STR's Mystery Worshipper [Archive]

TomUK

4th April 2006, 05:26 AM

Overview
The church

The denomination

The building

The church

The neighbourhood

The cast

The date and time

The service
What was the name of the service?

How full was the building?

Did anyone welcome you personally?

Was your pew comfortable?

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?

What were the exact opening words of the service?

What books did the congregation use during the service?

What musical instruments were played?

Did anything distract you?

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?

In a nutshell what was the service about?

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?

What happened after you hung around after the service?

How would you describe the after-service coffee?

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?

TomUK

4th April 2006, 05:32 AM

Obviously if you don't have to complete all sections, and if you're concerned about anonymity then just leave any relevant details blank.

Hopefully i've made the above post so you can just quote it and all the editing will remain intact.

Naomi4Christ

4th April 2006, 06:11 AM

Sounds like a nice idea, Tom.

Lilium

4th April 2006, 08:02 AM

Great idea :thumbsup:

Overview
The church
St Johns

The denomination
Church of England

The building
Small town church with old pews and one large stained glass window...which is impossible to see due to the projector screen hanging in front of it.

The church
St Johns is an evangelical Anglican church.

The neighbourhood
Situated near the centre of the town on one of the main roads. Around it there's a few shops, a couple pubs and beyond that the town centre and houses.

The date and time
Sunday 10.30am

The service
What was the name of the service?
Morning Worship. With the other two services they have regulary being Holy Communion and All-Age Worship.

How full was the building?
Pretty packed. I'm no good at estimating numbers of people but there wasn't many empty places. The congregation is a right mixture of ages ranging from very young to old.

Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes, there was someone at the door saying "hello" to everyone and handing out a notice sheet.

Was your pew comfortable?
Yes, it was a standard old pew.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Relaxed. There was a few people chatting, others sitting quietly looking through the notice sheet.

What were the exact opening words of the service?
Can't remember exactly but I bet it started with "Welcome..."

What books did the congregation use during the service?
The bible. A service book was also used occasionally for some of the prayers. A couple books containing the songs that were sung sit in the back of the pews...no one uses them because although page numbers are given the words are projected onto a screen.

What musical instruments were played?
Keyboard and electro-acoustic guitar. I think there's some drums hiding behind the keyboard too and there's an old organ set into a wall which is occasionally used.

Did anything distract you?
There's usually a family with their small children in the row in front...sometimes can get distracting but the kids are so cute I can't help but smile.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
Certainly more happy-clappy than stiff-upper lip. The one word I'd use to describe it is "joyful".

Exactly how long was the service?
An hour and a half.

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
I'd say 8-9 out of 10.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
The vast majority of the service was like being in heaven...sometimes some of the songs do make me cringe though.

What happened after you hung around after the service?
Few hang around afterwards in the church...most leave soon after service finishes and head over to the church hall.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?
I don't drink coffee so had water instead.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
7-8

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
Yes.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
The music.

TomUK

4th April 2006, 08:10 AM

Cheers for that, Starelda :thumbsup:

Lilium

4th April 2006, 08:16 AM

Overview
The church
St Pauls

The denomination
Church of England

The building
A huge church right in the centre of the town...actually right in the middle of the one-way system which has lead one person I know to refer to is as "the roundabout". The church has a spire and 12 bells which are rung before the service. Every window is beautiful stained glass.

The church
St Pauls is an Anglo-Catholic Anglican church.

The neighbourhood
Situated right in the centre of the town so it's mainly surrounded by shops and pubs.

The date and time
Sunday 10.15am

The service
What was the name of the service?
Holy Eucharist

How full was the building?
Not very. Mainly older people though there is a small play area set up near the back for children.

Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes, there was someone at the door saying "hello" to everyone and handing out a service sheet.

Was your pew comfortable?
It wasn't a pew. The church has rows of padded chairs which are linked together though can be moved if needed. The modern chairs look a little out of place.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Relaxed and quiet. There was a few people chatting, including the vicar.

What were the exact opening words of the service?
Can't remember exactly but more than likely "In the Name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

What books did the congregation use during the service?
There were a couple readings from the bible given by lay-people though unlike St Johns no one picks up a pew bible and follows along. A service booklet was used extensively throughout with hymns from the New English Hymnal.

What musical instruments were played?
Organ.

Did anything distract you?
No.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
Very reverant though some would say "stuffy and stiff-upper lip".

