- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
I’m not sure if any of you believe in synchronicity BUT I had a very interesting coincidence happen this week that led to a beautiful experience that I’d like to tell you about. Two Sundays ago, my family and I were driving past the little United Church on our way to a farewell for a cousin and I said outloud, “I’d sure like to go to one of their meetings, I think it would be interesting.” Low and behold the following week I get a call from an LDS youth choir director who needs an accompanist for the next Sunday as their regular will be out of town and the United Church had asked them to perform during their service. OK how remarkable is that!! So of course I accepted and what I experienced was delightful.
I loved the service. The minister was very charasmatic, the topic was the Beatitudes and I liked his take on them, and he could sing!! He led the congregation in the singing and it was fabulous. It is a very small congregation. Our choir of about 20 filled one half of the chapel while the regulars filled the rest. They had coffee and cookies after
:clap: (They provided hot chocolate and juice to accomodate our religious beliefs
That was at 9am and then I went to my 3hour block at 1pm. Ward conference. The bishop spoke on committment and all of us needing to be more committed to our callings etc. The SP spoke on being a zion people. I was exhausted by the end of the block.
The United Church congregation needs a fill in pianist periodically and I offered my services. They seemed delighted and I will be happy to experience something as uplifting as that service every so often.
CG
This is awesome, CG. Sometimes a little breath of fresh air is just what the StayLDS doctor ordered. Remember, a Latter-day Saint who attends the ward around 50% to 75% of the time is an active Latter-day Saint. :thumbup: Beautiful experience! 🙂 That’s very touching that they made allowances for you even with the refreshments! Very Christlike and tolerant/understanding.
I’ve often wondered if this is what it’s like for investigators when they visit a mormon service. We’re so accepting of non-members.
I’ve had similar experiences
every timeI’ve visited another church, without exception. I suspect part of this is because I’m seeing others’ religions with open eyes and a ready, willing heart. I have no reason to be cynical when the church is not my own. I’m sure my mind is more attune with the Spirit and open to such uplifting experiences when I’m not cynical I wonder what my experience there would be like if I could show up one day as an investigator, having never heard anything about the LDS church before. What would stand out, what would I relate to, what would I consider strange? I’m confident that it would be different.
macalla wrote:I wonder what my experience there would be like if I could show up one day as an investigator, having never heard anything about the LDS church before. What would stand out, what would I relate to, what would I consider strange? I’m confident that it would be different.
I can remember my first sacrament meeting. I thought it was crazy how LOUD everyone was in the meeting. Babies making noise, people talking — very unlike the stilted yet reverent atmosphere in the United Church of Canada where I grew up.
It was strange to see so many rank and file people (lay ministry) getting up and talking. I was used to a formal minister.
The thing I remember the most was how BUSY everyone was. In the United Church of Canada,everyone was relaxed and it was all about socializing. At the LDS Church I attended, no one was really interested in talking — they were busy getting to their classes or doing other calling-related work. I remember wondering what all the rushing around was about. I actually grew to admire how involved everyone was as I got used to the meetings.
Things haven’t changed much since then — it’s the same pattern each week.
Overall, I liked it.
Sounds very nice! I have been interested in experiencing church services of other faiths, but my husband will not support this. I thought maybe it could be a fun tradition to find a different churches to attend while we were on vacation. We travel a lot and usually don’t attend any services while away. We love to travel and experience different cultures and people, why not different faiths too? That is an awesome story. flower wrote:.. We travel a lot and usually don’t attend any services while away. We love to travel and experience different cultures and people, why not different faiths too?
I always go to Catholic mass. Perhaps I need to expand my horizons some.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.