What do people wear to church?

[greenonion]

This question is open for everyone!- Methodist, Nazarene, ect-I'd love to hear your answer:wave:

I've been trying out a new UMC in my area and I really like it. I think one of the reasons I have such positive feelings towards it is the casual attitude. My previous UMC, and all the UMC's I've been to in the past, have been kinda formal in dress. Women would wear dresses and hats and men would wear dress slacks. It was like this both in Arizona and rural upstate NY. This kinda dress was something I always expected to see in a UM church (when I was a kid, I remember women wearing hats and men always wearing ties)

This new UMC is very casual in dress. People wear polos, jeans, T's and khakis. Even the choir. I must say I like it, as I feel much more comfortable in "casual" clothes. I've only been to one Nazarene church, and found the dress there very diverse. There were teens in shorts and flip-flops, men in suits, women in floppy hats and many people in jeans. I liked it. But it seems to me, that most of the Methodist churches I've been to are more "dressy", with the exception of this new one I discovered.

What is dress like in your church? What do you feel most comfortable wearing? Do you find that what you wear affects your worship experience?

What is the dress at your church?

[kierkegaard214]

Well, my Church here in San Diego has two services. One in formal dress, not neccessairliy involving hats and what not, but pretty formal. The other is pretty lax. I for one like to dress up because I feel that sunday is teh Lord's day and that we should go the extra mile instead of just coming in what we usually wear. This is my personal preference, but I think you should dress in what every you feel comfortable expressing before God.

[ClementofRome]

Since I wear a tie most days to work, I am thrilled that the Lord thinks just like I do...that it is a totally ridiculous piece of material tied in a knot around my neck that serves no purpose.

I NEVER wear a tie to church and most of the men in our small, rural and 120 year old church do not either. Even the pastor will from time to time not wear a tie....and NEVER a robe. We are UMC and I can worship to the fullest wearing casual clothes and thank the Lord every minute that I am wearing something comfortable.

[sinner/SAVED]

We are in South Georgia and it is HOT!!! in the summer. We are casual in the summer and a little dressier in the winter. Always casual for the evening service. The Nazarene church you described sounds a lot like our church.

[desert_island_1]

We wear whatever we want. Sometimes some of out teens will even wear their pj's to church (at least they are there right!) Our pastor usually wears a tie and dress pants but other times he wears a tshirt. Depends on the day and if we are having a church barbeque or not. Of course there is always that group of people who wear ties and dresses to church but they are definately the minority in my church. I think this is also impacted by the fact that over half our congregation is 35 and younger.

[greenonion]

Good point, desert_island. I really think it has a lot to do with the age of the congregation. The Nazarene church I used to go to had a lot of teenagers. The UMC I go to now has a lot of young families, in their mid-late 20's.

[ParaCristo]

At our church (Nazarene) we have people wearing shorts, suits or whatever......Nazarenes for the most part are not too hung up on how people look (just look at my pic!, and I'm a Kids SS teacher).... I'm quite sure the Lord wants you there no matter how we look!.....I know my looks will never get me on the Church Board but, it will give me a chance to talk to people about Our Savior, that others in suit and ties can't!
I figure if a Church says something to you about your dress, then you might be in the wrong church......prayerfully consider your attire then you will know whether you are "good to go" w/ God or not!!!

[Velcro]

Clement wrote: that it is a totally ridiculous piece of material tied in a knot around my neck that serves no purpose. Ha-ha-ha-ha! I love it! I am sure that the tie was invented by a masochistic woman, in retribution because someone
"was her man,
but he done her wrong."

Interesting that men's fashion includes wearing a noose! :D

You are GOOD!

[Celticflower]

. Ha-ha-ha-ha! I love it! I am sure that the tie was invented by a masochistic woman, in retribution because someone
"was her man,
but he done her wrong."

Interesting that men's fashion includes wearing a noose! :D

You are GOOD!

I think the tie was in retaliation for the corset--if women couldn't breathe why should men?;)

As far as what to wear to church--in tourist town in Northern NY I grew up in our church ( a Meth/Presb) had a sign out front that said "come as you are". On any given Sunday in the summer you could find one of the older ladies in their "Sunday best" sitting next to a shaggy haired camper in cutoffs and sandals. Lots of people from the marinas and docking areas would come to our church because they didn't feel they had to dress up--altho' we did ask that they wear shoes, and leave the bathing suits covered up.

[faithgirl]

I don't think it matters. If you want to go in jeans and a teeshirt great. If you want to dress up go ahead! It doesn't matter!

