I'm curious to know what worship services women in our online neighborhood attend.

We have a couple churches in our area that are growing by leaps and bounds. They have very strong messages for sermons. The kind that knock you over the head and make you realize you better get busy living your faith. They have contemporary music, and many programs for people to hook into during the week. YOu get the feeling you're in a small town when you attend.

Unfortunately, the traditional churches in our area are having a tough time getting new members.

The younger people are attracted to the newer non-denominational churches. They are also attracted to the traditional churches that have made changes in the direction of the newer churches offering contemporary worship services and small groups. Make sense?

Is this going on in your neck of the woods?

I am confused by this issue as well. My husband and I have been attending a large contemporary church. The location and service times are convenient, but I don't see many people our age and there doesn't seem to be asw much serving of the needy as I've experienced in other churches. I miss the hymns and the feelings of being needed of a traditional church. The pastor is very dynanic and sermons are good though.
Decisions.
smile

A lot of churches have two Sunday a.m. worship services...the early service is contempory and the 11:00 service is traditional. I like both and find that there are times that I enjoy worshiping one way as opposed to the other. We have snake handlers in our county...as in Acts where Paul says people will take up poisonous serpents and not be harmed. I say more power to them. I'm not about to do it but if they feel it gets them closer to God...go fot it! I think, eventually, it must *might* get them closer to God. <g>

We attend a very traditional Church. I would say the majority is over 40 years of age. There are a few younger people and children. Only enough for one service.
Other Churches have two services and better attendance.
Maggie

Well, I just changed parishes today! How timely. We moved from a large. sprawling community type church that is very wealthy and builds a new church every 10 -15 years due to growth.

We now belong to a smaller, older church that feels more community oreiented because everybody knows everybody else. We know the choie master and his choir is superb. Traditional hyms with a upbeat tone. He plays in a band that is easy rock type music and owns a sound studio. His family is extremely talented in music and his natural abilities come out in the hyms.

The pastor is a little "dorky" personally but gives very inspirational services. He grew up in that church and attended the school. The principle of the school also attended that very school. There is a lot of pride int heir community and when you are in "you are in". Very small town attitude but not ina small town. We like the community aspect and the school so we made the change.

I've been searching for a church to attend for a long time. Churches close to home tend to be very traditional. With a gay son, I don't feel very welcome. So I've been going to a church that's a 30 minute drive away. It's a very small church, Christian, but somewhat New Ageish. I think it's where all the people who feel like societal misfits end up. They're my kind of people. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

Agate, I've noticed twice that you've mentined having a gay son. You are a dear mom to find a church home for him where he is comfortable. That speaks volumes about where your heart is. I'm glad he has you for his mom. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

It's called unconditional love and my guess is, Agate could teach alot of people about it.

Hugs to Agate...

JJ

Agate, I like the sound of your church. The conservatism of our local congregation sometimes drives me nuts. My ideal church would be one where anyone could walk in and feel comfortable and welcome.

I attend a sort of x-generation church. Very upscale with a coffee shop in the foyer and contemporary music. The children's department looks like Disneyland. The preacher is in his thirties and very dynamic. Every lifestyle is welcome and everyone pretty much does their own thing. Seating theater style with professional lighting so no one even knows if you're late. There are groups outside church for relationship building. It has grown from a storefront to two huge buildings and two smaller ones all connected via closed circuit TV. Lots of technology well used.

Part of the mission is to take the message to the world via the internet. Here's the website if anyone's interested. http://www.lifechurch.tv

smile