Southern Baptist Worship Services

Roy, I imagine your mother was quite shocked. I've never witnessed anything like that. I understand certain things don't work for all. That's what makes us unique.

 

My church home now does not pause for a meet and greet, but the church home where I grew up did do that. It was a time to meet visitors. It was also a time to let each other know how much we valued their presence. There are often worshipers present during a service that may never be spoken to other than by the sermon of the pastor.

I advocate the meet and greet. I feel like it still fits into the context of "worshipers should prepare their hearts for the service by keeping all discussion on a spiritual level". Warming our hearts to our church family is just another way to open ourselves to the word of our Lord.

 

roy, I have been a SBC church member all my life. I have never seen the service go any other way that having a greeting time. I dont agree with it because I believe that it is not sincere. I have read Katie talking about it is showing love but I have also seen where someone comes in that doesnt match the churches expectations of what they want and not a single person greets them. The church acts like they have the plague and try to stay away from them. It happens in more churches than just mine. People greet who they want to and avoid those they dont want to be around. What a lousy way to get ready to worship God.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> roy, I have been a SBC church member all my life. I have never seen the service go any other way that having a greeting time. I dont agree with it because I believe that it is not sincere. I have read Katie talking about it is showing love but I have also seen where someone comes in that doesnt match the churches expectations of what they want and not a single person greets them. The church acts like they have the plague and try to stay away from them. It happens in more churches than just mine. People greet who they want to and avoid those they dont want to be around. What a lousy way to get ready to worship God. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


If this is what your church is like, I fel sorry for you. But it's not mine. All people are welcomed in my church, a guest is a guest, and is treated like one, no matter what they look like, or wear. If my church is that full materialism, self pride, I'd find another place to go. I guess you'd just have to be a part of a church the freely shares the love of Jesus with all who come through the door to know what I am talking about.

[ November 10, 2001: Message edited by: katie ]

 

Katie that is why I left that church, I got tired of all the faces people were whereing. One would be for this person but they had a total different face for another person. Unfortunately, they dont see what their doing.

 

rtjw,
Glad to hear your in a better church.
So what about church people sharing the love of Jesus to others in their church, like I had originally said. In our church all are welcomed, and paole shake hands with and welcome everyone,no matter what they are wearing, or what they look like. People have commented on their first visit(we get a lot of one time people, because we are just off the interstate), that we had an extremely friendly, loving church, ready to welcome anyone, even strangers.
So when we say it is a part of our worship to share the love God has put in out hearts, during our worship service, we mean it.
I guess that may not be true for everyone.

 

The worship service at my church has "loosened" a great deal from when I was a child. We are reverent during the service but we do talk during the organ prelude. I have our church's bulletin on our website at http://members.truepath.com/fubc/entrypage.html
Enter the site and go to the link "This week's bulletin" if you wish to see our program of events. Thanks for posting the question Roy.

- Clint