Exactly how long was the service?
An hour and 15 minutes.

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
I'd say 7 out of 10.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
The vast majority of the service was like being in heaven. The church and service were beautiful. The old hymns aren't to my taste though.

What happened after you hung around after the service?
Few hang around afterwards...most start heading for the door (and also the coffee).

How would you describe the after-service coffee?
I didn't stay to have one.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
7-8

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
Yes.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
The vicar...such a friendly guy. Most you get when leaving some churches is a handshake and a smile. This guy happily chats to everyone before they go.

Dewi Sant

4th April 2006, 01:57 PM

Overview
The church
St John the Baptist

The denomination
Church of England

The building
A building of Norman origin, the tower dates back 900 years. Simple in style, made more decorated in the interior by the victorians.

The church
A strong but old congregation. It gets packed out on Easter and Christmas, thus the reason I go for the Christmas mid-night service rather than the morning one.

The neighbourhood
The Parish of Broughton is actually quite a while away from the church. The church is on its own lane in the country, but near to a major motorway (highway) junction.

The cast
The cast? Is this referring to the clergy or a method of creating plaster statues?:scratch:
A very nice clergy. The vicar keeps changing every five years, the most recent vicar is a man from Scotland though the deacon takes a lot of the services, the deacon is female.

The date and time
Sunday morning 9am for prayer service, 11am for holy communium and 6.30pm for evensong.

The service
What was the name of the service?
Holy Communium

How full was the building?
Let's say that every pew had at least two people on it. About 1/3rd full.

Did anyone welcome you personally?
The greeters who give out the pamphlets and order of service give a nice "good morning"

Was your pew comfortable?
Lovely thankyou. Nice old victorian pews, they are becomming a rare sight in churches now with the dawn of the stackable chair.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
I'm never there pre-service:D , I always enter just before the choir procession.

What were the exact opening words of the service?
I can't remember, probably "welcome"

What books did the congregation use during the service?
The Liturgy and English Hymnal

What musical instruments were played?
A fantastic pipe organ (which got a new console last year, now it plays both on the original pipes and electronically)

Did anything distract you?
no

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
It is traditional, reverant and yet fresh. I wouldn't consider it stiff upper lipped and definatly not happy clappy.

Exactly how long was the service?
about an hour

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
7, she can keep contact with the congregation and deliver a meaningful sermon. Unfortunatly for me, I tend to want a sermon with more meat on it.

In a nutshell what was the service about?
On how we are workers in the Lord's vineyard.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
The all male choir is simply fantastic!

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
n/a

What happened after you hung around after the service?
The organist plays a wonderful Bach fugue and then there is a free trade stall to buy chocolate, coffee and other life-essentials.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?
hmmm, we don't have that at our church, I should suggest it. You can buy free trade coffee....but it comes in granules, not in a cup.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
8, it is a good church but I don't get much in the way of teaching from it. I do appreciate it though and we are blessed to have this church in our area.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
Hmmm, I suppose so but I am always glad to be Christian.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
The choir!

http://www.broughtonparish.freeserve.co.uk/Northern%20aspect%20of%20Parish%20Church.jpg

Dewi Sant

4th April 2006, 02:12 PM

SIZE="3"]Overview[/SIZE]
The church
The orthodox community of the Holy Apostles

The denomination
Greek Orthodox

The building
A community hall. It is sufficient till we get a building.

The church
Very strong and multi-cultural, some of them are greek, some english, some russian, some indian.

The neighbourhood
A typical 1950's-60's british housing development

The cast
A lovely priest. He pretty much does the entire service on his own.

The date and time
April 2nd, 10:30am

The service
What was the name of the service?
Sunday of St. John Climacus
We used both part of St John Chrysostom's and St Basil's liturgy.

How full was the building?
Pretty full, about half full.

Did anyone welcome you personally?
No, this is an orthodox church, though the Priest did say it was good to see me when he gave me his blessing.

Was your pew comfortable?
Pews?!? in an Orthodox church:) , plus it is in a community hall. There are about 4 rows of chairs at the back which most people sit on but I am part of the choir so I stand for the entirety of the service.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
I don't really know when the service starts.

What were the exact opening words of the service?
Can't remember, might have been "In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

What books did the congregation use during the service?
none

What musical instruments were played?
unnacompianed choir.

Did anything distract you?
possibly the candles flickering in their stands.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
Reverent

Exactly how long was the service?
about 1 and 1/2 hours

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
9, the Priest is very charismatic in his preaching.