[The thinker]

lol, we wear whatever we are comfortable in... once my friend came to church in a jedi robe:D

[desert_island_1]

lol, we wear whatever we are comfortable in... once my friend came to church in a jedi robe:D
Nice! I might wear my pj pants to church on Saturday because I have to be up really early on saturday so I will probably want to go to bed right after church...

[Theophorus]

I worship at a monastery so modesty is the rule. Ties are not worn by most, but long sleeve shirts with a collar are the norm and really should be buttoned all the way. (It is really starting to get hot now)

The women cannot wear slacks, just skirts that go below the knee, and no open toed shoes. Long socks or opaque stockings must also be worn plus a scarf (headcovering). The long sleeve thing applies to them also.

And I have never seen anyone wear jeans.

[Strong in Him]

I wear a tie sometimes, :cool: but I probably don't tie it properly. :confused:

If I'm preaching and will be using a radio mike, I wear a skirt with a pocket, (and a blouse, of course.) I tried clipping the mike on to the waistband of my skirt once, but it fell off when I moved! Otherwise, whatever I feel comfortable in - and if I'm having an off day and that means leisure trousers, that's what I wear.

[WesleyJohn]

.

[ParaCristo]

I worship at a monastery so modesty is the rule. Ties are not worn by most, but long sleeve shirts with a collar are the norm and really should be buttoned all the way. (It is really starting to get hot now)

The women cannot wear slacks, just skirts that go below the knee, and no open toed shoes. Long socks or opaque stockings must also be worn plus a scarf (headcovering). The long sleeve thing applies to them also.

And I have never seen anyone wear jeans.

Wow.... kinda formal huh.... that's why we have all type's of church's in God's great kingdom.....we all worship the same loving God.....and I bet He loves our diverse styles.....No shorts huh....hehe

[ParaCristo]

I worship at a monastery so modesty is the rule. Ties are not worn by most, but long sleeve shirts with a collar are the norm and really should be buttoned all the way. (It is really starting to get hot now)

The women cannot wear slacks, just skirts that go below the knee, and no open toed shoes. Long socks or opaque stockings must also be worn plus a scarf (headcovering). The long sleeve thing applies to them also.

And I have never seen anyone wear jeans.

Wow.... kinda formal huh.... that's why we have all type's of church's in God's great kingdom.....we all worship the same loving God.....and I bet He loves our diverse styles.....No shorts huh....hehe

[desert_island_1]

I generally wear a suit and tie from Labor Day through Memorial Day. I am also the pastor. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, I dispense with the jacket, and often go without a tie. Last week I wore a polo shirt and khakis, but that was the tail end of our family camping weekend.

The people in the congregation come as they are. I have a couple of guys who wear suits, a few who wear sports jackets, and then some who wear polos, t-shirts, etc. The ladies mostly wear comfortable dresses or skirts....but pants are also quite welcome.

In other words...we're pretty diverse...and we like it that way!

WJ
That sounds alot like my pastor. He usually wears ties and a jacket but sometimes for special occasions he will wear a tshirt.

[Theophorus]

Wow.... kinda formal huh.... that's why we have all type's of church's in God's great kingdom.....we all worship the same loving God.....and I bet He loves our diverse styles.....No shorts huh....hehe

It's a humility thing for us, and a modesty issue for the monks. There are no mirrors to be found, not even in the bathroom (it has been painted over).

If you showed up in shorts, they would not turn you away, but I have been told they are prepared for that with suitable garments upon request or need. I shudder to think what those might be. :D

[desert_island_1]

It's a humility thing for us, and a modesty issue for the monks. There are no mirrors to be found, not even in the bathroom (it has been painted over).

If you showed up in shorts, they would not turn you away, but I have been told they are prepared for that with suitable garments upon request or need. I shudder to think what those might be. :D
I would shutter too!

[CarrieAg93]

Our church is pretty much anything goes. Some of the older people wear coat and ties and dressy dresses, but for the most part people are pretty casual. I usually wear something that fits in the category of dressy casual.

[Velcro]

I am neither Nazarene nor Methodist (so what am I doing here?!?), but when I attend my services, I wear what I wear to work -- nice pants and a blouse with dress shoes. Once in a great while, I wear jeans.

People come in all sorts of garb, but one thing my synagogue demands is modesty. I really appreciate that!

[seeking.IAM]

I am a member of one UMC and attend a second more than I do the first. Both have fairly casual attire, including jeans and casual shirts. Shorts are present but ususally only among teenagers or those that think they still are.

