and the answer was a bit different. Grandma laughed and said, well when I was small, my mom’s oven was too little to cook a whole roast in one pan, so she cut it in half and cooked it in two pans.
That was how I was raised, so even though I got a larger oven when I had my family I still did it the way my mom did it.
Pentecostals and Sunday night are a bit like that.
In the very early days, the churches were far apart by their standards as they walked or rode in buggies just as often as they went in cars to church in large parts of the country. Remember that America was far more rural in those days.
People would travel a long way to church on Sunday morning, have Sunday school, then eat the lunch they packed “on the grounds” then have their larger service after the afternoon of relaxation before making the long trek back home that evening.
As affluence seeped into the rural parts of the country in the 1940’s and 50s, and as churches opened in smaller communities, people didn’t have to travel for long periods of time, but the feeling of community that had developed was still appreciated.
That turned into two services on Sunday, with large attendance in the evening.
It is tradition. It developed out of the early period of the Pentecostal movement. It is starting to change. We are less connected culturally to our church. That has a huge part to play in the change.
This reminds me of the story of the lady who was cooking a roast using her grandmother’s recipe. It called for cutting the roast in half.
She was wondering about that so she asked her mother and her mother said “well, that’s how my grandmother did it, how my mom did it and that’s how I do it.”
Tradition.
The lady decided to ask her grandmother and the answer was a bit different. Grandma laughed and said, well when I was small, my mom’s oven was too little to cook a whole roast in one pan, so she cut it in half and cooked it in two pans.
That was how I was raised, so even though I got a larger oven when I had my family I still did it the way my mom did it.
Pentecostals and Sunday night are a bit like that.
In the very early days, the churches were far apart by their standards as they walked or rode in buggies just as often as they went in cars to church in large parts of the country. Remember that America was far more rural in those days.
People would travel a long way to church on Sunday morning, have Sunday school, then eat the lunch they packed “on the grounds” then have their larger service after the afternoon of relaxation before making the long trek back home that evening.
As affluence seeped into the rural parts of the country in the 1940’s and 50s, and as churches opened in smaller communities, people didn’t have to travel for long periods of time, but the feeling of community that had developed was still appreciated.
That turned into two services on Sunday, with large attendance in the evening.
It is tradition. It developed out of the early period of the Pentecostal movement. It is starting to change. We are less connected culturally to our church. That has a huge part to play in the change.
Bingo - hit the nail on the head.
When I was coming up in the UPC, we didn't have television, couldn't play sports in school, or be involved in community groups......our entire life was the church.......Peanut Brittle on Mondays, Youth Service on Tuesdays, work night at the church on Wednesdays, Bible Study on Thursdays, youth rallies once a month on Saturdays, church all day on Sundays.........and revivals quite frequently, which were every night except Monday.....church was the center of our universe, as it were.
Now, I know that some of the hard liners will point to this and say "See, that's what's wrong with the church today", but in my opinion, it's all about balance.
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
When I was coming up in the UPC, we didn't have television, couldn't play sports in school, or be involved in community groups......our entire life was the church.......Peanut Brittle on Mondays, Youth Service on Tuesdays, work night at the church on Wednesdays, Bible Study on Thursdays, youth rallies once a month on Saturdays, church all day on Sundays.........and revivals quite frequently, which were every night except Monday.....church was the center of our universe, as it were.
Now, I know that some of the hard liners will point to this and say "See, that's what's wrong with the church today", but in my opinion, it's all about balance.
You know, while I am happy the "every day is church day" is behind us in some ways, I do wish we could seek a balance instead of what I see as running away from it.
We have relegated church to 2.33 hours on Sunday morning and we dont see anyone from church the rest of the week.
I think finding a balance where church is part of our culture and our church family is important to us is a good thing, even while knowing, it is not healthy for it to be the ONLY thing...
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Re: Question about an Apostolic tradition
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