In a nutshell what was the service about?
The Eucharist is the centre of the service.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
All of it

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
When I get flat notes.:D

What happened after you hung around after the service?
Last Sunday was the Priests Mothers 90th birthday so we had chocolate and cake.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?
good.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
9.5

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
yes, but it mainly makes you very very humble.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?[/QUOTE]
The singing.

Naomi4Christ

4th April 2006, 02:40 PM

Overview
The church

St ------, -------- Parish Church

The denomination

C of E

The building

Georgian building, liturgically re-ordered and restored in recent years

The neighbourhood

Town centre of Home Counties market town.

The cast

Members of congregation lead the service and preach, ably assisted by a music group and AV crew.

The date and time

Typical Sunday during our interregnum

The service
What was the name of the service?

Family worship

How full was the building?

90% full, around 450 adults and children.

Did anyone welcome you personally?

Yes, shook hands with the warden and handed a service sheet from the sidesman (with a quick chat).

Was your pew comfortable?

Pew? The standard upholstered church chair is comfortable if sat on for less than 30 minutes at a time.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?

Anticipation, especially as we have to queue to get in. Also lots of messages being passed around, hugging and kissing.

What were the exact opening words of the service?

Good morning and welcome to...especially if you are here for the first time.

What books did the congregation use during the service?

The Bible (NIV). Service was projected onto a large screen and printed on handouts. The liturgy was based on Common Worship.

What musical instruments were played?

Piano, clarinet, fiddle, drums, bass guitar, voice

Did anything distract you?

A few crawling infants and adventurous toddlers, which was a source of amusement for their parents - hmmmph.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?

More happy clappy but not quite. Modern praise songs with some arm raising.

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?

25 minutes

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?

10 - just the right balance between humour and teaching. Practical and encouraging information to take away from the service.

In a nutshell what was the service about?

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?

The opening period of praise.

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?

Noisy parishioners

What happened after you hung around after the service?

Invited to be prayed for. Shook hands with the service leaders at the door of the church, then followed the masses down to the church centre for coffee and to collect the children.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?

Coffee tasted as if it were made the day before. Proper biscuits and home-made cake. Very busy and congested at coffee, and lots of people to see.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)

10, of course.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?

Yes.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?

The people I forgot to see...The jokes in the talk, and the message.

RedneckAnglican

4th April 2006, 03:37 PM

Overview
The church
Amazing Grace Lutheran Church

The denomination
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The building
looks like a regular house from the road...a little more like a church when you get close...we do have or own keg though...and that's what's important

The church
good salt of the earth people...a privilage to worship with them

The neighbourhood
last year...farmland as far as the eye could see
this year...cookie cutter houses surround the place

The cast
a cast of thousands...well only about 20 or 30 per service but we do have 3 services

The date and time
Sunday March 26, 2006

The service
What was the name of the service?
Setting II

How full was the building?about half way

Did anyone welcome you personally? oh yes...about 5 people...not just the greeter either

Was your pew comfortable? not even a little

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
joyful
What were the exact opening words of the service?
these are the announcement for...

What books did the congregation use during the service?
everything is in the program

What musical instruments were played?that sunday was praise sunday so just about everything imaginable

Did anything distract you? other thatn my son...not really

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?both

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?sermone was Pastors usual 15 minutes

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher? 12

In a nutshell what was the service about? grace...what else is there?

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
communion
And which part was like being in...er...the other place? the prayers can get long winded...

What happened after you hung around after the service?
coffee hour and sunday school
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
good stuff!

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal) 15

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
oh yes
What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?considering I'm writing this 2 weeks after...i'd say quite a bit...

longhair75

4th April 2006, 06:25 PM

Overview
The church: saint andrew's episcopal

The denomination: ecusa

The building: a medium sized alpine style building surrounded by mature oak trees

The church: broad church anglican

The neighbourhood: residential. nice older homes.

The cast: the rector, a deacon, an acolyte. the readings done by a parishoner

The date and time: any sunday, 9:00 am

The service
What was the name of the service?: contemporary worship

How full was the building? more than three quarters

Did anyone welcome you personally? many people.