I used to wear casual clothes to church. Despite that I have now changed how I dress to dress more formally. I will wear a suit and tie or at least a sport coat with tie. I have made this change for two reasons. (1) It seems the most fitting attire to meet the King of Kings. If I was invited to share a meal at the White House, I wouldn't show up in jeans and flip flops. I'd put on my best. I feel like I should offer no less to God. (2) Every day of the week I put on a suit and tie because my job requires it as a fitting way to meet my clients and customers. Come Sunday, is meeting God less important than those that I met during the week just because I would prefer to be more comfortable?

I believe God accepts everyone just as they are and if jeans are the best you got, that's good enough. But, I've come to think you should wear the best that you have to adore the King of Kings. :bow:

A minority opinion,
seeking.IAM

[SandyLou]

My UMC has 3 services - two are pretty relaxed, as you described in the OP. The "traditional" 11:00 service is a bit more formal in attire altho no one is refused entry *giggle*

[Flipper]

I'm Lutheran, but my husband comes from a UMC background and we visit his parents' church quite often. It is out in a very rural area. Almost all the men who go there (father in law included) are either mechanics or farmers. They are some of the most intelligent, God loving, people I've ever met, but also some of the simplest. Dressing up out of respect for The Lord to them, is nice jeans with no holes and a white, or light colored button down shirt. No tie. The women might wear a simple dress, or slacks, but if you see a man out there ever in a tie, he is going to a funeral. It's not disrespect, but their culture.

The pastor will wear a dress shirt and tie. However, on Saturday nights, they have a casual service that's mostly for the kids and he'll wear overalls.

[markbelieves]

I don't usually wear a tie but I do wear dress pants and a nice shirt. So does my son, who is 10, and it is interesting that he is most comfortable dressed for church. He rarely changes clothes when he gets home unless he is going outside to play.

[mortis]

I usualy wear Black dress pants and either a white or blue dress shirt( I play bass in the praise band), but we are doing casual day come this sunday, as an out reach, kinda come-as-you-are.

[factoid]30% of men in the United States own suits. and most people feel like they are not welcome if they are not dressed to the standard of the rest of the congragation.

[angel82]

Our dress is more formal with the older members, however with our young people it is a more relaxed form of dress. Since our church is in the centre of town we get some of the homeless or chalenged and our minister and congregation welcome any form of dress with open arms as long as you come to church. AMEN

[Onesimus85]

I attend a UMC that has a blended worship. It isn't 100% contemporary, or 100% traditional. I usually wear a pair of cargo khakis a button down shirt and a pair of sandals or dress shoes. Every once in a while I will wear nice blue jeans. I like to dress this way for 2 reasons. 1) People who dress nice don't look down on me because I dress too comfortably. 2) People who dress very comfortably don't look down on me because I dress to formally.

IMO, it really doesn't matter what you wear to church as long as you are at church. I attended a worship service at the beach one year and thought I was going to a contemporary worship service so I dressed like I thought most people would. I wore shorts, a short sleeved button down shirt untucked, and sandals. I walked in and I thought it was Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Everyone was dressed as nice as they could. They did treat me differently than I expected, they treated me like I had attended there for years. Since then I have made it my goal to make sure that I great new people I notice in my church.

I have to say, if I were going to meet the President I think I would dress nicely, but still wear my sandals. Perhaps he would remember me later on as the nice guy with the sandals...lol. ;)

[WiredSpirit]

Our traditional service is very dressy, while our contemporary service is mixed. I work graphics and a lot of times I go in shorts and a t-shirt, or I'm still wearing my work uniform. You see a lot of that too.

[Diane_Windsor]

I went to a UMC today, but not being the detailed-oriented person that some people are I don't recall who was wearing what. In fact, I was too busy focusing on the beautiful stained glass windows! However, at least one woman was wearing a hat. The Sunday School teacher was wearing khakis and a business shirt. I always wear khakis and a polo or dress shirt. I do sometimes wear jeans.

Diane
:)

[Velcro]

Ah, stained glass windows! Would that all places of worship were dressed in them!

[millihelen]

I wear whatever I feel most comfortable in. If I were going to see the president (or the Queen) then yes I would probably dress up but God knows my every part and knows my innermost being. Worshipping God is not something I do just on a sunday and therefore I dress the same as I would always. I totally respect those who dress up as I think what they are doing is right for them but personally when I am going to see my best friend I don't go all dressed up in a suit or whatever. ;)


millihelen.