Was your pew comfortable? yes

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere? very warm and friendly. lots of people visiting

What were the exact opening words of the service? "good morning and welcome to saint andrews"

what books did the congregation use during the service? the service was fully contained in the pamphlet handed to each of us by the greeters

What musical instruments were played? guitar, saxaphone, piano drums. two teenaged girls from the youth choir filling in for the usual vocalist

Did anything distract you? not really. of couse there were kids, and kids will be kids.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what? very relaxed and friendly

Exactly how long was the service/sermon? service: 70 minutes, sermon fifteen

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher? 12 -14

In a nutshell what was the service about? the five loaves and two fish.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven? all of it

And which part was like being in...er...the other place? nothing

What happened after you hung around after the service? the vicar made it a point to speak to each and every one at the service

How would you describe the after-service coffee? very friendly and inviting

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal) 14. this church was my introduction to the episcopal church. we attended for a couple of sundays then made arrangem,ents to take an inquirere's class.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian? yes, very

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time? this is my church home, and they are my family.

Torah613

4th April 2006, 07:31 PM

Overview
The church

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

The denomination

Orthodox Church in America--Midwest Diocese

The building

A lovely new building, very roomy, proper cupula, lots of space downstairs for classrooms etc. However the Iconstasis was incomplete as it is still a very new building, and no Icons on the walls etc.

The church

A lovely place, full of budding families, etc.
The neighbourhood

Typical Suburban american neighborhood.

The cast

Two Priests (one visiting from Alaska), 4 alcoyltes, full choir.

The date and time

Sunday, 9:15 matins 10:00 Liturgy

The service
What was the name of the service?

Divine Liturgy of our Father Among the Saints Basil, Bishop of Cappaudocia.
How full was the building?
90-100%. Holy Trinity is a booming congregation filled with many young families. The median age of those I saw I would estimate to be less than 35 years of age.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
No. However I did meet some lovely people afterwards and the warden gave me a nod as I came in. Of course due to traffic I didn't make it until the Little Entrance.
Was your pew comfortable?
Pews? PEWS?! is outrage! Actually there were chairs, but I prefer to stand when attending Orthodox worship. Besides I generally find it is much less comfortable to stand for so long in between long lines of pews. I rather stood in the back.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Didn't make it to the pre-service.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"Blessed Be the Kingdom......Now and Ever and unto ages of ages."
What books did the congregation use during the service?
A service book was provided, however most including myself know the vast majority of the service hymns by heart and the flexible ones were contained in teh bullitin.
What musical instruments were played?
No instruments--is outrage.
Did anything distract you?
Well to be honest yes. There were kids roaming around, and more irritatingly parents who were deliberatly distracting their kids from prayer in an effort to keep them sedated. Also it bothered me greatly that nobody stayed for the post communion prayers.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
Umm it was Orthodox. Neither of the above apply.
Exactly how long was the service/sermon?
From the begining of Matins to the end of Liturgy generally lasts roughly 2 hours.
On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
very good. I would say about an 8.
In a nutshell what was the service about?
The journey of the soul to the joy of Pascha. Specifically the metaphor of the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
The Hymns. Orthodox worship always feels like "Heaven on earth" to me. Of course so does Anglican worship.
And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
well to be honest not much of it. The plainness of the church was more than a bit disconcerting.
What happened after you hung around after the service?
well, I met two other CF'ers who attend that church, was greeted by some lovely people. Venerated what few Icons were available and went to the church bookshop and bought an Ethiopian Quadriptych Icon that is the perfect size to hang from my rearview mirror while travelling.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
Didn't drink the coffee. Maybe its just me, but Russians rarely ahve been able to hold a candle to Episcopalean Coffee in my book.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
eh about an 8. If it wasn't for the underlying judgementalism so prevelant in the american flavors of coffee, I'd love to be there. Rich and vibrant (as well as ethnically diverse). However, I don't like hiding behind a veil for the sake of church.
Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
Indeed. The services always remind me of the need for the cross.
What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
well it would have to be 1. the lovely talk given by the dean of ST. Herman's Seminary in Alaska after Liturgy as well as the general friendliness of people.

Joe Zollars

Torah613

4th April 2006, 07:32 PM

will do one for St. John's (the Episcopal Church I frequent)after Tenebrae so that I have specific examples to draw from in recent memory.

Joe Zollars

IowaLutheran

4th April 2006, 07:33 PM

longhair75

4th April 2006, 10:25 PM

I'll have to make the trip 90 miles south to visit you sometime, longhair75!

I'd submit a review of my church but since I function as a quasi-deacon weekly and preach occasionally it wouldn't be very objective.
friend iowa lutheran,

i haven't been up in your neighborhood in a while, but i ocassionally lust for "two with everything and a bowl of chili" from milwaukee weiner house.

Torah613

4th April 2006, 10:34 PM

Redneck Lutheran--your church has its own keg???? sounds like my kinda place!

Joe Zollars

svdbygrace

5th April 2006, 02:06 AM

Overview
The church

---- ------- United Methodist Church

The denomination

United Methodist Church

The building

Wood Structure from the 1880-1890's has a large steeple. The inside of the building is very traditional, with the Altar/Communion Table against the front wall, the pulpit and lectionary on a lower level, with Communion rails for kneeling. The choir is seated to the side of the Altar.

The church

Small congregation of mostly older people.

The neighbourhood

edge of downtown, the block is at the edge of the residental area.

The cast

The Minister, and the Layspeaker

The date and time

Worship 9:30am
First Sunday of Lent.

The service
What was the name of the service?

Worship

How full was the building?

The building is small, so maybe 15-25%.

Did anyone welcome you personally?

Yes... they always do. The Minister always personally welcomes everyone before the service, as well as several other people.

Was your pew comfortable?

Yes.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?

Cheerful, yet prayerful. Some people use the time for silent meditation and prayer, while others greet each other before worship begins.

What were the exact opening words of the service?

Good Morning! Followed by annoucements and the call to worship (lead by the layspeaker).

What books did the congregation use during the service?

Bible, Hymnal, service handouts

What musical instruments were played?

Organ and a Piano for the Choir anthem.

Did anything distract you?

No.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?

Both.

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?

Service: 1 hr.
Sermon: 10-15 min.

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?

10.

In a nutshell what was the service about?

Holy Communion was celebrated that day, and the service was centered around a call to repentance.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?

All the service, especially Holy Communion!

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?

the Choir anthem... (joke of course!)

What happened after you hung around after the service?

I never have...

How would you describe the after-service coffee?

No coffee.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)

10- this is where I have been attending since the end of November.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?

Yes! All worship does. :)

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?

Communion.

AngCath

5th April 2006, 03:49 PM

Overview of My Parish
The church
St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
The denomination
ECUSA
The building
Brick, very 70s
The church
mid-size congregation, older congregation with growing number of college students
The neighbourhood
edge of residential and commercial area
The cast
1 Priest, 2 Altar servers, 4 Acolytes, and a Choir
The date and time
5 Lent, 10:30 AM

The service
What was the name of the service?
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
How full was the building?
65%
Did anyone welcome you personally?
probably 20+ people did.
Was your pew comfortable?
not especially
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
fellowship/chaos
What were the exact opening words of the service?
Good morning. the opening hymn is Hymn # (i don't remember)
What books did the congregation use during the service?
BCP, Hymnal
What musical instruments were played?
Organ, Piano, Flute
Did anything distract you?
No, I'm used to the craziness
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
Solemn to the max
Exactly how long was the service/sermon?
service was 90 minutes with a 15-20 minutes sermon
On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
8, we had a supply priest for the day
In a nutshell what was the service about?
Jesus, Lent, and the Holy Eucharist
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
the whole service pointed to heaven
And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
the A/C was not working properly
What happened after you hung around after the service?
Chili and Hot Dog lunch... and some cake!
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
I'm a hopeless addict
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
10, I work here
Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
Very much
What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
Communion

Torah613

5th April 2006, 11:25 PM

as promissed:

Overview
The church
St. Johns Episcopal Church

The denomination
ECUSA
The building
a lovely white stucco building with redtiled roof built in 1874
The church
a wonderful, loving community. Also beautifully and simply appointed sanctuary.
The neighbourhood
at the edge of the business district.
The cast
a lay reader and several members of hte congregation
The date and time
Wendsday Evening, 6pm

The service
What was the name of the service?
Evening Prayer, Rite II
How full was the building?
not very. Which is to be expected from this town, which is slowly dying. It used to be a thriving railroad town, but slowly is diminishing. The church was built when the town was about triple the size.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
no, although several members said hello as they came in. I did get there before everyone else excluding the warden.
Was your pew comfortable?
eh its so so I suppose, but I'm never really comfortable in pews. Also, the pews were far too close together and as I am rahter tall kneeling is quite uncomfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
quiet and prayerful.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
"Evening Prayer begins on page 115 in the BCP"
What books did the congregation use during the service?
Book of Common Prayer, US 1979 edition
What musical instruments were played?
none
Did anything distract you?
well, the streeet outside was kinda noisy tonight for some reason.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
eh I would say about half and half. It was definitly on the higher side of things.
Exactly how long was the service/sermon?
about 30 minutes. No sermon.
On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
no sermon.
In a nutshell what was the service about?
Prayer.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
the whole thing.
And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
the kneelers and my predicament therewith.
What happened after you hung around after the service?
a light lenten meal (I was there mainly for the coffee) followed by a continuation of a series of studies on the Stations of the Cross.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
wonderful as always. As mentioned before where the Anglicans really get it right is with coffee, at least in my experience.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
to be honest 10. Thus my dilema of going back to ECUSA or staying Orthodox.
Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
verily so.
What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
the quiet prayerfullness.

Joe Zollars

thejesusfish90

6th April 2006, 09:54 AM

Overview
The church

Anglican Church of Australia (sydney Diocese)

The denomination

" "

The building

A large VERY 1960's church building with side hall-- this service is actually held in the hall which is sadly a little worse for the ware, and a bit plain....

The church

Typically a youth congregation, though we have a couple resident golden oldies

The neighbourhood

Lower-Middle class sydney neighbourhood

The cast

Senior Minister, Assistant minister, Trainee youth Worker, lay reader, band (Electric guitar, Bass, Drums and vocals), and of course the techno-team

The date and time

Sunday @7

The service
What was the name of the service?

Sunday @ 7

How full was the building?

Well the hall is partitioned off at the halfway mark with these blue 10 ft portable boards, however this half of the hall was full (I'd say about 70 people)

Did anyone welcome you personally?

Yep, 2 Welcomers and a crowd of people chatting around the entrance

Was your pew comfortable?

The chairs while plastic, are very nice

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?

Very very chatty, most people hang around just outside of the hall, a couple of guys somehow manage to skate in between the little conversation circles which form...

What were the exact opening words of the service?

Hmmm... now thats straining the memory.... I think it was: "Welcome to Sunday @ 7! We'd like to welcome you as we together worship our awesome God!"

What books did the congregation use during the service?

None, the bible passage/music/creed were projected onto the digital projector screen, though this was a little unsual, generally they hand out bibles (NIV), while people are walking in...

What musical instruments were played?

Refer to team section.... BTW the band is AWESOME!

Did anything distract you?

Well outside of contemplating the woes of my imminent Half Yearly (they started on the monday) exams, there really wasn't much to distract me--- though sometimes they have issues with the roaming microphone (occaisionally it will let of this deafening squeal, which is pretty unsettling)

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?

Happy Clappy, though very non-hands-in-the-air... I can actually recall the songs still... "I could sing of your love forever" "Psalm 96" "Blessing, Honour" "Highest Place"

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?

Hmm... I'd say about 20 min

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?

9--- The senior minister is very good at simply explaining the passage and demonstrating how it is calling us to 1)Accept christ as our saviour and 2) live a life worthy of our calling... Though Sadly he is leaving 1/2 through the year...

In a nutshell what was the service about?

The vine and the branches passage... We need to obey christ to remain in him... We need to communicate with Christ to recieve what we need to do his will... We need to love Christ and others as christians--- Seemingly simple, but this is a youth service, and I loved the practical advice he gave in the sermon... though it didn't have much in the way of humour (which I dont think is always nessesary anyway)

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?

Music-- it was really awesome... being able to enjoy this (however brief) respite in my preparations for the 1/2 yearlies, and lift my mind to christ to realise that exams aren't the be all and end all of life

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?

Not really much... though when the gremlins take over the sound system, things can get pretty nasty

What happened after you hung around after the service?

Hehehe... I asked the resident English teacher for advice for the monday exam... there is always some form of food after the service, and it is generally quite good! Plus everyone stays around for about 1/2 hour chatting, New people are literally hunted down by the congregation for a chat...

How would you describe the after-service coffee?

Very Nice, though I generally dont eat-- I've usually just consumed the sunday roast earlier on in the day and so there isn't really room left for supper

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)

9, I do have some issues with a couple of things with the church, but then again who doesn't?... I absolutely love the fellowship my church offers, plus the fact that Im able to give back to the church through Youth Group and Music (for the Saturday service, which I may also post up a review for)

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?

Yes definately

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?

The minister made the point that God will trim us as branches, so that we can produce more fruit for him.... This point really stuck with me, something good to think about when your going through trials and hardship in your life (Ie exams)...

Keep these church reviews comming guys, I love reading about all your home churches and how we all worship god in such a variety of different ways!

YBIC

Chris

TomUK

8th April 2006, 04:12 PM

If you get a chance then it'd be great to hear what people do at their palm sunday services. I should probably post one tomorrow too. :)

dalej42

9th April 2006, 02:57 PM

Overview
The church

Cathedral of Hope. 5910 Cedar Springs Rd. Dallas, TX
http://www.cathedralofhope.com (http://www.cathedralofhope.com/)

This service can be watched online anytime during this week. However, the 9am service does not have the procession of children.
The denomination

Non Denominational, in the process of affiliating with United Church of Christ

The building

Large contemporary church. Seats about 600. Two large projection TVs on either side of the atar. The choir is on the far left side of the church behind the orchestra.

The Cathedral of Hope is a primarily LGBT church and is the largest single LGBT church in the world. The Pastor is Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson.

The neighbourhood

Oaklawn is a primarily gay and affluent area in Dallas. However, parts of the area are Latino and much poorer.

The cast

The Rev. Dr Jo Hudson, Rev. Michael Piazza (Dean), and Rev. Jeanie George

The date and time

April 9, 2006. 11 AM

The service

What was the name of the service?

Palm Sunday

How full was the building?

Completely full, about 600 or so.

Did anyone welcome you personally?

Yes, there are greeters by each of the double doors. There are also ushers handing out worship bulletins and palm crosses

Was your pew comfortable?

I sat in the chairs on the far right side. They were padded and comfortable. No kneelers are used.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?

Very chatty. This is a very young congregation and many were discussing Saturday night parties. The congregation is very diverse and there was a mixture of races. The 11AM congregation is younger and tends to be gays and lesbians in their 20s and 30s.

What were the exact opening words of the service?

Peace and Grace to you in the name of the living risen Christ. Good Morning.

What books did the congregation use during the service?

None. The worship bulletin had words and music to all the hymns. The TVs were used to display the words as well.

What musical instruments were played?

Symphony orchestra, choir, organ, piano, and handbells. An electric keyboard set to sound like a Harpsichord was used during a performance of Handel later in the service.

Did anything distract you?

Not really, although this is a very chatty crowd. There was also a bit of a delay after the exchange of peace as the clergy and children were preparing for the procession of palms. People were still standing waiting for the opening hymn rather than sitting down for the introit.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?

Hmm. A bit of both. The service was liturgical, although most of the music is contemporary. There was some applause during the service. During Lent, the congregation is asked to refrain from applause, although that doesn't really apply to Palm Sunday.

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?

20 Minutes

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?

9. Rev. Piazza was the former Senior Pastor and is considered one of the best public speakers in Dallas.

In a nutshell what was the service about?

Palm Sunday offered the people of Jerusalem a choice:

They could follow Jesus or follow the Romans. There are many Christians, but not many disciples of Jesus.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?

The large procession of children in a gay church. The Children's Handbell song got loud applause and a standing ovation. Also, watching all the gay and lesbian couples taking communion together.

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?

Way too much chit chat among the congregation. Also, Rev. Piazza mentioned briefly a very controversial immigration rally today.

What happened after you hung around after the service?

Not really applicable. I met with friends.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?

Good. There was coffee, water, punch, doughnuts, cakes and other pastries.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)

9.5. This is my regular church home, but I also like to visit more formal churches at times.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?

Yes, Palm Sunday is my favorite service of the year.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?

The procession of the children.

TomUK

9th April 2006, 03:14 PM

Overview
The church
St Francis of Assisi

The denomination
Church of England

The building
A relatively modern, but bizarrely attracitve building

The church

The neighbourhood
At the centre of a suburban community

The cast
Fr Paul

The date and time
9.4.06 9:45

The service
What was the name of the service?
Palm Sunday Mass

How full was the building?
Around two thirds - i'd say 130

Did anyone welcome you personally?
I was handed a service book with a friendly smile

Was your pew comfortable?
I was standing at the start of the service as we began in the Church Hall. My pew/chair in the church itself was very comfy

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Friendly, chatty, a little bit confused as it's only once a year the service begins in the church hall

What were the exact opening words of the service?
I publish the banns of marriage

What books did the congregation use during the service?
The Anglican hymnal, an order of the mass, a holy week booklet and a news leaflet - phew!

What musical instruments were played?
In the church hall it was a piano, and after we processed into the church the organ kicked in

Did anything distract you?
A few things. The heating had broken down so the church was very cold, the procession didn't really work and amny people didn't sing during it which was a shame and the peace went of for far too long.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
Dignified

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?
The service was about 1hr 40, but it was longer due to being a Palm Sunday service. As a result the sermon was shorter than usual at around 5 mins.

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
8 The sermon was only short this week due to the extended service. The Priest spoke excellently but i don't feel i can give anything over an 8 for a 5 min service.

In a nutshell what was the service about?
The meaning of Hosanna and its relevance to us as Easter Christians.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
The service made see Palm Sunday in a totally different way. A wondeful start to my Easter week walk

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
The somewhat scrappy procession

What happened after you hung around after the service?
I didn't really hang around as the service was quite long and i was hungry!

How would you describe the after-service coffee?
Based on previous experience it aint half bad!

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
This is the church where i grew up and it means a lot to me.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
Not only did it make be glad but it also made me excited.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
The meaning and relevance of Hosanna.

karen freeinchristman

9th April 2006, 05:13 PM

The church
My placement church

The denomination
Church of England

The building
Typical English stone building, around 200 yrs old.

The church
About 40 people, mostly elderly, but some my age.

The neighbourhood
A mid-sized village. The church is at the point where the shops end and the residences begin.

The cast
The Rector led the service and the Lay Reader preached. Scripture readings and intercessions were done by lay people.

The date and time
Palm Sunday, 9:00 am (the more traditional of the three services)

The service
What was the name of the service?
Morning Prayer

How full was the building?
about 1/4 full. Everyone was kind of spread out.

Did anyone welcome you personally?
Yes, there was a woman who gave out the leaflets/books and palm crosses, and also the Rector and Lay Reader and Curate greeted me.

Was your pew comfortable?
Comfortable enough. Not cushioned, but still comfortable.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
Chatty, friendly. The organ was playing quietly, too, which was nice (and normally I don't like the organ).

What were the exact opening words of the service?
"Good morning everyone"

What books did the congregation use during the service?
Anglican Hymn Book
Hymn Supplement booklet
"What's On" booklet
Easter Services leaflet
Morning Prayer Service Sheet

What musical instruments were played?
Organ. As I said, I don't normally like the organ that much, but this woman played it more quietly than I'm used to at my home church, and I guess I prefer it that way! There is no choir at this service.

Did anything distract you?
Having to write notes during the service (as it is a placement and I have to write a report at the end).

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy-clappy, or what?
It wasn't stiff-upper-lip or happy-clappy. It was relaxed but reverent.

Exactly how long was the service/sermon?
Forgot to time it, but I think it was about 15 min.

On a scale of 1-10 how good was the preacher?
It was the Lay Reader today, and today I will give her a 7.

In a nutshell what was the service about?
Palm Sunday for some of it (the hymns and the prayers), but the sermon was a continuation of the theme verse, 1 Peter 2:9, with emphasis on the part about God calling us out of darkness into his wonderful light. The readings were also to do with the darkness/light theme.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
None of it, unfortunately.

And which part was like being in...er...the other place?
None of it.

What happened after you hung around after the service?
I couldn't hang around as I had to go get my kids to take them to the kids club.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?
I didn't have any this time, but last time it was fine. It's fair-trade coffee, as well.

How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10=ecstatic, 0=terminal)
8, but not this service time. I prefer the more contemporary music.

Did this service make you glad to be a Christian?
Yes.

What is one thing you will remember about all this in seven days' time?
Psalm 116

gtsecc

10th April 2006, 10:25 AM

Did they follow the lectionary?
April 9, Palm Sunday:
Liturgy of the Palms:
Psalm 118:19-29 (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Psalm+118:19-29);
Mark 11:1-11a (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Mark+11:1-11)
Liturgy of the Word:
(http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Psalm+22:1-21)Psalm 22:1-21 (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Psalm+22:1-21) or 22:1-11;
Isaiah 45:21-25 (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Isaiah+45:21-25) or Isaiah 52:13--53:12 (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Isaiah+52:13-53:12); Philippians 2:5-11 (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Philippians+2:5-11); Mark (14:32-72)15:1-39(40-47) (http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?new=1&section=0&version=rsv&word=Mark+14:32-15:47)

karen freeinchristman

10th April 2006, 10:26 AM